Electrical safety inspections identify problems before they cause fires, electrocutions, or expensive failures. You cant see most electrical issues - wiring is hidden in walls, connections are inside switchboards. Professional inspection finds these hidden hazards.
We conduct thorough electrical safety inspections across Christchurch. Licensed electricians who know what to look for, how to test properly, and how to report findings clearly. Whether your buying house, renting property, or just want peace of mind we provide comprehensive inspection service.
Why Get Electrical Safety Inspection
Most people only think about electrical when somethings wrong. But regular inspections prevent problems from developing in first place.
Safety is main reason. Faulty electrical causes house fires. Loose connections overheat. Old wiring deteriorates. Worn insulation exposes live wires. Inspection finds these issues before they hurt someone or burn house down.
Property purchases need inspection. Buying house is huge investment. Electrical inspection tells you what your actually getting. Might save you thousands in repairs or give you negotiating power on price.
Rental properties have legal requirements. Landlords gotta provide safe housing. Electrical inspection shows property meets minimum standards. Protects both landlord and tennants.
Insurance claims sometimes require inspection report. If making claim related to electrical issues insurance might want professional assessment of electrical system.
Peace of mind is underrated. Knowing your electrical is safe and compliant lets you sleep better. Specially in older houses where you dont know what previous owners did.
Customer in Fendalton was buying 1970s house. Building inspection looked fine but they wanted electrical check too. We found aluminum wiring with copper connections corroding, no RCD protection, switchboard had asbestos. Saved them from buying house with 15000 worth of electrical work needed. They renegotiated price based on our report.
What Gets Checked In Safety Inspection
Thorough electrical inspection covers whole system from meter box to final outlet. Heres what we examine.
Switchboard is first stop. Check all breakers, look for signs of overheating, verify RCD protection exists, test RCDs actually work. Switchboard condition tells heaps about overall system.
Main earthing system gets tested. Earth protects you from electrocution. We verify earth connection exists, measure resistance, check its properly bonded to metal pipes and structures.
Wiring condition where accessible. Cant see all wiring but we check what we can in roof spaces, under house, exposed areas. Look for damage, deterioration, poor connections.
Outlet and switch testing throughout house. Check polarity is correct, earth connection works, no loose terminals, cover plates secure. Test heaps of points to verify system integrity.
Fixed appliance connections like oven, hob, hot water cylinder. Verify proper cable size, secure connections, correct protection.
Outdoor electrical including meter box, outdoor outlets, lighting. Check weatherproofing, cable condition, proper protection for outdoor environment.
Lighting circuits tested. Verify switches control right lights, no flickering or faults, proper earthing on metal light fittings.
Smoke alarm wiring if hardwired system. Test interconnection works, power supply reliable.
Testing Equipment We Use
Professional inspection needs proper testing gear. Visual inspection only catches some problems.
Multimeters measure voltage, check circuits are live, verify voltages are correct. Basic tool but essential.
Earth loop impedance tester checks earthing system works properly. Measures resistance of earth path to verify its adequate for safety.
RCD tester verifies safety switches trip at correct current within correct time. RCD that trips too slow or not at all is useless.
Insulation resistance tester finds deteriorated insulation before it causes problems. High voltage test shows if insulation is breaking down.
Socket testers quickly check outlet wiring is correct. Shows polarity, earth connection, no faults.
Thermal camera sometimes used. Shows hot spots indicating loose connections or overloaded circuits. Not always needed but useful for problem diagnosis.
Pre-Purchase Electrical Inspections
Buying house is biggest purchase most people make. Electrical inspection before purchase is smart investment.
Pre-purchase inspection is different from general inspection. Focused on finding issues that affect value or safety. Help buyer make informed decision.
Report clearly lists problems found. Categories them as urgent safety issues, code violations needing fixing, items needing attention soon, and things that are acceptable.
Cost estimates for repairs included where possible. Helps buyer understand financial implications of issues found.
Photos of problems document issues. Specially useful when negotiating with seller or showing insurance company.
Timeline we recommend for addressing issues. Some things need fixing before moving in, others can wait.
Pre-purchase inspection typically takes 2-3 hours for average house. Longer for big properties or ones with obvious problems needing detailed investigation.
House in Papanui looked good cosmetically but electrical was nightmare. Old rubber wiring, no earth on most circuits, switchboard held together with duct tape literally. Our report detailed everything. Buyer used it to get 12000 off purchase price then hired us to rewire critical areas before moving in.
Rental Property Inspections
Rental properties need regular electrical checks. Law requires landlords provide safe housing and electrical is part of that.
Initial inspection before new tennants move in documents condition of electrical. Protects both landlord and tennant by recording baseline.
Periodic inspections every few years catch deterioration. Tennants might not report minor issues and problems develop over time.
Change of tennant inspections verify no damage to electrical. Sometimes tennants do dodgy stuff like hardwiring extension cords or tampering with switchboard.
Focus on safety hazards that could harm tennants. Loose outlets, damaged cords, broken light fittings, no RCD protection. These gotta be fixed.
Compliance with healthy homes standards includes some electrical requirements. Landlords need to meet these to legally rent property.
We provide reports suitable for property managers and landlords. Clear documentation of issues, recommended actions, compliance status.
Property manager with 8 rentals in Sydenham gets us to inspect all properties annually. Found issues ranging from tennant installed dodgy outdoor outlets to switchboards needing upgrades. Systematic checking prevents nasty surprises and keeps properties safe.
Older Home Electrical Inspections
Houses over 30 years old often have electrical systems that dont meet current standards. Inspection shows whats safe versus what needs updating.
Old wiring types like rubber or fabric insulated cables deteriorate with age. These need replacing not just when they fail but before failure causes fire.
No RCD protection in older homes is common. Modern standards require RCD on all circuits. Old houses typically have none.
Insufficient circuits for modern loads. Houses from 50s or 60s wernt designed for amount of electrical stuff we use now. Overloaded circuits are safety hazard.
Earthing systems in old houses often inadequate or nonexistent. Earth is critical safety feature that old houses might lack.
Switchboards in old houses can be dangerous. Asbestos backing boards, ceramic fuses, no safety features. These need complete replacement.
Inspection of old house identifies whats urgent versus what can be staged over time. Complete rewire is expensive. Good inspection helps prioritize what matters most.
Commercial Property Inspections
Commercial electrical inspections are more complex than residential. Different requirements, larger systems, more regulations.
Workplace safety regulations require businesses maintain safe electrical. Regular inspections show due diligence and identify hazards.
Test and tag of portable appliances often done during inspection. Verify cords, tools, equipment are electrically safe.
Emergency lighting tested. Exit signs, emergency lights must work during power failure. We test batteries and functionality.
Three phase systems need specialist testing. Not just about safety but also power quality and balance.
Machinery and equipment electrical connections checked. Industrial equipment has specific requirements for electrical installation.
Documentation for insurance and compliance. Commercial property needs proper records of electrical maintenance and testing.
Warehouse in Hornby needed electrical inspection for insurance renewal. Found several issues including damaged cables where forklifts had hit them, switchboard with moisture damage, emergency lighting not working. Fixing these kept their insurance valid and workplace safe.
What Happens After Inspection
Inspection is just first step. What you do with findings matters more.
Written report provided within few days. Details everything we checked, what we found, what needs doing.
Issues categorized by priority. Immediate safety hazards versus maintenance items versus nice-to-haves. Helps you understand what matters most.
Photos included showing problems. Way easier to understand issue when you can see photo of damaged cable or corroded connection.
Recommendations for repairs with rough cost estimates. Not detailed quotes but ballpark figures so you know what your dealing with.
Timeline for addressing issues. Some things need fixing immediately, others can be scheduled over time.
We can quote for fixing issues found. One stop shop - inspect then repair what needs attention.
Follow up inspection after repairs verifies everythings been done properly. Important for rental properties or pre-purchase situations.
Common Problems Found In Inspections
Certain electrical issues come up repeatedly in inspections. These are things to watch for.
Missing or faulty RCD protection is number one issue in older houses. Critical safety feature thats just not there.
Overloaded circuits show as warm outlets, discolored switchboard, breakers tripping frequently. House dosnt have enough circuits for load.
Poor DIY electrical work causes heaps of problems. People try to save money doing electrical themselves then create dangerous situations.
Deteriorated wiring in old houses. Insulation becomes brittle and falls off exposing live conductors.
Loose connections in switchboard or outlets. Connections work loose over time causing overheating and fire risk.
No earthing or inadequate earthing. Earth missing or has high resistance making it ineffective for protection.
Outdoor wiring not properly weatherproof. Water gets into connections causing corrosion and faults.
Extension cord abuse. Permanent wiring run through extension cords, cords under carpet, damaged cords still in use.
Cost Of Electrical Inspection
Inspection costs vary depending on property size and what your wanting checked.
Basic residential safety inspection for average 3-4 bedroom house runs about 300-450. Covers main electrical system, testing, written report.
Pre-purchase inspection with detailed report might be 400-600. More comprehensive checking and detailed documentation.
Large properties or complex systems cost more. Big house with multiple switchboards, swimming pool, extensive outdoor lighting takes longer to inspect properly.
Commercial inspections start around 500 and go up depending on size and complexity. Include test and tag, emergency lighting, specialized equipment.
Follow up inspection after repairs usually cheaper than initial inspection. Just verifying fixes rather than full inspection.
Cost of inspection is tiny compared to cost of electrical fire or electrocution. Also small compared to unexpected repair bills from undiscovered problems.
How Often Should You Get Inspection
Frequency of inspection depends on property type and situation.
Owner occupied homes should get inspection every 5-10 years. Sooner if you notice any issues or do major renovations.
Rental properties need inspection every 3-5 years minimum. More often if high tennant turnover or problems noted.
Commercial properties should have annual inspection. Workplace safety requirements and higher usage justify more frequent checking.
Before buying or selling house always good time for inspection. Sellers benefit from knowing issues before listing. Buyers benefit from knowing before purchasing.
After major storm or flood event. Water damage to electrical requires professional assessment before restoring power.
If you smell burning, see sparks, have frequent power trips dont wait for scheduled inspection. Get emergency inspection immediately.
DIY Checks Between Professional Inspections
Professional inspection is thorough but you can do basic checks yourself between inspections.
Test RCD monthly by pressing test button. Should trip immediately. If dosnt trip or takes long time get electrician to check it.
Look for warm outlets or switches. Shouldnt be warm when in use. Heat indicates problem needing attention.
Check cords and plugs for damage. Cracked insulation, exposed wires, damaged plugs should be replaced not ignored.
Listen for buzzing or crackling from outlets or switchboard. These sounds indicate loose connections or faults.
Watch for flickering lights. Occasional flicker might be nothing but persistent flickering indicates problem.
Count how often breakers trip. If same breaker trips repeatedly theres problem needing investigation.
Smell burning plastic or notice discolored outlets. These are serious warning signs requiring immediate electrician callout.
Why Choose WeDo For Electrical Inspections
Professional electrical inspection needs experienced electrician who knows what to look for.
Licensed electricians conducting all inspections. Legal requirement and ensures competent testing.
Thorough systematic approach. We follow checklist to ensure nothing gets missed.
Proper testing equipment. Not just visual inspection but actual testing of safety features.
Clear detailed reports. Plain language explaining whats wrong and why it matters.
Photos documenting issues. Visual evidence of problems found.
Fair pricing for inspection service. Charge for our time and expertise not trying to sell you repairs.
Can provide quotes for fixing issues found. Convenient one stop service if you want repairs done.
Fast turnaround on reports. Usually provided within 2-3 business days.
If you need electrical safety inspection give us a call. Well schedule convenient time, conduct thorough inspection, provide detailed report of findings. Peace of mind knowing your electrical is safe is worth way more than inspection costs.