When was the last time someone thoroughly examined your property’s electrical system? If you can’t remember, or if the answer is “never”, you’re not alone. Many property owners never think about electrical inspections until they’re required for a sale or renovation. But regular electrical safety inspections are one of the smartest investments you can make in your property’s safety and longevity.
Think of an electrical safety inspection like a health checkup for your building. It identifies problems before they become emergencies, reveals hidden hazards, and gives you peace of mind knowing your electrical system is safe and reliable.
What happens during an electrical safety inspection
A comprehensive electrical safety inspection examines your entire electrical system from the service entrance to every outlet and switch. Our certified electricians check:
Service entrance and meter: We verify that your connection to the utility is secure, properly sealed, and not damaged. We check for signs of overheating, corrosion, or other issues.
Main electrical panel: We open your panel and examine the breakers, bus bars, wiring connections, and panel condition. We look for rust, scorch marks, loose connections, and signs of overloading.
Subpanels: If your property has subpanels, we inspect those as well, checking connections and ensuring proper grounding.
Wiring systems: We examine visible wiring throughout the property, looking for damaged insulation, improper connections, outdated wiring types, and code violations.
Grounding and bonding: Proper grounding is essential for safety. We verify that your electrical system is correctly grounded and bonded.
GFCI and AFCI protection: Modern codes require ground-fault circuit interrupters in wet areas and arc-fault circuit interrupters in living spaces. We check that these safety devices are present and working.
Outlets and switches: We test outlets for proper wiring, grounding, and functionality. We check that switches operate correctly and show no signs of overheating.
Lighting fixtures: We examine lighting fixtures for proper installation, adequate support, and correct wiring.
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: While not strictly electrical, we verify these critical safety devices are present and functioning.
Outdoor electrical: We inspect outdoor outlets, lighting, and any exterior electrical components for weather damage and proper protection.
After the inspection, you receive a detailed report documenting our findings, complete with photos of any issues we discovered. We prioritize recommendations from “must fix immediately” safety hazards to “consider for future improvement” suggestions.
When you should schedule an inspection
Electrical safety inspections aren’t just for problem properties. Here are the best times to schedule one:
When buying a property: Before purchasing, an electrical inspection reveals what you’re getting into. Older properties often have hidden electrical issues that aren’t obvious during a casual walkthrough. Knowing about these problems before closing gives you negotiating power and helps you budget for necessary repairs.
Every 10 years for homes: Even if you haven’t noticed problems, electrical systems age and deteriorate. Regular inspections catch issues before they become hazards.
Every 3-5 years for commercial properties: Commercial properties have higher electrical demands and more complex systems. More frequent inspections help prevent costly downtime.
Before major renovations: Planning to remodel your kitchen, finish your basement, or add an addition? An inspection helps you understand your electrical system’s current capacity and what upgrades you’ll need.
After severe weather: If your area experienced lightning strikes, flooding, or other severe weather that might have affected your electrical system, an inspection ensures everything is still safe.
When you notice recurring problems: Frequent breaker trips, flickering lights, or other electrical issues suggest underlying problems that need professional investigation.
For older properties: If your home or building is more than 40 years old and hasn’t had the electrical system updated, an inspection is essential. Wiring insulation degrades over time, and old panels can develop serious safety issues.
Common problems inspections reveal
Over the years, we’ve discovered countless electrical issues during inspections. Some of the most common include:
Aluminum wiring: Common in homes built during the 1960s and 1970s, it can pose a fire hazard as connections loosen over time. Special techniques are needed to safely connect aluminum to copper wiring.
Outdated panels: Federal Pacific Electric and Zinsco panels are known to malfunction in ways that can cause fires. These should be replaced regardless of apparent condition.
Insufficient capacity: Many older panels simply don’t have enough circuits or amperage for modern electrical loads.
Missing GFCI protection: Areas near water need GFCI outlets to prevent electrocution. Many older properties lack this protection.
DIY electrical work: Previous owners sometimes attempt electrical projects themselves, often creating code violations and safety hazards. We regularly find improperly sized wires, wrong breaker ratings, open junction boxes, and other dangerous shortcuts.
Damaged wiring: Rodents, renovations, or simple age can damage wiring insulation, creating shock and fire hazards.
Overloaded circuits: We often find too many devices on a single circuit, or high-draw appliances sharing a circuit when they should have dedicated ones.
The cost of not inspecting
Skipping electrical inspections might seem like a money-saver, but it’s actually a risky gamble. Electrical fires cause hundreds of millions in property damage annually, and many of these fires start with problems that would have been caught during an inspection.
Beyond fire risk, electrical problems can:
- Damage expensive appliances and electronics
- Cause complete system failures that require emergency repairs
- Create code violations that complicate property sales
- Reduce your property’s value
- Increase insurance premiums or cause coverage issues
An inspection costs a few hundred dollars and takes a few hours. The problems it prevents can save thousands of dollars and possibly even lives.
What happens after the inspection
Once your inspection is complete, you’ll know exactly where your electrical system stands. If we find issues, we’ll explain each one clearly and help you prioritize repairs.
Not everything needs immediate attention. We categorize findings as:
- Critical: Safety hazards that need immediate correction
- Important: Problems that should be addressed soon to prevent escalation
- Recommended: Improvements that enhance safety or functionality but aren’t urgent
This helps you plan and budget for electrical work appropriately. You might address critical issues immediately and schedule less urgent items for later.
For properties with extensive issues, we can develop a phased repair plan that spreads costs over time while addressing the most serious problems first.
Inspections for different property types
While the basic inspection process is similar, different property types have unique considerations:
Residential inspections focus on living space safety, adequate capacity for modern homes, and proper protection in kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor areas.
Commercial inspections examine business-specific electrical needs, three-phase power systems, emergency lighting, exit signs, and code compliance for your property’s occupancy type.
Industrial inspections assess heavy equipment connections, motor controls, high-voltage systems, and production line electrical components.
Each inspection is tailored to your property’s specific electrical demands and use patterns.
Schedule your electrical safety inspection
Don’t wait for electrical problems to announce themselves. A proactive inspection gives you valuable information about your property’s electrical system and identifies issues before they become emergencies.
At J.O. Mory, our electrical safety inspections are thorough, professional, and clearly documented. We serve residential, commercial, and industrial clients throughout Fort Wayne with the same commitment to quality and safety.
With April’s mild weather and the busy summer season approaching, now is the perfect time to schedule your inspection. Inquire or book today and ensure your electrical system is safe, reliable, and ready for whatever comes next.
