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You’re getting ready to move into your new home. You’re anticipating all the different ways in which you will make your home your own, from the positioning of your furniture to the decorative flourishes you will add. And while all this is part of the fun of moving, you’ll also want to spare a thought for what lies beneath the surface. Things like your plumbing, the state of your attic space, your insulation and your electrical infrastructure can have a profound impact on the safety of your household. 

When you move into a new home, it’s important to know that your new home’s electrical infrastructure is safe. Here, we’ll go through some of the things you’ll need to look for in order to get lasting peace of mind.

Is electrical cover included in my boiler cover?

Many boiler cover plans also include cover for your plumbing and electrical wiring. However, you shouldn’t make the mistake of assuming that all policies include this type of cover. It’s usually available as an add-on for boiler cover plans. 

The energy experts at Switch-Plan can help you to combine your energy tariff with a home cover plan that keeps your home safe. This can help you to cover the cost of repairs if something goes awry with your wiring. 

Where can I find out more about my electrical safety?

When viewing your new home, you probably already carried out a visual inspection. But when it comes to your wiring, issues are not always visible since your wiring is usually tucked away behind your walls.

To find out more about your home’s electrical safety, you should take a look at your home’s condition report. This is highly recommended when buying a property. A homebuyers report includes even more information. If you are renting a property, it is now a legal requirement for your landlord to carry out an Electrical Installation Condition Report every 5 years. This includes electrical safety issues that need to be addressed for the landlord to declare the property safe for habitation. 

It’s also highly recommended that an electrician carry out a full wiring inspection at least once every 5-10 years. This can help you to identify issues that are not present in these other reports. 

What are the signs that something has gone wrong with my wiring?

Before moving into your new home, you may want to carry out an inspection of your own. Signs that something has gone wrong with your wiring are usually seen on or around your plug sockets. You may notice some yellowish-brown discolouration around the socket. This is usually combined with a strong almost fishy smell. These are signs that a small electrical fire has taken place within the wall, and may be a sign that you need to get a wiring inspection from a registered electrician. 

Finally, you should also consider the position of your power points relative to where you would like to position your furniture. If you’re likely to need to apply lots of extension cables and multi-adaptors (or commit the cardinal sin of plugging one extension into another) this may be a safety risk waiting to happen. An electrician can install new power points for your comfort, safety and convenience.