Storm passed? Inspect before you assume.
Post-storm electrical inspection is cheap insurance against latent damage — surge effects, water intrusion, and component stress that doesn't show until later.
By Steven Lockhart · Reviewed by Alex Towery, C-10 #989290
Updated 2026-06-16
Post-storm electrical inspection is recommended after: any direct lightning strike on or near the property; flood or significant water intrusion event affecting electrical components; tree-on-house or tree-on-service-drop incident even if 'no obvious damage'; power outage of 24+ hours (especially if it ended with multiple PG&E reconnect cycles); any incident where you observed arcing, flickering, or unusual smells from electrical equipment. Inspection scope: panel, service entrance, exposed branch circuits, GFCIs, surge protectors, generator/battery systems if present. Cost typically $200-$400.
01What latent damage looks like.
Storm damage isn't always immediate. A surge event can degrade insulation in wiring or breakers without causing immediate failure — the equipment continues to function but at reduced reliability. Months later, the degraded insulation breaks down under normal load, producing a fault or fire. A water-intrusion event can leave small amounts of moisture in junction boxes or panel that doesn't cause immediate problems but produces corrosion over weeks to months. A tree-impact event can shift conduit or service components in ways that don't appear damaged but have reduced structural integrity for the next storm.
The economic case for post-storm inspection: $200-$400 inspection cost vs $1,500-$10,000+ for delayed-failure repair plus appliance/property damage plus potential fire scenario. Insurance often covers post-storm inspection as part of standard storm-damage claim scope; ask your adjuster. Even self-pay, the cost is small compared to risk avoidance.
02Inspection scope.
Panel and main components
Open panel, visual inspection of bus bars for corrosion or moisture marks, breaker terminals for tightness and discoloration, breaker bodies for signs of stress. Thermal imaging of panel under load (where available) identifies high-resistance connections. Test main and branch breakers for normal trip function. Inspect grounding system for any displacement or damage.
Service entrance and exterior
Inspect weatherhead, mast, riser conduit, meter base for any damage, water marks, or component shift. Check seal integrity at all penetrations. Confirm exterior outlets and GFCIs are functional, weather covers intact, surge protectors not compromised by surge events (some indicate state visually).
Branch circuit spot check
Test GFCIs in kitchen, bathrooms, garage, exterior. Test AFCIs at panel. Spot-check outlets in storm-affected areas (rooms near roof leaks, basement, exterior walls that took weather). Look for any unusual behavior — flickering lights, warm switches, unusual outlet feel — that may indicate latent damage.
03When to schedule.
Best timing: within 1-2 weeks after the storm event has fully passed. Earlier is better but allow time for full drying of any water-affected components before inspection (otherwise you may identify 'moisture present' that's just transient). For widespread storm events, post-event inspection demand is high — book early in the recovery period.
Combine post-storm inspection with proactive remediation. If inspection finds issues, addressing them in the same visit or sequence saves time and lets you treat storm damage holistically. Insurance scope often allows bundling inspection + identified-issue repair under the same claim, with the inspection itself often covered as legitimate diagnostic scope. Document everything inspector finds, even if no immediate repair is needed — useful baseline for any future event or claim.
Common questions.
Is post-storm inspection required by code or insurance?
Not generally required, but recommended after significant events. Some insurance policies include or recommend inspection scope after major storm damage claims; check your specific policy. Building code doesn't require post-event inspection unless damage triggered a building permit (like service entrance replacement). The recommendation is best-practice, not regulatory mandate.
My power came back on without any obvious issue — do I still need inspection?
Depends on what happened. Brief outage (under 4 hours) with smooth restoration: inspection probably not needed unless other indicators present (lightning nearby, tree-on-service, etc.). Extended outage (24+ hours), multiple reconnect cycles, or any storm event with direct property impact: inspection is reasonable. Better to know than to assume.
What does the inspector actually find that I wouldn't notice?
Often: subtle corrosion inside panel, loose terminations that weren't loose before, surge protector that absorbed an event and needs replacement, GFCI or AFCI that's no longer functioning correctly, water mark inside an outlet box from a roof leak you didn't know about. These are typically not visible without opening panels and outlet boxes, which is electrician scope.
How is post-storm inspection different from a regular electrical safety inspection?
Mostly similar scope but with attention focused on storm-specific damage patterns: water intrusion, surge effects, mechanical damage from impact. A general safety inspection looks at code compliance, age, and overall condition. Post-storm inspection adds storm-event-specific signs. We sometimes combine them — full safety inspection with storm-event focus — for slightly more thorough scope at modest incremental cost.
How do you handle pricing — flat fee or hourly?
Both, depending on scope. Routine service calls and predictable scope (panel replacement, EV charger install, transfer switch install, fixture replacement) are flat-fee quoted up front. Diagnostic visits and emergency scope are hourly because we don't know what we'll find. Either way, you get a written quote before work starts on anything significant, and we don't proceed beyond the quote without your sign-off.
How quickly can you schedule?
Depends on scope and season. Emergency dispatch: same-day across Marin County (1-3 hours business hours, 1-4 hours after-hours). Same-day standard service: 3-6 hours from call when capacity allows; otherwise next business day. Scheduled service work: 1-3 weeks typical. Larger projects requiring permits and PG&E coordination: 4-12 weeks depending on scope. We're upfront about timeline at the quote stage.
What warranty do you offer on work?
Our standard residential warranty: 2 years on labor, manufacturer warranty on parts (varies by product — typically 1-10 years). Major installs (panels, generators, EV chargers) often have longer manufacturer warranties (5-10 years). If there's an issue with our work in the warranty period, we come back and fix it at no cost. We also stand behind work past warranty — repeat customers and referrals matter more than a transactional fix.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. California State License Board C-10 Electrical Contractor #989290, in good standing. Carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance as required by California law. Bondable on projects requiring it. Happy to provide proof of insurance to clients or property managers on request. License lookup: cslb.ca.gov.
Emergency response across Marin County.
Same-day dispatch for safety scenarios. Typical on-site time 1-3 hours weekday, 1-4 hours after-hours.