6 Essential Elements of an Electrical Home Inspection Checklist

With hundreds, perhaps thousands of linear feet of wire in an average 2,000 square foot home, the potential for electrical defects is almost impossible to calculate. Every connection is a potential defect. So is every receptacle. For that matter, straight runs of wire might be defective if they incur damage from abrasion or pests that like to chew.

An electrical home inspection checklist helps you work through the possibilities with a lower risk of overlooking something important. Here are six essential elements to include in your home inspection checklist.

#1: Electrical Service Panel or Load Center
The service panel, also called the load center, is the heart of electricity in a home. Either mounted on a wall inside or outside the dwelling, it contains breakers—fuses if it’s older—and wires that create circuits in the house.
What to look for:
Loose breakers
Visible damage
Charring or burn marks
Pennies behind fuses (extremely dangerous, as the copper prevents fuses from blowing if they’re overloaded)
Breakers that feel warm
No main disconnect switch
#2: Federal Pacific Brand Service Panel
If the load center is Federal Pacific brand, it needs closer inspection. Not all Federal Pacific breaker panels are defective, but defective ones are notorious fire starters. Look for FP Stab-Lok breakers. If present, the load center is an immediate fire hazard.

#3: Aluminum Wiring
Many homes with aluminum wiring remain saf