Electrical Inspections near you

ESA lists typical reasons for a private assessment: obtaining home insurance, real estate transactions and conforming to local by-laws, among others. It describes the Electrical System Safety Assessment as a review of a home's wiring and devices to identify hazards that could lead to a fire or a shock.

In Ontario, ESA inspects work reported through a notification. The Licensed Electrical Contractor files it before starting, the installation is inspected before it is concealed, and ESA issues a Certificate of Acceptance to whoever filed once the work passes. ESA's own General Inspections are now limited to Fire Code compliance, which concerns multi-unit dwellings, so a buyer who wants an overall check of a house hires a contractor instead.

In Quebec, the RBQ oversees electrical installations, whose rules are set out in chapter V, Electricity, of the Construction Code. The contractor must declare to the RBQ the construction work subject to that chapter, except work included in a connection request to an electricity distributor and work of no more than 10 kW that doesn't require replacing or adding wiring. In British Columbia, Technical Safety BC issues permits in most areas, while a few municipalities issue their own; the contractor's field safety representative declares compliance and requests an inspection after each phase, and at least once within 180 days of the permit being issued.

A visual assessment has limits. ESA notes that its general inspections don't include wiring behind walls, in attics or anything else concealed at the time of the visit, and a private assessment faces the same reality: the electrician judges hidden cable from the panel, the boxes and the spaces that are open.

A general home inspector looks at the whole house in one visit, from the roof to the foundation, and notes visible electrical concerns such as an old panel, two-prong outlets or missing ground-fault protection, often recommending that a licensed electrician look further. The electrician's assessment goes deeper on that one system: removing the panel cover where it is safe to do so, testing receptacles and protective devices, identifying the wiring type circuit by circuit, and judging what the corrections would involve. For an older house, the two work well together, as long as the electrician visits within the inspection period set in your offer.

Water and heat damage electrical equipment in ways you can't always see. Hydro-Québec states that if it interrupted your service, only a master electrician can ask to have it restored, and that if water got into the home without a service interruption, you should consult a master electrician before turning the power back on. In Ontario, repairs after a storm go to a Licensed Electrical Contractor, and ESA notes that one of its inspectors confirms the power can be reconnected.

After a fire, have the circuits near the damaged area, and any soaked by firefighting water, assessed before they are used again, and keep the electrician's written findings for your insurance claim. Until then, stay away from a wet panel and let the electrician and the utility decide what can be switched back on.

A useful report lists what was checked, what was found and where, with photos, and sorts the findings: hazards to correct right away, such as overheating connections or a damaged panel; code deficiencies to fix soon; and upgrades worth planning, such as adding arc-fault protection or replacing old circuits during a future renovation. It should also say what could not be seen.

Corrections are regulated electrical work, not something to tackle yourself. ESA notes that when a Licensed Electrical Contractor finds deficiencies during an assessment, it works with the homeowner to correct them, and the work has to be reported to ESA through a notification. Ask for a written scope for each item, keep the report with your permit papers, and send your insurer or buyer the proof it asked for once the repairs are inspected.