Electrical Articles
Articles on Electrical from Russ Motyko, a Certified Master Inspector with 3,000+ inspections in Oregon and Washington.
The Overhead Electrical Service: Mast, Weatherhead, Drip Loop, Tree Limbs and Who Owns What
Leaning masts, leaky mast flashing, no drip loop and wires through trees. What Russ finds where the power line meets the house, and what the owner maintains.
Missing Outlet Covers, Open Junction Boxes and Pointed Panel Screws: The Small Electrical Findings
Cover plates, weather covers and junction box lids keep fingers and water away from live wiring. What Russ...
Small Electrical Panel Findings That Still Matter: Missing Labels, Cover Screws, White Wires Used as Hot and Debris
Russ found small panel issues at 116 houses: missing labels, wrong or missing cover screws, unmarked white wires...
Loose, Worn-Out and Ungrounded Outlets: What Russ Finds With a Plug and a Tester
Loose, worn-out or ungrounded outlets came up at 101 of Russ's inspections. Why plugs fall out, what an...
Exposed and Unsecured Cable in Crawlspaces, Garages and Attics: When Wiring Needs Protection
Russ found exposed, unsupported or unprotected cable at 74 houses. Where Romex needs support and protection, and the...
Outdoor Outlets: Missing Weather Covers, Dead Outlets and No GFCI Protection
Missing or broken weather covers and outdoor outlets with no GFCI protection came up at about 30 of...
Dead Doorbells and Video Doorbells That Don’t Ring the Chime
Doorbells that didn't work and video doorbells with no chime connection came up at 33 of Russ's inspections....
Ceiling Fans That Wobble, Click or Won’t Turn Off: What Russ Notes
Ceiling fans that wobbled, made noise, didn't respond or ran on a dimmer came up at 21 of...
Grounding and Bonding at the Electrical Service: Ground Rods, Water Pipes, Gas Lines and the Bonding Jumper
Loose ground clamps, gas bonds on painted pipe, a water pipe ground lost in a repipe. What grounding...
A Vancouver, WA House Fire Was Traced to a Federal Pacific Panel. Here Is What to Check in Yours.
Vancouver's fire marshal tied a May 2026 house fire to an overloaded circuit on a Federal Pacific panel....