How Often Should I Have My Home’s Electrical System Inspected?
From Solana Electrical, AZ ROC #341966
The short answer
There is no fixed schedule that every home must follow. Our advice is to have the electrical system looked at when something changes: you buy or sell the home, the home is older and has never been checked, you add a big load, there is storm or water damage, or you notice warning signs.
Why there is no single number
A newer home with no changes and no problems may go many years without needing an electrician to look it over. An older home with original wiring, a panel brand with known concerns, or years of add-ons is a different story. So instead of a calendar, think about what has happened to the house.
Times when an inspection makes sense
You just bought the home, or you are getting ready to sell it
The home is older and you do not know when it was last checked
You are adding a big load, such as an EV charger, a hot tub, a new AC system or a workshop
After a monsoon storm, a lightning strike nearby, a roof leak or a flood that reached wiring
After a remodel or an addition, especially one done years ago by someone else
An insurer has asked about your panel or wiring
Warning signs that should not wait for a schedule
Some problems are reasons to call now, not later: breakers that trip often, lights that flicker or dim, outlets or switches that feel warm, a buzzing panel, a burning smell, or a shock from an appliance or fixture. Any of these means something needs a closer look.
For many Sun City homes
Much of Sun City and the older West Valley was built decades ago, and many homes have had changes made over the years. If you have lived in your home a long time and never had the wiring looked at, one inspection gives you a baseline. After that, the triggers above are a good guide. Our home electrical inspection guide walks through what the electrician checks, room by room.
Talk to a real person
Call (602) 999-2770 and a person answers, any hour. Tell us the age of the home and what prompted the call. We will tell you plainly whether an inspection makes sense, and you will hear the price before anyone drives out. We do not use an inspection as a sales visit.
A burning smell, a hot panel or a shock means call an electrician now. If you see smoke or fire, call 911.
Common questions
Is a home inspector’s report the same as an electrical inspection?
Not quite. A home inspector looks at the whole house and flags electrical items. An electrician looks more closely at those items and the system behind them.
Does a permit inspection cover the whole house?
No. A city or county inspection checks only the permitted work, not the rest of your wiring.
Should I get an inspection before adding an EV charger?
It helps. A load calculation shows whether your panel can carry the charger, and the electrician can note anything else that needs attention.
