We all know that buying and selling a home can be one of the most stressful things we ever do. And if you’re selling your house, it’s extremely important to make sure your home is up to code. Some electrical code violations are illegal, others are dangerous—some are both! There is a major benefit to scheduling an electrical inspection prior to putting your home on the market: you have the ability to correct any electrical code violations ahead of time, which may help in avoiding delays in the negotiation and sale of your home.

Electrical code violations pose serious health and safety risks to anyone in the home. Don’t fall victim to the common wiring problems and mistakes that, left uncorrected, have the potential to cause short circuits, shocks and even fires. Avoid these violations that could cost you your home—and your life:

Your landscaping is the first thing people see when they arrive at your house and the last thing they see when they leave. Lighting can make or break the way your house looks and feels. A dark, dreary house is going to look uninviting to some, but will look very inviting for those who will take advantage of the darkness. It is important you make your home inviting as well as safe with the installation of landscape and security lighting by an electrician. Pasadena homeowners can rely on The Electric Connection to help them transform their home’s yard into one that is beautiful and safe.

There are plenty of options when it comes to lighting up your yard and landscaping. You can choose to go with nice and bright or low and subtle. Mounted security lights are an excellent option and can easily be installed by your Pasadena electrician. Many of these lights are equipped with motion sensors. As soon as you step outside or pull your car into the driveway, the area will be flooded with light. This means you won’t have to worry about fumbling in the dark while you look for a switch.

Pathway lights and lights that shine on a particularly special point of interest in the yard are also excellent options. These add a layer of safety as well as make it look a little nicer. Solar lights are easily placed, but your electrician in Pasadena will tell you electric lights are a little more reliable. They also stay bright throughout the night while many of the solar lights will fade and become dim by the wee hours of the morning. Electric lights give you full control and will last for years. Give The Electric Connection a call today and get your outdoor lighting installed before spring arrives.

Help for Heroes, an organization that aids wounded soldiers in the UK. Munro’s inspiration for the exhibit:

Two years ago I was riding my bicycle in the lanes near my workshop – it’s a very good way to keep fit. But that winter afternoon it was dark and my lights had failed, and I fell off into a ditch full of icy cold cow-poop. As I got to my feet, the idea of cycling in a warm, dry, well-lit environment seemed irresistibly attractive. Almost immediately when I got home I started sketching the Star-Turn bike. – Bruce Munro, his website. Here’s one more photo of the magnificent Star-Turn:

Many homeowners don’t realize just how much danger their home could be in if they have a faulty or outdated electrical panel. This panel is where the main power line from outside the home enters and is routed through the electrical system. It also disconnects circuits if excess electricity flows through them by tripping circuit breakers. However, if a panel starts to malfunction to the point that it can’t operate correctly, then you could be at risk for a major outage or even electrical fires.

If you have an aging service panel, then it is imperative that you pay attention to the signs that it’s time for an upgrade—before it fails completely. If you notice any of the below warning signs, be sure to call a professional electrician to immediately inspect the panel and see if repairs will be sufficient or if an upgrade is necessary.

As we mentioned, constantly tripping circuit breakers are caused by excess electricity. This is common in aging electrical panels since today’s electrical demands have increased so drastically. If you have circuit breakers that are constantly tripping, then chances are that your panel can no longer handle the demand your home places on it.

Wires that wear down within your electrical panel can create small fires. Fortunately, these often quickly burn themselves out. However, they will leave behind signs that they’ve occurred, which should never be ignored. If you discover an acrid smell coming from the panel, or if you notice charring or discoloration around the circuit breakers, then electrical fires have probably already occurred, which warrants attention to your electrical panel.

When a circuit breaker trips, you should be able to just reset it and be back in business. However, if you discover that a circuit breaker within your electrical panel won’t stay reset, or it doesn’t restore power, then you likely have a faulty service panel. A professional electrician will be able to determine what the problem is and the best way to fix it.