How to Know if Your Home is Up to Code

Is your home up to code?

Is your home up to code?Save yourself some trouble and get your home up to code before it’s too late. There are ways to tell if your home has code violations. Use these tips to inspect your current home or a house you’re thinking about buying.

  1. When was your home built?
    The International Code Council Commercial and Residential Building codes are updated every three years. Before you start inspecting your home, check your jurisdiction’s current building codes. Specifically look at wiring codes, new site plans and energy efficiency improvements that need to be added to your home.
  2. Who built your home?
    The construction company that built your home will have records of when your home was built and copies of the permits that were required at that time. This will give you a better idea of how your home was built and under what codes.
  3. Look at your electrical panel box
    Hire an electrician to check your breaker box. He/she will inspect the size and type of wires and their connections.
  4. Check windows
    How’s the insulation? Do the frames have wind load labels? Does the glass have safety standards? Inspecting your windows will also protect them from getting damaged during a storm.
  5. Inspect at visible water lines
    Polybutylene pipes were used until 1995. These pipes deteriorate from the inside and cause leaks. Since these pipes get easily damaged inside, it’s hard to notice the condition of the pipe. To spot a polybutylene pipe in your home, look for dull, grey pipes with aluminum crimped couplings.