Articles
Can unpermitted electrical work put my home at risk?
April 13, 2022
by PEMCO Insurance
You can contact your city or county’s building department to request a permit for an existing electrical work inspection. While you run the risk of getting news you don’t want to hear – that substandard work needs to be ripped out and replaced – it’s a price most homeowners are grateful to pay compared to living with a problem that could injure their family or cause a fire.
Wouldn’t I know if my wiring is bad?
Getting your wiring inspected may be the only safeguard standing between you and poorly installed or neglected repairs, especially if you recently purchased or inherited a property. Homes built before 1960 and those that have been occupied for years by the same residents may not be updated to today’s standards.Today’s hot housing market brings added need for caution. Investors may focus on cosmetic renovations to quickly turn over properties and cash in on rising home values. Unfortunately, as buyers sweeten their offers by waiving inspections, they can expose themselves to unseen dangers if fundamentals like electrical updates were overlooked during renovations.
Are there any red flags about subpar wiring?
While many wiring problems aren’t apparent to an untrained eye, you can watch for these signs that something is wrong:- Frequently tripped circuit breakers. A circuit may be overloaded. Unless you’re running some very high-demand appliances on the same circuit, it should be able to handle routine demand without tripping.
- Scorched outlets. Any discoloration or excess warmth on an outlet plate needs investigation. Call an electrician and stop using the outlet until the problem is fixed.
- “Hot” smell. A sharp plastic or rubber odor could indicate overheated wiring. Unplug the appliance causing the hot smell immediately. If you can see damaged wiring, unplug everything on the circuit and manually turn off the circuit breaker until an electrician can diagnose and fix the problem.
- Buzzing sound. Electrical current shouldn’t produce a sound that humans can hear. It can indicate damaged wiring, a loose plug-in prong or some other problem that isn’t allowing current to flow smoothly.
- Flickering lights. Lights don’t need much power to run at full brightness. If yours seem to flicker, plug them in to a different outlet on a different circuit or change bulbs. Also determine if they’re sharing a circuit with an especially power-hungry appliance and try unplugging it to see if that makes a difference. If not, there may be a more serious issue that needs attention.
- Tangled wiring. Professional electricians like to keep their installations orderly. Assuming you can see the wiring, a messy looking job can indicate a DIY project that may not have been permitted and inspected.
How do I request an inspection for new electrical work I’m planning?
All but the most minor electrical projects, like replacing a broken switch, require permits.If you’re hiring a licensed contractor, they must buy a permit and arrange for inspection of the work. However, if you have the expertise and plan to do the work yourself, you need to buy the permit. In Washington, contact the Department of Labor & Industries. In Oregon, permits are issued by your local building department. This FAQ from the Building Codes Division is a good place to start.
Be sure to hang onto all permitting paperwork, since you may need it someday when you sell your home.
To learn more about permits, check out Do I need a permit for this home project | PEMCO.
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