Electrical Circuit Inspection

Click here and we can read this section to you.  

The Limited Electrical System Analysis (LECA) is a group of tests performed on each accessible 120 volt outlet in the structure and is recommended to help identify potentially unsafe electrical conditions in the 120 volt system. Improper wiring is a major cause of structure fires and personal injury. Identifying improper conditions and having them corrected will help to improve the overall safety of the 120 volt portion of the electrical system.

The normal test performed during a home inspection only checks the grounding and polarity of the outlet. The main limitation to this type of inspection is that the industry accepted two light and three light outlet testers do not identify many of the conditions that can result in fires, electrocution or damage to sensitive electronics.

In older homes, it is common to find conditions such as false or bootleg grounds, partially upgraded systems that are still using older wiring and components or ungrounded outlets that are using 3 prong receptacles.

Conditions such as false grounds may not be detected by the normally used 3 light testers. Worn outlets that do not hold the plug securely can cause arcing which could result in a fire.

In newer or older homes, overly long circuits or poor connections can contribute to excessive voltage drop. Poor connections are also a potential that can create unsafe conditions. The LECA may identify poor connections or improper wiring that can affect voltage or grounding.

While it is more common to see many of these negative conditions in older homes or homes that have been remodeled, we also see them in newer homes and have seen homes that were only 5 years old and had such a voltage drop in some areas of the house that the voltage was not even adequate to operate a vacuum cleaner.

What does the voltage drop affect? Voltage drop equates to low voltage. In other words, some appliances or products with motors or electronics may not last as long or may not perform adequately. Lights may not be as bright as they are rated for and they may get dimmer when other things are turned on. Motors may run to slow or to warm or may not run at all so appliances may not last as long as they should.

The voltage drop represents energy loss and loss of efficiency.

GFCI and AFCI outlets or circuit breakers that are miswired or do not function as they should may not provide the safety they were designed and installed for.

On June 18, 2003 the Consumer Product Safety Commission kicked off a campaign recommending that home owners have their electrical systems inspected. They stated: "....Between 1994 and 1998, the CPSC estimates that there were over 360,000 residential fires each year, of which over 123,000 were related to electical distribution or appliances and equipment, and another 15,000 were related to heating and air conditioning systems. These electrical fires caused an estimated average of 910 deaths, nearly 7,000 injuries and nearly $1.7 billion in property damage each year. Many of these incidents could have been prevented by having an electrical inspection of the house to find hidden hazards."

The key points stressed by the CPSC is that injuries, fires, and deaths could be prevented by having your electrical systems inspected.

Please contact us for further information or if you feel you could benefit from this system analysis.



Click here and we can read this section to you.   

The Electrical Outlet and Panel Infrared Scan uses infrared thermal imaging to help identify overheating components caused by defects or faulty conditions that sometimes exist.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, “During a typical year, home electrical problems account for 28,600 fires and $1.1 billion in property losses. 53% of residential electrical fires involve electrical wiring. Most electrical distribution fires result from problems with "fixed wiring" such as faulty electrical outlets and old wiring”. This is the link to the full report: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/electrical.shtm

Please contact us for further information or if you feel you could benefit from this service.
 

 
Click here and we can read this section to you.   

The Electrical Panel Label Assistance Service is the service of tracing down the circuits and providing the information of which circuit breaker controls which outlets.

Please contact us for further information or if you feel you could benefit from this service.