Room-by-room home electrical safety inspection guide

Room-by-room home electrical safety checklist: outlets, switches, lighting, wiring, load and panel. See when to add RCD protection and call an electrician.

Carrie Harper, Editor

Generated by DALL·E

Take a systematic walk through your home and give the electrics a calm, careful once-over. Room by room, start with the essentials below.

Outlets: are they safe?

Check every outlet in turn and watch for the following.

  • A loose faceplate or housing — a sign of damaged mounting or weakened contacts.
  • A plug that wobbles or slips out — poor contact; the outlet should be replaced.
  • A warm surface after use — a risk of overheating.
  • Sparks when you plug in — call an electrician immediately.
  • Soot marks or yellowed plastic — indicators of aged wiring.

Additionally:

  • Do not daisy-chain extension cords or power strips.
  • In bathrooms and kitchens, look for moisture protection rated IP44–IP55.

Switches: do they work consistently?

Test every switch in the home. Warning signs include:

  • The rocker sticks or needs excessive force.
  • Crackling sounds from inside the housing.
  • Light flickers during a normal press.

These symptoms point to poor contact or a worn internal mechanism.

Electrical panel: the heart of the home

Open the panel cover and make sure everything looks in order. Check for:

  • Clearly labeled breakers (lighting, kitchen, air conditioner, water heater, etc.).
  • No odor of melted plastic.
  • No noticeable heating on a breaker’s body.
  • An RCD or RCBO protecting wet zones (bathroom, kitchen).
  • If there is no RCD, it’s the first upgrade to consider for safety.

Lighting fixtures: match the wattage

For each fixture, check the marking inside.

Important:

  • If it says "MAX 60W," do not install a 75W or 100W bulb.
  • With LED lamps, make sure the driver isn’t overheating.
  • E27 and E14 sockets should show no soot or cracks.

Wiring: condition and age

No need to open walls — a surface-level assessment is enough.

Signs of outdated wiring:

  • Aluminum conductors (common in buildings from the 1960s–1980s).
  • No grounding (outlets with only two holes).
  • Breakers often trip when appliances are switched on.
  • Lights dim when a powerful device is running.

If two or more signs show up, consult a professional.

Household load: how safe is it?

Make a simple list:

  • Refrigerator
  • Washing machine
  • Water heater
  • Air conditioner
  • Kettle / microwave / iron
  • Space heater
  • Electric stove

If several high-draw appliances share one circuit, the breaker will be under constant strain.

Home electrical safety red flags

If any of the following are present, a check is needed:

  • An outlet gets hot.
  • A burning smell is noticeable.
  • Sparking anywhere.
  • Lights flicker for no clear reason.
  • Extension cords are chained together.
  • Appliances shut off on their own or brightness jumps.
  • The washing machine tingles when touched with a damp hand (current leakage).

What every home should have

  • RCD or RCBO
  • Fire extinguisher (CO₂ or powder)
  • Working extension cords or power strips with overload protection
  • Spare breakers (for the panel)
  • A list of emergency phone numbers

Bottom line: when do you need an electrician?

Call a professional if:

  • a breaker trips regularly;
  • outlets or switches heat up;
  • a burning smell appears even once;
  • appliances frequently shut off without a clear reason;
  • the home is 25–30 years old and the wiring has never been replaced.