What Happens During an Electrical Safety Inspection

An electrical safety inspection is a couple of hours that tells you what condition your system is actually in — not a sales visit. Most homeowners book one for a specific reason: buying a house, an insurance question, an older home they've never had looked at, or something that just doesn't seem right.

The panel and service

We start at the service: size, condition of the meter base and mast, the panel brand and age, breaker sizing against conductor size, torque and condition of terminations, grounding and bonding, and any heat, corrosion, or moisture. This is where the significant findings usually are.

Devices, circuits, and protection

We test a representative sample of outlets and switches for grounding, polarity, and grip, verify GFCI protection where code requires it and confirm each one trips, check AFCI coverage, and look for open junction boxes, missing covers, and DIY splices. Kitchens, baths, laundry, garage, and exterior get particular attention.

Attic, crawlspace, and exterior

Where accessible, we look at wiring in attics and crawlspaces for rodent damage, buried splices, unsupported cable, and knob-and-tube or aluminum branch wiring. Outside we check the service drop clearance, exterior fixtures and receptacles, and any subpanels in outbuildings.

What you get

A written list, prioritized honestly into three buckets: fix now (a real safety issue), fix soon (a defect that will get worse), and good to know (code has changed, but it's not dangerous). No pressure to do all of it, and no bundling a critical item with a cosmetic one. Full scope is on the electrical safety inspection page.

When to schedule one

• Before buying, or shortly after closing on an older home.
• Any home over 40 years old that hasn't been assessed.
• After rodent activity, a flood, or a lightning event nearby.
• Before a remodel, addition, or a large new load like EV charging.
• When an insurer asks about wiring type or panel brand.