Home inspection question electric panel

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 01/29/2020 07:21 PM EST

Are home inspectors supposed to tell you if panel is double tapped?

Sherry:

We don't know the circumstances of the home inspection or your local standard of care. What I can see in the photo are typical conditions found in older panels. It looks like several of the grounded conductors (white insulation) need separation into their own terminal slots. Additionally, most panels allow 2, and some 3, equipment grounds (bare copper) in a terminal slot. Seems one or more need correction. This was commonly done until about 15 or so years ago when the NEC became specific regarding terminal slot loading for grounded conductors and grounds and the limitations. It's an easy fix for an electrician.

Thank you for the reply, I had an electrician come out and he said the house needed re wired, and this should have been called out in the home inspection. There is no main breaker to shut down the house, there are no grounds anywhere, my kitchen appliance cant even be ran because of the electrical.

I would suggest a second opinion. I see equipment grounds in the photo. If there are 6 or less disconnects to de-energize the home no main was required in older homes. Often tradespeople apply new codes to old homes when in fact compliance with modern codes is not required for existing systems. New work will most likely need to be "permit-ed" and comply with modern requirements. Thank you.

Understood, thank you so much for your time

Thank you for the reply, and that vis the problem. He stated everything was good and did not say I needed an electrician to come in.
Since my original post we have discovered that the kitchen, bathroom and the carport turned into a bedroom was all done with no permits and is a huge part of the electrical issue! The city said it has to be torn down and turned back into a carport for covered parking rules in my city. So the 3 bed house i bought is nothing that it was represented. It is such a nightmare.

Sherry40tigger wrote:Thank you for the reply, and that vis the problem. He stated everything was good and did not say I needed an electrician to come in.
Since my original post we have discovered that the kitchen, bathroom and the carport turned into a bedroom was all done with no permits and is a huge part of the electrical issue! The city said it has to be torn down and turned back into a carport for covered parking rules in my city. So the 3 bed house i bought is nothing that it was represented. It is such a nightmare.

Was the seller the one that did this? Or was it a previous owner?