Electrical Inspections in Arlington, VA

Challenge

A buyer was purchasing a 7,500 square foot estate in Great Falls built in 1992 with multiple additions completed over three decades. The property had a main panel, three subpanels, a pool equipment panel, a detached garage panel, and an outdoor kitchen electrical system. The general home inspector spent 15 minutes on the electrical system and reported no concerns.

Solution

Our 5-hour comprehensive inspection examined all six panels and 47 circuits. We identified a Zinsco subpanel in the pool house, a 60-amp subpanel fed by undersized wire from a 1998 addition, improperly bonded gas piping to the outdoor kitchen, missing GFCI protection at the pool equipment, and inadequate grounding at the detached garage. Our 22-page report included 68 photographs and thermal imaging scans.

Challenge

A couple under contract on a 1978 colonial in Vienna requested a comprehensive electrical inspection. The general home inspector had noted the panel was 'older but functional.' The buyers needed detailed documentation before finalizing the $1.2 million purchase, particularly since they planned to add an EV charger and expand the kitchen.

Solution

Our inspection revealed a Federal Pacific Stab-Lok panel with multiple double-tapped breakers, no GFCI protection in the kitchen or bathrooms, ungrounded outlets throughout the second floor, and aluminum wiring branch circuits in the addition. We provided a 14-page report with photographs, severity ratings, and repair cost estimates totaling approximately $12,000.

Challenge

A homeowner in a Herndon townhome community needed to sell quickly due to a job relocation. Their real estate agent recommended a pre-listing electrical inspection after previous sales in the community had been delayed by electrical issues. The home had been owned by a DIY enthusiast who performed their own electrical modifications over 15 years.

Solution

Our inspection identified 11 code violations including improperly wired subpanel in the garage, reversed polarity at four outlets, missing junction box covers in the attic, and a 30-amp breaker on a 14-gauge wire circuit serving the basement. We provided a prioritized report separating safety hazards from code deficiencies, with repair quotes for each item.

Challenge

A severe summer derecho caused a tree to fall on the service entrance mast of a 1968 split-level in Springfield. Power was restored by the utility company, but the homeowner noticed intermittent flickering, burning smells near the panel, and their HVAC system cycling erratically. Their insurance company required a licensed electrical inspection before processing the damage claim.

Solution

Our inspection using FLIR thermal imaging revealed a compromised service entrance cable with damaged insulation, three loose bus bar connections generating dangerous heat signatures, and water intrusion into the panel enclosure from the damaged mast seal. We documented all findings with thermal images and photographs formatted for the insurance claim, and provided a detailed repair scope and estimate.