Electrical Articles
Articles on Electrical from Russ Motyko, a Certified Master Inspector with 3,000+ inspections in Oregon and Washington.
Knob-and-Tube Wiring: The 2026 Insurability Crisis
Insurers are dropping or declining homes with knob-and-tube wiring in 2026. What Portland-area agents and buyers need to know before closing on older homes.
Overloaded Circuits and Daisy-Chaining: Identifying the Most Common Consumer Electrical Misuse
Overloaded circuits and daisy-chained power strips are common findings in home inspections.
Smart Electrical Panels: What Predictive Monitoring and Load Shedding Actually Do
Smart panels monitor energy use, predict problems, and shed load automatically. Here's how they work and what inspectors...
Underground Service Latent Defects: When the Utility Feed Fails Without Warning
Underground electrical service lines fail slowly, without obvious warning signs. Here's what latent defects look like and what...
What Is GFCI Protection: And Why It Shows Up in Almost Every Inspection Report
GFCI protection is one of the most common inspection findings in Portland homes. Here's what it does, where...
Knob-and-Tube Wiring in Portland Homes: What Buyers Need to Know
Portland homes built before 1950 often have active knob-and-tube wiring. Learn what it is, what inspectors look for,...
Exposed Wiring Without a Junction Box: What This Inspection Finding Means
Electrical connections that are not enclosed in a junction box are a code violation and a fire hazard.
Neutral Wires Not Isolated at the Electrical Panel: What This Finding Means
When multiple neutral wires share a single lug in the electrical panel, each wire's connection is compromised.
Smoke & CO Detectors in Portland Homes: What Agents Need to Know
What agents need to know about smoke and CO detector requirements in Oregon and Washington homes, what inspectors...
Electrical Systems in Portland Homes: What Agents Need to Know
What Portland-area agents need to know about electrical findings in older homes: what's common, what's significant, and what...