Electrical Inspection Services
Reviewed 2026-07-30
A whole-house electrical inspection checks for overloaded circuits, outdated wiring, unsafe panels, and missing GFCI/AFCI protection. It catches code violations before they cause fires, shocks, or insurance denials.
Symptoms electrical inspection solves
- Lights flicker or dim across multiple rooms, not just one fixture
- Breakers trip repeatedly under normal loads
- Outlets or switch plates feel warm to the touch
- You smell a burning-plastic or fishy odor near outlets or the panel
- The house still has aluminum branch wiring, knob-and-tube, or a Federal Pacific/Zinsco panel
- Buzzing, crackling or sparking sounds from outlets, switches or the panel
- You're buying, selling, or insuring a home over 25 years old
When to book electrical inspection
- Before purchasing any home, especially one built before 1990
- Immediately if you notice heat, smell, sparking or repeated tripping
- Every 3-5 years for homes over 25 years old with no known issues
- Before adding major loads: EV chargers, hot tubs, workshop equipment, or a panel-dependent addition
- When an insurance company requests one to renew or issue a policy
What happens during electrical inspection
- The electrician reviews permit history and asks about symptoms, past repairs and additions
- Panel inspection: brand, amperage, breaker condition, double-tapped breakers, signs of arcing or corrosion
- Circuit-by-circuit testing of outlets for correct polarity, grounding and GFCI/AFCI function
- Visual inspection of accessible wiring in the attic, basement and crawl space for damage or outdated types
- Thermal imaging or infrared scan of the panel and select outlets to detect hot connections
- Written report ranking findings by urgency with repair recommendations and cost estimates
Electrical Inspection methods and approaches
Visual and functional inspection
The electrician opens the panel, tests representative outlets and switches, and checks visible wiring runs. This is the baseline offered by most home inspectors and covers the majority of safety issues for $150-$400.
Infrared thermal imaging
A thermal camera scans the panel and outlets under load to find hot spots from loose lugs or overloaded circuits before they show any visible symptom. Adds $100-$250 to a standard inspection.
Load calculation and capacity analysis
Per NEC Article 220, the electrician calculates the home's total connected load against the panel's rated capacity — essential before adding an EV charger, hot tub, or major appliance.
What drives electrical inspection pricing
- House size and number of circuits/outlets tested
- Panel accessibility and age (older panels take longer to evaluate safely)
- Whether thermal imaging or load calculations are included
- Attic, crawl space and basement wiring accessibility
- Local labor rates and whether a written report is required for insurance
- Number of outbuildings, subpanels or additions on the property
Questions to ask your licensed electrician
- Are you a licensed electrician, and can I see your license number?
- Does the inspection include the panel, every outlet, and visible wiring, or a sample only?
- Will I get a written report with photos I can use for insurance or negotiation?
- Do you use thermal imaging as part of the standard inspection?
- What is your hourly rate versus flat fee, and what's included?
- If you find an urgent hazard, can you make a same-visit temporary repair?
Electrical Inspection safety and licensing
- Never open a panel cover or touch bus bars yourself — panels remain energized even with the main breaker off unless the service is disconnected at the meter.
- Treat any burning smell, visible scorch marks, or a hot panel as an emergency: shut off power at the main if it's safe to reach and call an electrician immediately.
- Federal Pacific Stab-Lok and Zinsco panels have documented breaker failure rates that keep them from tripping during overloads — CPSC and independent testing both flag these as fire risks warranting replacement, not just inspection.
Electrical Inspection questions homeowners ask
How long does a whole-house electrical inspection take?
A typical single-family home takes 2-4 hours for a licensed electrician to inspect the panel, sample outlets and accessible wiring; a full load calculation and thermal scan can extend that to half a day.
Is an electrical inspection the same as what a home inspector does?
No. General home inspectors give a visual overview and often recommend a specialist for anything beyond the basics. A licensed electrician's inspection is more thorough and legally required for permit work.
Will an inspection catch a problem before it causes a fire?
Most catches — loose lugs, overloaded circuits, missing AFCI protection, deteriorated insulation — are found before failure, which is why NFPA 70 (NEC) recommends periodic inspection of homes over 25 years old.
Problems that lead to electrical inspection
- Why Is My House Having Flickering Lights?
- Why Is My House Having a Breaker That Keeps Tripping?
- Why Is My House Having Warm Electrical Outlets?
- Why Is My House Getting a Burning Electrical Smell?
- Why Is My House Having Half the Power Out?
Sources for this electrical inspection guide
- National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code)
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, residential electrical fire hazard reports
- InterNACHI Standards of Practice for electrical systems