Are you in need of an inspection for insurance? Are you wondering what does an electrical inspection entail? We can help answer those questions.
An electrical inspection is completed by your local inspection authority. They will be looking for electrical deficiencies with in the structures electrical system from the power entrance down to the last outlet.
So What Does An Electrical Inspection Entail?
An electrical inspection is an inspection performed by your local inspection authority.
Inspection authority will be looking for electrical deficiencies within the dwelling.
This could be a home or commercial property. Your electrician will have to get the inspection authority involved.
They will usually come out with the electrical inspector to perform the inspection.
Inspector will do a full walk-through of the home or dwelling. They will inspect everything from the service entrance where the power comes in.
Write down to the last outlet or light fixture. Keep in mind this is a full electrical inspection of the dwelling.
When you were doing a renovation or partial work then the electrical inspection can be specific to that work.
This means that it will not include anything else in the dwelling other than the work performed.
What Does An Electrical Inspection Entail In A New Home?
If you were having an electrical inspection on the whole home.
The inspector as mentioned above will check everything. They will check things like a system ground.
They will check for proper breaker or fuse sizing at your main electrical panel.
He or she will check for proper GFCI protection.
In addition to this they will check for proper smoke detectors. Also they will look at any shock or hazardous wiring within the dwelling.
This can be a bit of a gray area however any missing switch or plug plates would fall under this category.
Any wires that are improperly stapled that are exposed. They will also look at any wires that are below 1.5 m or 5 feet to see if they were properly mechanically protected.
What About An Old Property?
The code rules with an old property or somewhere a little bit different.
Inspectors are not as strict on code rules with an older property. They do not expect you to tear apart your whole house to run new wires.
Many older homes have a grounded wires in them.
Providing that the wiring is properly protected at the source for example the panel most inspectors will pass this.
We recommend that you have you’re on un grounded wiring on a GFCI breaker or faceless GFI.
It’s acts like a false ground and will detect any issues within the on grounded circuit.
Although they can be a little bit of a nuisance at times there for your safety.
Inspectors will suggested this when they are going through a home.
Does The Same Process Apply On A Commercial Building?
The inspection process on a commercial building is quite a bit different.
Since there are no sleeping quarters like in a dwelling unit the same code rules do not apply during the inspection.
Residential smoke detectors are not required and neither are code rules or plugs every 12 feet. Commercial office space is usually rated at 20 A instead of 15 so therefore you can have more on your outlet.
Fire alarm systems are usually completely separate so this is why you’re not required to have residential/detectors.
How Do I Prepare For An Electrical Inspection?
Preparing for an electrical inspection is relatively easy.
You may want to call your qualified local electrician to have them come in and do a pre-inspection.
They can help fix up obvious issues so that the wiring inspector doesn’t pick up on them.
Often times you can’t pick up every single issue because the matter how I do try you’ll always miss something.
In the past we have gone over houses and property several times and that inspector still find something.
We recommend getting this process done before your inspection.
What Are Common Electrical Inspection Failures?
Common issues that cause an inspection to fail our things like over fused wires.
If a wire is rated at 15 A and there’s a 20 or 30 amp fuse installed and fuse holder and inspection will fail.
The same applies for breaker services.
If they’re a lot is a larger breaker installed and what it supposed to be this way also make the inspection failed.
If the inspector only finds one or two issues then he will most likely tell you just to fix them up.
However half a dozen issues are more usually results in another inspection.
Other small items like a proper stapled wiring or hanging wire in the basement.
How Much Does An Electrical Inspection Cost?
The actual electrical inspection should only cost less than $100.
The extra money would come from you paying your electrician to come out and do a pre-inspection or fix up any small items.
You can expect to pay an additional couple hundred dollars to your electrician to do this.
It is well worth the money to try to get the inspection not fail is if you have to pay for the inspector to come back several times you’ll have to pay this hundred dollar fee over and over again.
Try to avoid the situation if it all possible.
Will Being Nice To The Inspector Help?
It will have to be courteous to the wiring inspector yes.
However don’t try to be standoffish or get offended when they fail the inspection. This will just lead to making things worse for yourself.
If you feel that you might get in the way of the inspection then go to another room and let your electrician deal with the inspector.
On the same page do not try to bribe the inspector. This will also have the same affect an often result in failure.
Instead of you want to be involved make it as easy as possible for the inspector. Remove any clutter in front of the electrical panel.
Lock any dogs away that might bit. You can also make coffee and offer it to them. Just be courteous.
How Long Do I Have To Fix Issues If They Fail?
So in the end, what does the electrical inspection entail ? The inspector will give you a full report stating the deficiencies in the dwelling, home or commercial property.
They will usually give you six months before a reinspection is required.
It is up to you weather you would like to have these issues fixed up to sell the home. You can also let the buyer deal with it.
Most times though the buyer will want money subtracted off the sale price.
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