A home inspection covers a number of areas, not the least of which is the electrical system. ElectricMan, a trusted Dallas electrician, wants you to know how to spot a quality home inspection report. After all, while the façade may be beautiful, what’s behind the walls is what truly matters. Save yourself a heap of trouble by knowing what to look for on the electrical portion of a home inspection, according to this certified electrician.

An electrical system inspection includes looking for any aspects that make the home unsafe. A good report features the following most common items:

With all of these points checked off the list, you know you have run across a home with a sound electrical system. It’s a great feeling knowing you’re moving into a home that won’t present trouble around every corner. That’s why it’s so important to have an inspection conducted by a qualified professional before you buy.

If you have any questions about the electrical system aspects of a potential new home’s inspection report, please contact a certified electrician at ElectricMan today. ElectricMan is a trusted, local Dallas electrician with 27 years of experience; we have the knowhow required to answer your important questions. For more information visit the ElectricMan website, and don’t forget to ‘like’ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Smart homeowners are always looking for ways to lower their electricity bills. Not only do you save money, but you reduce your environmental footprint as well by decreasing your reliance on fossil fuels. Lowering your electricity and other utility bills can increase the value of your house and even correspond with living a happier life. There are endless tips and tricks available to help you cut back on your electricity usage, but be prudent -- there are some persistent myths out there about home electric use that won't actually help you save energy, and could end up costing you. Read on to find some common claims about electricity that simply aren't true.

Energy efficient light bulbs are too expensive: Light bulbs cost more to buy in the store than they used to, it's true. Thanks to federal regulations, traditional, cheap, incandescent bulbs have all but disappeared from the market,  replaced with options like compact fluorescent bulbs, LEDs and halogen bulbs that all have a higher price tag. However, the modern bulb options use far less electricity and have longer life spans that the incandescents of yore, meaning you will actually save money in the long run. The average household should save about $75 each year by replacing old light bulbs with newer, more efficient versions, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

You don't need to power off your computers and other electronics when you aren't using them: Most computers, televisions and other modern electronic devices go into sleep or hibernation mode when they haven't been used for a period of time. However, hibernating is not the same as fully powering down. Leaving a computer in sleep mode still draws electricity. Furthermore, even in sleep mode, electronics experience tiny but cumulative wear and tear. Save electricity and prolong the life of your devices by shutting them off and unplugging them when you don't need to use them for several hours.

Setting the AC to frigid will cool your house down fast: Wrong. Your air conditioner cools at the same rate regardless of how hard it has to work to meet your thermostat setting. So if you turn the dial to its lowest setting, you won't cool off any faster, but you will waste electricity once the machine passes your desired temperature and keeps on trucking to cool the house even further.

Solar panels aren't an option for me: While solar panels produce best in climates with a lot of clear, sunny days, homes in cloudy or rainy regions of the country can also benefit from them. Fog and clouds block some of the sun's energy, but not all of it, so residents of famously weather-obscured cities like Seattle and San Francisco can still get good value by installing a solar array on their roofs.

To separate what's real from what's false in the world of electricity efficiency, hire an expert to conduct a home energy audit. A trusted professional can evaluate your home and appliances, show you where you can make cost-efficient upgrades and steer you away from useless or counterproductive measures.

Electrical wiring and materials have improved significantly over the years, but if you live in a house in which the wiring was laid a long time ago, there may be some risks involved. It is worth checking to see whether everything is as it should be.

Electricity is normally out of sight and out of mind because the cables are hidden in the walls and in switches and sockets. As a result, we rarely check the condition of our electrical installations. Faulty and aging wiring can cause electrical fires, but you can avoid this by having your electrician check them for you.

There are clear indications that can make it easier to identify aging cables. Any cables that are coated in black rubber will be quite old as they were phased out in the 1960s; the same applies to fuse boxes with wooden backs and cast-iron switches. These were also phased out in the 1960s.

During your inspection, you may see wires that look old but are intact. These will likely be safe to use. You will need to check any connections wrapped in friction tape to ensure that the tape is not unraveling or frayed. If the tape is damaged, turn off the circuit and replace it with new tape.

The biggest disadvantage with most old wires is that they do not normally implement ground wires. This may result in a person becoming the path to the ground and being electrocuted if there happens to be a short in an appliance.

Have you ever gone on a long vacation, or even just gone away for a night and left a minor child or a pet behind? Were you able to enjoy your trip without concerning yourself about what was going on at home? Or were you constantly distracted by thoughts of “what if?”

Chances are that even if you trust that nothing will happen, there’s always that nagging feeling that something could go wrong. The good news is, there’s an easy way to gain back the peace of mind that you deserve: a robust home security system.

Home security cameras have become increasingly popular in recent years. Also, through home automation technology, they can be fully monitored and controlled from your phone, so you can rest easy knowing that your home and family is safe. Home automation is another innovation that’s become more popular recently—not only is it used to control security but also HVAC systems, audio, and lighting.

The installation of a home security automation system in complex and labor intensive—not a task you want to take on yourself or trust to just any average handyman off of the street. It’s wise to ensure that you hire the best professional company you can find for service.

The technology behind these systems is always changing and undergoing new developments. A security system is not much good if you cannot depend on it when you need it. The same goes if you need repairs done on your home security system. Even the simplest of systems (a standard alarm) can experience malfunctions and failures over the years. Fortunately, we have the tools and knowledge to resolve your home security issues.