An electrical inspection gives you a clear picture of your home's electrical health. Whether you are buying a home, selling one, or simply want peace of mind about a house that has been in the family for decades, a professional inspection identifies hazards, code violations, and capacity limitations before they become emergencies. Unity Power & Light provides thorough, documented electrical safety inspections throughout Aiken, SC and surrounding areas.
Many Aiken homes were built in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s -- an era when electrical loads were a fraction of what modern households demand. A home that was wired for a few lights, a refrigerator, and a window air conditioner is now expected to support central HVAC, multiple televisions, computers, kitchen appliances, and EV chargers. An inspection tells you whether your home's electrical system can safely handle what you are asking it to do, and what needs to change if it cannot.
When You Need an Electrical Inspection
There are several situations where a professional electrical inspection is not just helpful -- it is essential.
Buying a Home
A pre-purchase electrical inspection reveals hidden problems that a general home inspection often misses. You will know the true condition of the panel, wiring, and grounding before you close, and you can negotiate repairs or price adjustments based on the findings.
Selling a Home
A pre-listing inspection lets you address electrical issues before buyers discover them. Fixing problems proactively avoids last-minute renegotiations and demonstrates that you have maintained the property responsibly.
Home Is 25+ Years Old
Wiring, panels, and connections degrade over time. Insulation on older wire becomes brittle and cracks. Connections loosen. Breakers wear out. If your home has not had an electrical inspection in 25 years or more, it is overdue.
After Storm Damage
Lightning strikes, fallen trees, and flooding can damage wiring, panels, and grounding systems in ways that are not visible from the outside. An inspection after a major storm confirms whether your electrical system is still safe to operate.
Before a Major Renovation
Adding a room, finishing a basement, or remodeling a kitchen increases electrical demand. An inspection before you start reveals whether your panel and wiring can support the new load or need to be upgraded first.
Insurance Requirement
Some insurance companies require an electrical inspection before issuing or renewing a homeowner's policy, especially on older homes or homes with known panel brands like Federal Pacific or Zinsco.
After a Fire or Flooding
Fire and water both damage electrical systems severely. Even if the damage appears contained to one area, heat and moisture can compromise wiring and connections throughout the house. A full inspection is necessary before restoring power.
Concern About Safety
Flickering lights, warm outlets, frequently tripping breakers, buzzing sounds from the panel, burning smells, or sparking when you plug something in -- any of these symptoms warrants an immediate inspection to identify the underlying cause.
What We Inspect
Our inspection covers every accessible component of your home's electrical system. We follow a systematic checklist to ensure nothing is overlooked.
Our Inspection Process
Visual Inspection of All Accessible Electrical
We walk the entire property -- interior and exterior -- examining every accessible electrical component. This includes outlets, switches, light fixtures, the panel, the service entrance, and all visible wiring in the attic, basement, crawl space, and garage.
Panel Assessment
We open the electrical panel and inspect its brand, amperage rating, breaker condition, wiring connections, and overall state. We identify known-defective panel brands (Federal Pacific, Zinsco, Challenger) and check for signs of overheating, corrosion, or double-tapped breakers.
Outlet and Switch Testing
We test every accessible outlet and switch for proper operation, correct polarity, and secure grounding. We use professional testing equipment to identify wiring faults that are invisible from the outside.
GFCI Testing
We test every GFCI-protected outlet to confirm it trips and resets correctly. A GFCI outlet that does not trip when tested provides zero protection against electrical shock and must be replaced.
Written Report with Findings and Recommendations
After the inspection, we compile a detailed written report that documents everything we found, organized by priority level. You receive this report within one to two business days of the inspection.
What You Receive
Our goal is to give you a clear, actionable understanding of your home's electrical condition -- not a vague summary, but a document you can use to make informed decisions.
Common Findings in Aiken Homes
After inspecting homes throughout Aiken and surrounding communities for years, we see certain issues repeatedly. Knowing what to expect can help you understand why an inspection matters.
Federal Pacific & Zinsco Panels
These panels were installed in thousands of homes from the 1950s through the 1980s and are now widely recognized as defective. Their breakers frequently fail to trip during an overload, creating a serious fire risk. We recommend replacement of these panels whenever we find them. Read more in our detailed blog post: Federal Pacific Panels in Aiken, SC: What You Need to Know.
Ungrounded Outlets
Many older Aiken homes have two-prong outlets with no ground wire. Some homeowners or previous owners replaced these with three-prong outlets without actually running a ground wire -- creating the appearance of grounding where none exists. Our testing identifies every ungrounded outlet in the house.
Missing GFCI Protection
Kitchens, bathrooms, garages, basements, and outdoor outlets all require GFCI protection under current code. Homes built before the mid-1980s often have standard outlets in these locations with no ground-fault protection, leaving occupants at risk of electrical shock.
Aluminum Wiring
Single-strand aluminum branch circuit wiring was used in many homes built between 1965 and 1973. Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, which causes connections to loosen over time. Loose connections generate heat, and aluminum wiring fires are well documented. We identify aluminum wiring and recommend appropriate remediation.
Cloth-Wrapped Wiring
Homes built before 1960 often contain wiring insulated with cloth rather than modern thermoplastic. Cloth insulation becomes brittle with age, cracks, and falls away from the conductors, leaving bare wire exposed inside walls. This is a fire and shock hazard that warrants rewiring.
DIY Wiring and Overloaded Circuits
Previous homeowners often add outlets, light fixtures, or circuits without permits or professional knowledge. We frequently find junction boxes without covers, splices made outside of boxes, wires secured with tape instead of wire nuts, and circuits loaded well beyond their rated capacity.
For a deeper look at electrical concerns in older homes, read our blog post: Electrical Safety in Older Aiken Homes: What Every Homeowner Should Know.
Inspection Pricing
Our standard residential electrical inspection covers the full scope described above and takes approximately two to three hours depending on the size and age of the home.
If the inspection reveals issues that require repair, we can provide a separate flat-rate quote for the recommended work. The inspection fee is not applied as a credit toward repairs -- the inspection is a standalone service that gives you an unbiased assessment regardless of whether you hire us for any follow-up work.
Schedule Your Electrical Inspection
Serving Aiken, SC and surrounding communities including North Augusta, Graniteville, New Ellenton, Jackson, and Clearwater. Get your flat-rate quote today.