Keeping Your Home Up to Code: Plumbing & Electricity

Are you making the grade when it comes to plumbing and electrical safety? Learn about codes and why they’re important.

If you're a homeowner, what you don't know can hurt you. For instance, would you know if you had a dangerous combination of line and low-voltage wires in your electrical box? Did you know plumbing pipe made of the wrong material can affect the quality and safety of your drinking water?

Unless you have the expertise of a licensed professional, it's likely you won’t be able to spot these problems in your home. Yet any one of them can be costly, hazardous, or both.

This is why we have codes that are designed to protect you and your home. When your house is checked by a licensed professional - and judged to be up to code - you can trust these hidden dangers and major issues have been spotted and corrected.

The 101 on electrical codes

The National Electrical Code (NEC) is a set of basic standards that ensure safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment in the U.S. It's designed to prevent fires and electric shocks to keep circuits from overloading and more.

First developed in 1897, the electrical code continues to be updated every three years. When you think of how electrical appliances have evolved over a century, you can see why codes need to be continually updated to keep pace.

One key point: the NEC outlines minimum requirements for safety, but local building authorities often fine-tune these rules. That's why you need to check with your city, town, and municipal building department to find out exactly what codes apply to your area. For instance, some areas do not allow anyone but a licensed electrician to perform any electrical work.

The 101 on plumbing codes

Plumbing codes are similar. Industry standards like the National Plumbing Code Uniform Plumbing Code and others are adopted and amended by local authorities to meet regional needs. These codes focus on the safe installation of pipes, valves, sinks, and toilets, as well as effective, healthy drainage into sewers or cesspools.

Licensed electricians and plumbers spend years learning all the tools of their trade and all the fine points of pertinent codes. So, how do you know if your electricity and plumbing is currently up to code? A trained professional probably assessed things when you bought the house, or if you made changes that required a permit like additions, major renovations, or installation of an AC unit.

Sometimes, the date of the last electrical inspection is noted on the door or cover of your electrical panel, where fuses or circuit breakers are located. However, if that last inspection was more than 10 years ago, you should get a licensed professional to check things now.

If your home has plumbing or electrical violations, not only are things potentially dangerous, but insurance might not cover you in the event of a mishap. Those are two good reasons to get your home up to code as quickly as possible!

Consider a home protection plan to safeguard your home’s plumbing and electrical systems. We offer plumbing and electrical maintenance plans that include an annual inspection by one of our licensed professionals for a low monthly payment.

Terms and conditions contained in the protection plans may limit our contract obligations due to coverage caps, coverage exclusions, and our cash back offer. View plan details for more information.

Terms, conditions, and other restrictions

*Repair claims are limited to $500 per service call and $2,000 per plan in the aggregate per plan term. Plans are provided by NRG Protects Inc. Independent contractors will be performing various services under the plans. In some instances we may make a cash payment in lieu of repairs or replacement in the amount of actual cost, which may be less than retail, to repair or replace any covered system, component, or appliance.

**If your authorized repair technician determines that the water heater is deemed irreparable, we will give you a credit of $500 towards a replacement water heater by your authorized repair technician.

Once repair plans commence, there is a 30-day waiting period before you may request services for a claim. Unless the plan provider elects not to renew the plan, upon expiration of the first year, the plan will automatically renew at the standard rate and terms unless you opt out of the auto-renewal option in writing by mail at P.O. Box 2309, Houston, TX 77252- 2309, by email at cancel@nrgprotects.com or by calling us at 1.855.241.9094. Sales tax will be added in select states.

This is a summary of what the provider will and will not cover under the plan, and is subject to the Terms and Conditions of the plan. The Terms and Conditions may limit the provider's contractual obligations due to coverage caps, coverage exclusions and any cash-back option available under the plan. Please refer to the Sample Terms & Conditions for details.