Ask Your Inspector Series: Question: Why are some outlets installed upside down? Answer: Electricians use this standard practice to indicate which outlets are controlled by a wall switch that a light or lamp can be plugged into. Why are some outlets installed upside down? This is one of the most [...]
During the course of our 16+ years performing home inspections, with a team of home inspectors in Colorado, we have seen a wide range of electrical issues. And while we have written a lot of articles on specific issues, we wanted to compile the top electrical issues found at home inspections into one place. GFCI [...]
Have you lost power in not one, but all of your bathrooms? Or maybe you have lost power in the outlets but the lights and fans still work? Or possibly, just the outlets and the lights above the vanity? This odd occurrence is easily explained but can be concerning if you don't understand the electrical [...]
If you own a home built in the late '60s to early '70s or are planning on purchasing a home in this age range, it is quite possible that the home was built with aluminum wiring. So, this begs the question: Why do homes built during this time period have aluminum wiring? And more importantly, why is aluminum wiring an issue in homes?
Federal Pacific Stab Lok electrical panels have a known history of failure and lawsuits. We are always on the lookout for these panels during our inspections and we recommend a full panel replacement when found.
Imagine this: You move into a new home. You've worked hard all weekend, lugging dressers and couches through narrow doorways and up and down flights of stairs. Your brother-in-law has helped. But let's face it, most of the time he's just been sitting on the ONE couch he helped move in, drinking beer. Making annoying [...]
We've all seen those outlets with the little "test" and "reset" buttons on the face of the outlet. These are called "GFCI" outlets. The "GFCI" stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. But what does that mean? And why are these types of outlets necessary? The Shocking Details Perhaps at some point in your life you [...]
