Electrical Safety Inspection

Timing depends on the local contractor schedule and the nature of the call. Genuine emergencies are usually prioritised, often with same-day or overnight response, while planned work is typically scheduled within days rather than hours.

For an urgent fault, switch the affected circuit off at the panel and leave it off. If the panel itself is hot, smoking, sparking or wet, do not touch it and keep everyone away from it. Never pull a meter or open a panel, and never pour water on anything electrical.

Every few years is reasonable for an older home, and immediately after a major purchase, before adding large loads, or whenever an insurer asks. There is no universal legal interval for owner-occupied homes.

Card, cheque and bank transfer are common, with financing available on larger projects through some companies. Be cautious of anyone demanding full payment in cash up front — a deposit for materials is normal on large jobs, full prepayment is not.

Most local electrical contractors take residential work and light commercial work such as retail, restaurant and office premises, including three-phase distribution, lighting retrofits and dedicated equipment circuits. Larger commercial projects are quoted from a site survey.

No. A general home inspection is broad and notes obvious electrical concerns, while an electrical inspection is performed by a licensed electrician and tests devices, terminations, grounding and panel condition with instruments.

Workmanship warranties are set by the contractor, and one to two years on labour is common on larger jobs, with manufacturers covering the equipment separately. Ask for the warranty terms in writing on the invoice, not verbally.

An infrared camera shows heat that a visual inspection cannot — a loose connection warming inside a panel, an overloaded conductor or a failing breaker. It is a screening tool that directs hands-on testing.