Electrical Inspection + Code Compliance

Did You Know ...

On average, per year, over 24,000 fires , 295 deaths, 900 injuries, and $1.2 BILLION loss due homeowners is due to faulty wiring or homes not being up to code!

why are home electrical inspections important?

The most recent National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) research shows the top four primary sources of home fire ignition were:

(1) Wiring and related equipment, 68% of all home fires; (2) Lamps, Bulbs or Lighting, 14% of all home fires; (3) Cords or Plugs, 10% of all home fires; and (4) Transformers and Power Supplies, 8% of all home fires.

These are truly staggering household electrical fire statistics that are, in most instances, avoidable, especially when hiring a licensed master electrician to perform a home electrical inspection.

Bring Your Home's Hidden Issues Into The Light!

Peace of Mind at the Push of a Button

Twin Cities Electric's owner and Licensed Master Electrician Pete Cicconi is deeply committed to providing the same peace of mind and safety in his own family's home as with his clients' homes — here's precisely what you can expect when he performs a thorough home electrical inspection, detailed below:

Electrical Panel

Panels that are 30+ years old often have old parts that corrode/malfunction, which creates dangerous conditions and compatibility issues due to parts becoming obsolete/discontinued — this can result in an improper between circuit breakers and the board when there is not a brand-to-brand match.

Burns/Charring

Burns and/or charring are caused from loose connections due to parts not being properly torqued.

Double-Tapping

When a circuit breaker is not designed for more than one wire to be connected to the screw — yet multiple wires are connected to a single screw — this is called "double tapping".

This results in damage to the panel and increased risk of fire.

Proper Labeling

Checking to make sure the panel is properly labeled — meaning, every breaker is clearly identified and correctly corresponds to its household connection and function.

Damage

Checking for damaged and/or exposed wires.

Circuit Breaker Sizing

Ensuring circuit breakers are the correct size for their corresponding wire size.

Ground Rods

Making sure there are two ground rods outside with a bare copper conductor going back to the panel with intersystem bonding — this is for the utility companies to properly bond to the home's electrical system.

Water Bond

Confirmation of a water bond so the home plumbing system is safe, grounded and that people are protected from electrocution if the system were to ever become energized.

Panel Enclosure

Checking that the panel enclosure is fully enclosed without damage holes.

GFCIs

Certain rooms, areas and home appliances MUST have GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) to be within code: anything exterior, garages, crawl spaces, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, range/oven, dishwasher, garbage disposal, air conditioner, etc.

AFCIs

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters are devices that detect and interrupt electrical arcing conditions presenting a home fire hazard via sensors built into the circuit breakers.

AFCIs are required by the National Electrical Code (NEC) for certain electrical circuits.

Smoke Detectors

According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) requirements, smoke detectors 10 years or older MUST be replaced.

Additionally, Minnesota requires smoke detectors must be hard-wired, as opposed to battery backup.

Previous Electrical Work

Visually inspecting any previous electrical work done to the home is up to code.

Flickering Lights

Checking the home for flickering lights.

Grounding System

Checking the grounding system for corrosion, and the ground rods are properly in place.

Switches + Outlets

Inspecting switches and outlets for "backstabbing" — this is a highly-unprofessional/dangerous 'handyman' practice of terminating (connecting) wires into housing holes, rather than around the screw(s).

Wiring

Checking for knob and tube wiring, cloth wiring, and aluminum wiring.

Visual Inspection

Visual inspection of each room/area for dim, poor lighting conditions, and checking for the use of energy-efficient light LED light bulbs.

Peace of Mind at the Push of a Button

"How's that go again? ... if you see something, say something.”

PETE CICCONI

TWIN CITIES ELECTRIC, OWNER + MASTER ELECTRICIAN

Our Process

5 Steps To Safety & Comfort

Step 1

Consultation

Reach out to us by phone or by filling out the form and providing us with as many details as possible

Step 2

Assessment

We’ll arrive at your location and inspect the space in detail in order to determine the best approach

Step 3

Work

After we sign the contract for your electrical project, we’ll get started on your project.

Step 4

Step 1

Follow-Up

We’ll make a follow-up call 3 days after the work to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Step 5

Step 1

Enjoy

You’ve made a wise decision. It’s time to discover how living in a smart, efficient home feels!