It's better to be safe than sorry, especially with electricity. Conducting these annual electrical safety checks will give you peace of mind.
10 Essential Electrical Safety Checks Homeowners Should Do Annually
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Breaker Panel Inspection
Look over your main electrical panel and the area surrounding it. You should have three feet of clear space around the panel, and an easy-to-find, battery-operated light source available for when the power goes out.
Next, open the panel door and examine the breakers. Do they show signs of rust or rodent activity? Flip the circuit breakers on and off, making sure that none of them are sticking or corroded, which could prevent them from operating correctly.
Finally, remember that power loss rarely happens when it’s convenient. Make sure that everyone in your household knows how to safely reset a popped circuit breaker.
These are the electrical safety checks you should do every year:
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GFCI Testing
Any outlets likely to be exposed to a water source should be ground fault circuit interrupt (GFCI) protected. That may be in the form of an individual outlet (as shown here), an outlet farther up on the same circuit, or by a GFCI breaker in the panel.
Regardless of where the GFCI is on that circuit, you should be able to press the test button and ensure that all the outlets affected are turned off and safe. If any outlets are dead and won’t reset, the next step is to troubleshoot the issue.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) 2023 update now requires both GFCIs and AFCIs in virtually all parts of the kitchen, according to electrician James O’Brien. “This broader definition ensures that all areas where food is prepared or served, even in non-residential buildings, are safer for use,” he explains. If your kitchen doesn’t conform, it’s a good idea to replace standard outlets with combination AFCI/GFCI protection or install an AFCI/GFCI breaker for the kitchen outlet circuit.
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Test Your Outlets
A receptacle tester is one of the most useful tools for quickly doing electrical safety checks on an outlet. Often called a “cube” or “block” tester, this device simply plugs into an outlet and displays lights that indicate the most common outlet wiring issues.
“One cool thing you can do with double-prong testers is check for bad ground connections,” says electrician Derek Bruce. “First, test between hot and ground, then hot and neutral. If you get a reading between hot and neutral but not hot and ground, then you likely have a grounding issue.” This is important for electrical safety, he advises.
These tools are extremely affordable and widely available, and they deserve a place in every DIY toolbox. The block tester is only one of the very affordable electrical safety test devices that can help keep your home safe
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Visual Inspection of Exposed Wiring
If wiring runs are visible in a basement or attic, take the time to look them over and make sure they’re free of cracks, splits and rodent activity. Look for signs of chewing or nest building, and take any steps to repair damaged wires and eradicate the rodent activity.
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Extension Cord Review
Extension cords are practically essential for DIYers, but they can also pose potential problems. Add them to your electrical safety checklist and examine extension cords for cuts, nicks and other damage that can easily occur during DIY and other seasonal projects. Also, make sure that any cords being used for power tools are within their amperage rating.
If you do have a damaged extension cord, it’s usually fairly simple to repair.
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Examine Exterior Outlets
Look at your home’s exterior outlets and make sure that they are sealed against the elements and animal intrusion. Exterior outlets should be GFCI protected and should trip when you run your GFCI tests. When you plug into an exterior outlet for a long period, make sure the cord isn’t propping the weather cover open, exposing the connection to rain or moisture.
Of course, sometimes you do want to keep an outlet in use for an extended period. In that case, the best practice is to use an outlet equipped with a cover that has access holes, allowing you to securely close it while the receptacle is in use.
If you don’t have exterior outlets, you should consider adding one so you can stop running extension cords from indoors!
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Check for Tamper-Resistant Outlets
A more recent addition to the homeowner electrical safety checklist is tamper-resistant outlets. The NEC requires outlets reachable by children have an interior shield that prevents the insertion of foreign objects like paper clips or coins, preventing shocks.
This is a simple visual check. Tamper-resistant outlets have a plastic barrier behind the receptacle openings (shown here). If you see a dark space behind the receptacle openings, then it’s not tamper-resistant. The good news is that it’s relatively easy to upgrade to newer outlets if needed.
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Test for Outlet Tightness
Outlets, like any mechanical device, wear out over time. If plugs sit loosely in an outlet—especially if they slip out enough to expose the plug pin—replace the outlet with a new outlet receptacle. If the outlet itself is loose in the electrical box, the fix is usually simpler, only requiring plastic shims.
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Voltage Test
Part of any electrical safety check involves observing the behavior of your home’s electronic devices. If they seem to be behaving irregularly, such as lights dimming or flickering, it’s a good idea to check the voltage on that outlet. The cause may be something as simple as a loose wire, but a voltage test is the first step toward getting to the root of the issue.
Check the power at the outlet using a volt meter or multimeter set to measure voltage. For standard 120-volt residential outlets, you’ll expect to find readings between 110 and 130 volts. If you’re seeing readings outside of that range, there’s something wrong and it’s time to start problem-solving or call a pro.
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The Five Senses Test
We’ve already talked about visual inspections on this safety checklist, but don’t forget your other senses. Place a hand on outlets and light switches, checking for excessive heat. (Remember that dimmer switches often generate heat when the lights are on, but it should never be hot enough to be uncomfortable or painful to the touch.)
Is there a “hot wire” smell around a switch or outlet? If so, turn off the power to the switch or outlet at the breaker, verify that the power is off using a non-contact voltage tester, and take a closer look. You may need to replace that switch or outlet.
Finally, if you hear popping and crackling in an outlet or switch, turn off the power to the outlet or switch at the breaker, verify the power if off with a non-contact voltage tester and have the outlet or switch inspected asap.
If something seems wrong or questionable, take a closer look. And, if it’s too big of a job, take Worthington’s advice and call in a professional.
About the Experts
- Joel Worthington is the President of Mr. Electric, a Neighborly company
- James “Jim” O’Brien is an electrician and the Contractor Marketing Manager for Leviton.
- Derek Bruce is an electrician, plumber and HVAC technician and the Operations Director at Skills Training Group, a leading UK trades, health and safety, and first aid training provider.
