This is a guide for homeowner’s information only and the Barrie Home Inspector does not accept any responsibility for its accuracy or use. Always use a licensed electrician for any electrical work in your home.

Many homes have had electrical additions made over the years.  This is the major cause of minor electrical deficiencies during the home inspection process.  There are homes that have no deficiencies, but they are few and far between. The most common deficiencies are listed below.

GFCI OUTLETS 

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters – designed to trip when a very low current (5.m.a.) passes to ground. Note:  I personally have encountered many GFCI outlets that when using their built in test button function properly, but when tested with a properly designed tester, fail to trip at 7 ma. (0.007 ampere).

EXTERIOR GFCI OUTLETS 

Single residential homes are required to have exterior outlet for use of appliances outside the home. It is recommended that these outlets be switched and also installed at both front and rear of home on a dedicated circuit. Exterior outlets can be protected at either the panel or at the outlet.  Canadian Electrical Code recommends that these outlets be installed horizontally, but this is not a code requirement. These outlets must be protected by a weather type box and seal when installed at an angle of 45 deg or less from the horizontal.

RECEPTACLES IN BASEMENTS 

An “Unfinished basement” is only required to have one duplex outlet. Any finished wall in a basement must fully wired. (Unfinished defined as wall not being finished to a height of 17.7 inches above floor.)

Washing machine should be on its own circuit and is in addition to minimum plug requirements.  These outlets are not required to be GFCI protected as long as they are kept no more than 23.6 inches above the floor and are located behind washing machine.

BATHROOM RECEPTACLES 

Bathroom with a wash basin must have a receptacle installed within 39 inches of one of the wash basins and it must be GFCI protected. All receptacles must be at least 39 inches from bathtub or stall shower. Rule 26-710(g) does allow minimum distance of 39 inches to be reduced to 19.7 in bathrooms that are very small and distance of 39 inches is not possible.

REQUIRED  RECEPTACLES  

Receptacles are required in every bathroom that has a basin; every enclosed balcony or porch; every kitchen for each refrigerator, behind every area for free-standing gas range; built in microwave ovens; one T-slot outlet for every fixed island counter space in kitchen; any eating area in kitchen must have electrical outlet. Garages are required to have one duplex outlet for every vehicle parking spot and be on a separate circuit with only lighting for garage being added.

POLARIZATION OF RECETACLES

This is by far the most common defect found during the home inspection. Each outlet has a brass and chrome plated terminal screw.  The hot wire always goes to the brass wire with the neutral going to the chrome plated terminal screw.  This is usually a quick fix which should only be performed by a qualified electrician, which involves just changing the wires around. Polarity tester finds these problems quickly and identifies which wiring is incorrect without removing covers.

SERVICE BOXES 

Any box used for service equipment must be marked with CSA or other Certification Agency’s label with the wording “suitable for use as service equipment” or similar wording.

JOINTS AND SPLICES

In branch circuit wiring all joints and splices can usually be made in outlet boxes, junction boxes so that junction boxes are rarely used. Junction boxes and other fittings with removable covers may not be buried in the walls or ceilings, these boxes and fittings must be set like any outlet box and remain accessible after the finish material is in place.

These are some of the common problems that are encountered by the Barrie Home Inspector, Roger Frost, during normal residential inspections. If you have any questions regarding any of these deficiencies, or want clarification on more technical issues, feel free to contact the Barrie Home Inspector at 705-795-8255 or barriehomeinspector@sympatico.ca