Outdated Panels
Older houses still have fuse boxes, or breaker panels that cannot carry a modern load. Federal Pacific, Zinsco, and Challenger panels are a particular problem. Their breakers are known fire hazards.
The fix is a modern breaker panel that meets the current National Electrical Code, sized for the house as it is used now.
Knob-And-Tube and Aluminum Wiring
Houses built before the 1970s may still have knob-and-tube wiring or aluminum branch circuits. Both become fire hazards as insulation fails and connections loosen.
The lasting repair is copper. When a full replacement is not practical, aluminum can sometimes be remediated by pigtailing it to copper connectors. That is a judgment made on site, not a shortcut for every house.
Ungrounded Outlets and Missing Gfci Protection
Two-prong outlets have no equipment ground. Kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and outdoor receptacles also need GFCI protection where the code requires it.
The work is to replace ungrounded outlets with grounded three-prong outlets where a ground exists, and to add GFCI protection in the wet locations.
Overloaded Circuits
Older houses were wired for fewer appliances than they hold now. The symptom is a breaker that trips, or a wire that runs hot.
The repair is more outlets and dedicated circuits for the heavy loads, often with AFCI protection where the code calls for it.
Do-It-Yourself Wiring
A home inspection often finds switches, junction boxes, and splices that were done without a license. Those fail code even when the light still comes on.
A licensed electrician has to open the work, correct it, and leave it in a condition that will pass.
Exposed Wiring and Open Boxes
Basements, attics, and garages are where open splices and bare cable usually hide. Both are shock and fire hazards.
Every splice belongs in a covered box, and cable that can be damaged belongs in conduit or another listed covering.
Grounding and Mixed Wiring
Some older services were never bonded and grounded the way a modern panel has to be. Other houses have two kinds of wire in the same circuit, loose connections, or cable that was never stapled.
The inspection says which of those is actually present. The repair is a grounding upgrade, a rewire of the bad run, or both.
Before a Sale
These findings delay closings and cut the price. Fixing them before the buyer's inspector arrives is simpler than negotiating them afterward. A house should be looked at every 5 to 10 years, a business every 3 to 5, and either one before it changes hands.