What Fails a Home Electrical Inspection?

What Fails a Home Electrical Inspection?

A home electrical inspection evaluates whether the electrical system meets the current edition of the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC) and is safe for occupancy. Inspections are required after new electrical work, after a permit is pulled, and sometimes during real estate transactions or insurance renewals. Failing an inspection means the system has deficiencies that must be corrected before a Certificate of Inspection can be issued.

Common Inspection Failures

• Missing or improper GFCI protection: Bathrooms, kitchens within 1.5 metres of a sink, garages, unfinished basements, and outdoor outlets require GFCI protection under the OESC. Older homes that have not been updated are frequently cited
• Improper wiring at the panel: Double-tapped breakers (two conductors under one breaker terminal), undersized wiring for a breaker’s ampacity, missing knockouts, or wiring that enters the panel without proper strain relief
• Exposed or damaged wiring: Unprotected Romex cable in locations where it is subject to physical damage, damaged insulation, or conductors without proper connectors or terminations
• Missing junction box covers: Open junction boxes with exposed wire connections are a code violation — all connections must be accessible and enclosed in a box with a cover
• Aluminum branch circuit wiring not remediated: Single-strand aluminum conductors terminated at devices not rated for aluminum (not marked AL or CO/ALR)
• Grounding deficiencies: Missing equipment ground conductors, improper grounding electrode system, or neutral-ground bonding violations in sub-panels
• Overcurrent protection mismatch: A 20-amp breaker protecting 14 AWG wire (which is rated for 15 amps only)

EZSMART performs electrical work to Ontario Electrical Safety Code standards and obtains permits and inspections for all permitted work. If you need to bring an existing system up to code before an inspection, contact us for an assessment and remediation quote.

Amir Azimipour

Electrician Since 2008 Journeyman Electrician Designated Master Electrician at EZSMART Corp