Kansas City Electrical Inspectors | Expert Electrical Inspections

Not to mention some of these materials contain hazards NOT JUST from the way they were used back then, but because now they’re old, outdated, and brittle.

And they are totally different:

1. Knob-n-tube: 1880s-1940s

2. Cotton-wrapped: 1950s-1970s

3. Plastic-wrapped: 1950s-Present

A proper electrical inspection also:

1. Establishes service size
2. Anticipates what can go wrong
3. Knows when things go wrong
4. Tests electrical components
5. Finds electrical glitches

And it starts outside the home.

1. THE ELECTRICAL INSPECTION OUTSIDE THE HOME.

The electrical systems inspection starts outside the home at the pole or service lateral.

THE POLE:

The pole is checked, the service cable is inspected for clearances and damage, and the service mast is studied for movement.

Then the service cables are inspected for size and make sure they’re attached to the house, and undamaged.

The electrical service meter is also checked for size, it’s sealed to siding, and not pulling away from home.

THE SERVICE LATERAL:

If there is no pole, the service cables connect to the electrical service meter through a large plastic pipe that comes up from the ground. This is checked for size, damage, cracks, and movement.

Exterior outlets are also checked for GFCI protection.

Your Home’s Electrical Service Size

Some folks look at the main circuit breaker and call it quits.

They think the number on the main breaker is the size of the home’s electrical service.

If only life were that simple.

I mean, what if your panel DOESN’T even have a main breaker?

Well, there are 5 things that play a part in figuring the size of your home’s electrical service.

And the SMALLEST rating of these 5 will be the lucky winner of the chicken dinner:

Service cables
Service conduit
Service meter
Main panel
Main breaker

Think of it like a bottleneck:

So if…

Service cable = 60-amp
Service conduit = 100+ amp
Service meter = 200-amp
Main panel = 100-amp
Main breaker = 200-amp

Your home’s service size = 60-amps

Then the electrical inspection continues inside the home.

2. THE ELECTRICAL INSPECTION INSIDE THE HOME.

Once inside, the electrical systems inspection starts in the attic and continues to the basement where open junction boxes and exposed spliced wiring is common.

Throughout the home, every accessible outlet, light, and switch are tested for safe and proper operation.

Common Electrical Issues Found Inside Every Home

Ungrounded 3-prong outlets
Loose outlets and switches
Missing outlet covers
Bad 3-way switches
More than one GFCI outlet on a circuit
Lights on on GFCI circuit
Appliances on GFCI circuit
Garage door openers on GFCI circuit

The garage, bathrooms, kitchen, and basement outlets are also checked for GFCI protection.

Finally, the main electrical panel is inspected.

Inspecting The Main Electrical Panel

Safety First
- Not standing in water
- Not arcing, buzzing, or hot
- Clear space
Height
Twistouts
Knockouts
Manufacturer
Panel size
Circuit breakers
- Tight
- No rust
- Correct wiring
- AL/CU
- AFCIs
- GFCIs
No water or rust
Not inside bathroom or closet
Correct screws
No nicked, cut, pinched, or punctured wires
Service cables size
Main breaker size

Ideally, the panel cover is removed so the interior can be checked for moisture, rust, and corrosion.

Next, we jot down the type of panel installed then check the condition of the circuit breakers and wiring.

If the panel is known to be unsafe or recalled, we’ll check for any unsafe conditions and past problems.

If there are any sub-panels, they’re also inspected to make sure they’re wired properly (sub panels are wired differently than main panels).

A NOTE ABOUT ‘GRANDFATHERING’.

A grandfather clause, also known as a grandfather policy, grandfathering, or grandfathered in, is a provision that states certain NEW RULES DO NOT APPLY OR MAY SUPERCEDE THE ORIGINAL RULES that were in place when the home was built.

In the case of a home’s electrical system, if it remains original and untampered, code updates cannot be required or enforced when they happen.

Worthwhile safety upgrades may be discussed and possibly recommended during the electrical inspection, but no enforcement can take place so long as it remains locked in the time capsule of when it was built.

However, if the home ever needs work that requires a building permit, that work will be subject to the current building codes ALONG WITH any other support systems or components affected by it.

30 Min. Home Inspection Checklist – Only $18.99

30 min homebuyers major items inspection checklist

Would YOU Like To
Check The Bones
YOURSELF Before Your Home Inspection?

This no-nonsense field guide is based on our Major-Items Inspection and will help you decide BEFORE your home inspection if the home has good bones or is just a money pit in disguise.