Annual Whole-Home Electrical Inspection

Purpose

Define a structured annual electrical inspection for residential service-contract customers. The visit isn't about fixing things - it's about catching the issues that will become emergencies. A loose neutral found in October prevents the New-Year's-Eve nuisance-trips call. A flagged recalled panel becomes a documented liability ladder the customer should walk down before insurance forces them to.

Scope

Applies to:

• Residential service-contract customers
• Real-estate-transaction pre-listing inspections (limited adjustments)
• Insurance-required inspections (often required for older homes)

Excludes new-construction sign-off (separate scope) and panel replacements (those are the result of an inspection, not the inspection itself).

Responsibilities

• Dispatcher schedules at customer's anniversary month; confirms whole-home access
• Lead electrician walks the home + documents findings with photos
• Customer receives a written report with prioritized findings before tech leaves

Procedure

1. Customer briefing. "60 - 90 minutes. I'll inspect every panel, every outlet sample, the meter, and document anything that needs attention."
2. Exterior survey. Service drop / lateral, weatherhead, meter mast, condition of the service-entrance cable. Look for tree contact, frayed insulation, missing meter seal.
3. Meter base. Look for burn marks, water staining, loose mounting.
4. Main panel. Open the deadfront. Photograph the panel front + interior before any work.

• Brand check: Federal Pacific Stab-Lok, Zinsco, recalled Square D - document model + serial; recommend replacement.
• Torque check: spot-check torque on main lugs + bus connections (with panel de-energized at the meter where possible). Loose terminations cause heating.
• Visual scan: discoloration around any breaker = chronic overload OR loose connection. Pull and inspect.
• Neutral bus check: corroded or loose ground/neutral terminations cause "neutral hunting" lights-flickering issues.
• Bonding: verify main bonding jumper is intact, sized correctly per the system size.

1. Sub-panels (if present). Same inspection as main panel. Verify they're 4-wire fed (separate ground + neutral) - a 3-wire sub-panel feed in a modern home is a code violation that's worth quoting.
2. GFCI / AFCI testing. TEST each GFCI/AFCI outlet + breaker in the home. Replace any that fail.
3. Receptacle sample. Use a circuit tester on at least 1 outlet per room. Note any open grounds, reversed polarity, or wiring errors.
4. Smoke + CO detector verification. Press test button on each. Replace batteries on any battery-only units; flag any > 10 years old for replacement.
5. Visible wiring. Walk the basement / crawl / attic with a light. Look for:

• Knob-and-tube remnants (pre-1950 homes)
• Aluminum branch wiring (1965 - 1973) - flag for COPALUM remediation quote
• Missing or damaged staples
• Junction boxes without covers
• Wire splices outside boxes (a fire hazard + code violation)

1. Generator transfer / interlock (if present). Verify operable per generator-install SOP.
2. Surge protector (if present). Verify indicator shows "Protected." Replace if event-triggered.
3. Customer walk-through. Review the report. Urgent items quoted in person. Long-term items (panel age, aluminum branch wiring) documented for the customer's planning.

Acceptance Criteria

• Every panel inspected with photos
• GFCI / AFCI devices tested + documented
• Receptacle sample completed with results
• Smoke / CO detectors tested + ages noted
• Written report delivered to customer
• Urgent items quoted in person

References

• NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code)
• CPSC Reports on FPE Stab-Lok + Zinsco panel failure rates