Look closely at any outdoor lighting and receptacles. Bad wiring practices outdoors are especially unsafe because of the exposure to weather, especially moisture. All outdoor receptacles should be GFCI protected and should be enclosed by weatherproof boxes. Electrical cable must either be buried in plastic or rigid metal conduit or be the UF (underground feeder) type, which has a very heavy plastic sheathing.
Cable rated for outdoor use must be buried at specified. Anything buried too shallow for its particular type and circumstances is in violation of the code. Digging is a lot of work. I know one homeowner who did only a minimal burying, and the cable resurfaced from time to time during gardening chores. At another house, the roots of a growing tree gradually yanked a shallowly buried (and poorly located) cable to the surface. Old, corroded switches and receptacles with broken covers are a sure sign of needed electrical repairs. Check the service panel or fuse box and see if the outdoor fixtures are running on their own circuit. You might find that they are tied into another branch circuit inside the house, which isn’t a terrific idea.
Garages are another center for do-it-yourself addons run amok. The wiring here should be equal to any circuit inside your house and should not be a disarray of wires and extension cords stapled to the walls. Be sure to take note of any questionable work. Check the power lines as well for obstructions or worn cables. These are the utility company’s responsibility, but you need to report the problems so it can repair them.
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