Chelan, Okanogan and East Wenatchee Home Inspections- I am Legend

When performing a home inspection one of the items that are almost never up to standard is the Electrical Panel Legend or Index. This is that little list of all the circuits and what they control.

Why is this important?  It is important that in an emergency you are able to cut the power to that circuit or if someone is to work on that leg of the circuit they know what breaker to turn off.

This may take a little time (1 or 2hrs) but it is worth it.

Tools needed- (options here)

•A-     circuit outlet tester                            

•B-     A radio  or portable nightlight for outlets/receptacles

•C-     circuit breaker tracer, a two piece electrical test set -example    

•D-     A friend to help!

•E-      Patience!!!!

Step One -Locate your breaker or fuse panel. It will usually have breaker that are single pole or double pole. Double pole breakers supply 240 volts to some equipment in the house such as the dryer, electric water heater, electric stove, electric baseboard heating, water pump, etc.

Step Two- Turn off and/or unplug any sensitive electrical equipment (TVs, computers etc.)

Step Three- Get a notebook or piece of paper so you list breaker numbers, and everything that is powered from that breaker.  Allow plenty of room to add items as you go. You will notice that most panels list odd numbers on the left and even number on the right.

If the breakers are not numbered in the panel, then number them yourself. You can label the panel.

Step Four- Turn on all the lights in and around the house.

Step Five- Identify the double breakers first.

If you have a well with a pump (this is a motor and will most likely be on a double pole breaker).  Turn on some faucets on in order to draw some water which will start the pump. Then turn off double breakers until the pump goes off. Turn the breaker back on and if the pump goes back on, you have found the water pump breaker.

For electric baseboard heat each section of baseboard heater should have its own double breaker. Turn the thermostat temperature up and shut off one double breaker at a time. Give the sections a minute or so to cool down and the cool one is the one that is controlled by the double breaker that you turned off. Repeat to identify all double breakers that control the sections off baseboard electric heat.

For the Stove use the clock or plug on your electric stove to determine its breaker. Only use a burner as a last resort and don't forget to turn it off.

Find your electric dryers breaker by turning the dryer on and shutting off double pole breakers until dryer goes off.

 If you have built in air conditioning (not the portable unit that plugs into the wall socket in any room) turn on the air conditioning and turn off double breakers until the air conditioning goes off.

One of the hardest 240 volt (double breaker) circuits to find is an electric water heater because it makes no noise when it is operating. It is best to find this breaker after all the others have been identified. By using the process of elimination you should be able to isolate the electric water heaters double breaker. When you do you can verify this by shutting off the double breaker and running the shower or tub until you use up the hot water. (The other way to test the breaker is to take one of the covers off the water heater and test for voltage but this exposes you to live voltage which we do not want to do unless you know what you are doing)

Step Six- Single pole breakers usually control lighting and wall sockets/receptacles.

To determine what each single breaker controls by turning each one off one at a time. Now using the lamp, radio or outlet tester go test each electrical receptacle. Observe which lights go out. Determine which individual breakers control the electricity to all the electrical devices and lighting in each room.  Do not forget the basement, attic, garage and any outbuildings that have power.

Now all of your breakers should be identified. If there are any breakers left they may be spares, so don't worry about them for now.

There may be a few things easily missed so make sure you have them all-  attic fans, gutter heaters (in cold areas), outdoor services for lighting, outdoor pool area, sump pumps , sewer pumps, outbuilding power supplies ,radiant heat systems, water pipe heating tape( in cold areas) and aquarium heaters etc.

Chelan, Okanogan and East Wenatchee Home Inspections- I am Legend

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington.