Ashburton homes often mix original wiring with modern renovations, extensions and added circuits—making polarity faults, switchboard overload and missing RCD protection easy to miss until something trips or fails.
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We test outlet polarity to confirm active, neutral and earth are correctly wired. Incorrect polarity can make appliances and switches behave unpredictably and increases shock risk, particularly where older sockets have been replaced or circuits have been altered during renovations.
We check the switchboard’s visible condition, labelling, signs of heat stress, and whether modern protective devices appear present. A compromised or outdated board can be a bottleneck for safety, especially where additional circuits have been added over time in Ashburton family homes.
We identify whether safety switches appear installed and note any obvious gaps in coverage across circuits commonly used for kitchens, laundries, outdoor areas and bathrooms. Missing or incomplete RCD coverage can leave high-use areas without fast disconnection protection during a fault.
Where safely accessible, we look for visible wiring issues such as deteriorated insulation, unsupported cabling, exposed conductors, or non-compliant joins. These warning signs often show up in roof spaces, underfloors or near recent alterations and should be addressed by an electrician.
We note the presence of smoke alarms and any obvious issues with placement or condition. While a full compliance certification is handled by specialist providers, our assessment helps flag where alarms are missing, outdated or poorly located so you can act quickly.
We highlight items that commonly trigger compliance concerns—such as older-style fuses, DIY additions, or outdoor power points without appropriate protection—then prioritise them by safety risk. This gives you a practical list to discuss with a qualified electrician before settlement or before works begin.
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They can, particularly where an older home has had partial upgrades over decades. In Ashburton, it’s common to see new power points and lighting added while some original cabling remains. That mix increases the chance of inconsistent polarity, aging insulation, or non-compliant joins. An Electrical Safety Assessment helps identify these risks at accessible points so you can engage an electrician with specific evidence.
No. Our assessment is a safety-focused inspection and polarity test designed to identify visible hazards and common risk areas, then recommend what needs electrician attention. A compliance certificate or formal electrical testing and tagging is performed by a licensed electrician under their regulatory obligations. Many buyers use our findings to brief an electrician for any required rectification or certification work.
We visually assess the switchboard for condition, obvious defects, and the apparent presence of modern protective devices such as RCDs. We can flag red flags like heat damage, poor labelling, older fuse styles, or signs the board may not suit current household demand. The final decision and any upgrade work must be completed by a licensed electrician after hands-on testing.
Renovations can introduce added circuits for kitchens, split systems and outdoor living areas, sometimes layered onto older electrical infrastructure. In Ashburton, we often see a mix of old and new fittings, inconsistent safety switch coverage, and outdoor power that should be RCD protected. Polarity issues can also arise where outlets have been replaced over time. Our assessment focuses on these common change-over points.
Time varies with property size and access, but most assessments can be completed during a standard inspection appointment. Please ensure safe access to the switchboard and that power is connected so polarity testing can be performed at selected outlets. If you have renovation paperwork or notes on recent electrical work, share them—this helps us target areas where alterations are more likely to have introduced faults.
Still have questions?
Contact us for more informationACE Building and Pest Inspections focuses on polarity testing, switchboard risks and safety switch coverage so you know exactly what to raise with an electrician—call 0413 163 187.