Finding an electrician is easy; finding the right one can be very tricky. There are more than 580,000 American electricians and they can play a valuable role in protecting your home. As many as 47,700 home structure fires in 2011 resulted from some type of electrical failure or malfunction that contributed to ignition, according to U.S fire departments. Between 2007 and 2011 almost half (48%) of non-confined American house structure fires had an electrical failure or malfunction component related to electrical distribution or lighting equipment. In fact, more than $1.5 billion in property damage results from electrical fires every year, and that does not even consider the potential deaths or injuries that could result.
If you are asking yourself when should you call an electrician, consider the potential risk to your home and to your family. Most (up to 63%) home structure fires are caused by wiring or related equipment, while lamps, light fixtures, and light bulbs, cords and plugs, and transformers and power supplies accounted for 20%, 11% and 6% respectively. Electrical problems should not be ignored. Doing it yourself might seem like a good idea, but can cause even greater issues which is just one of the reasons to use a professional electrician. Consider the experience and qualifications of the person when finding an electrician.
Every year there are more than 300 electrocutions at homes in America; about two-thirds of these could be prevented with the installation of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Installing arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) on bedroom circuits can also significantly reduce risks, as can ensuring that there are smoke detectors in all bedrooms and in hallways within 15 feet of bedrooms. There should be at least one smoke detector on each level.
Using a residential electric contractor ensures that you have all preventative measures in place to avoid electrical fires. If your house is over 40 years old, you should have an electrical inspection to identify any potential electrical hazards, according to ESFI (Electrical Safety Foundation International). In addition, you should carry out similar inspections every 10 years or if you have had major renovations or new appliances added. By doing so, you are setting your mind at rest as to the safety of your electrics and can resolve issues before they become a genuine risk.