What’s in a 4-Point Electrical Inspection in Fort Myers Homes | CoHarbor Electric

What’s in a 4-Point Electrical Inspection in Fort Myers Homes

If you’ve ever tried to renew homeowners insurance here in Fort Myers, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the phrase “4-point inspection.” It’s one of those things that pops up when you least expect it — usually right after your insurance company says, “We just need this before we can approve coverage.”

And if you’re like most homeowners, that’s when the questions start: What is it? Why do they need it? And what exactly are they looking for?

We’ve done hundreds of these inspections across Lee County — from older riverfront homes built in the 60s to newer builds out east of I-75 — and while every house is different, the electrical part of that 4-point inspection always tells us the same story: how safe, updated, and code-compliant your home’s wiring really is.

So, if you’re trying to understand what’s involved, here’s a breakdown of what we look for — in plain English — and why it matters more than most people realize.

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What Is a 4-Point Inspection, Anyway?

A 4-point inspection is a limited-scope home inspection that focuses on four major systems:

1. Electrical

2. Plumbing

3. HVAC (Heating & Cooling)

4. Roof

Insurance companies require it for homes that are 15 years or older — and here in Fort Myers, that’s most of them. The goal isn’t to nitpick; it’s to confirm the house is safe and that there aren’t any high-risk issues that could lead to fire, water damage, or system failure.

When it comes to the electrical portion, that’s where we come in. Our job is to identify safety hazards, outdated materials, and code violations that could increase fire risk or cause insurance denial.

If you ever need a deeper look than what the insurance form requires, our full inspection FAQ walks through what’s included in a complete, whole-home electrical inspection for Fort Myers homes.

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Why the Electrical Portion Matters So Much

Electrical problems are one of the leading causes of home fires in Florida. Between outdated wiring, undersized panels, and DIY “repairs” over the years, older homes can hide some real surprises behind the walls.

Insurance companies know that — which is why they put such heavy weight on this section of the report. If your home still has aluminum branch wiring, a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel, or visible signs of deterioration, they’ll almost always flag it.

The good news? Most of these problems are fixable, and we’ve helped plenty of homeowners pass inspection after a few targeted repairs or upgrades.

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What We Check During a 4-Point Electrical Inspection

Let’s get into the details. When we do a 4-point inspection, we focus on the following key areas:

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1. The Main Electrical Panel

This is the heart of your home’s electrical system. It’s where power from the utility connects and distributes through your circuits.

We check for:

• Panel brand and model. Certain brands — like Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) and Zinsco — are known fire hazards. If we find one, we’ll recommend replacement immediately.

• Amperage rating. Older homes often have 60A or 100A panels that aren’t up to modern demand. Today’s homes need at least 150–200 amps to safely power everything from AC to EV chargers.

• Signs of overheating. We look for discoloration, melting, rust, and breaker corrosion.

• Double taps or overloaded breakers. These are common in older homes where people added circuits over time without expanding capacity.

• Proper grounding and bonding. A missing or loose ground can be a serious safety issue.

We also note the condition of the wiring entering the panel — frayed sheathing or damaged conduit is a red flag.

If you’re still in the house-shopping phase, our Fort Myers–focused buyer’s walkthrough checklist shows you how to spot obvious electrical red flags before you even order a formal inspection.

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2. Wiring Type and Condition

Wiring tells us a lot about when your home was built — and whether it’s been updated since.

We look for:

• Copper vs. aluminum. Homes built in the late 1960s through mid-70s often used aluminum branch wiring, which expands and contracts with heat, loosening connections over time. That can cause arcing — basically tiny sparks — inside outlets or switches.

• Cloth-covered wiring. This older style wiring (common pre-1960) degrades over time and lacks modern insulation protection.

• Knob-and-tube wiring. Rare around here, but occasionally found in historic Fort Myers neighborhoods. It’s considered unsafe and uninsurable.

• Splices and connections. We check that wire connections are enclosed in junction boxes, not taped and buried behind drywall.

If we find aluminum or cloth wiring, you don’t necessarily need a full rewire. In many cases, we can “pigtail” the wiring — connecting copper leads at every device with approved connectors — to make it insurance-compliant.

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3. Outlets, Switches, and Fixtures

We walk through accessible rooms and check:

• Outlet grounding. Older homes often have two-prong outlets, which means no ground. That’s an issue for modern appliances.

• GFCI and AFCI protection. Kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor areas must have ground-fault protection. Bedrooms should have arc-fault protection.

• Signs of heat damage or discoloration. Melted faceplates or “crunchy” outlets are red flags.

• Polarity and voltage. We test several outlets to ensure wiring’s not reversed or loose.

We also look for loose switches, buzzing dimmers, or flickering lights — all signs of potential wiring or neutral issues.

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4. Visible Wiring and Conduits

Anywhere wiring’s exposed — attics, garages, crawl spaces — we inspect for:

• Cracked or missing conduit

• Open junction boxes

• Wires in contact with insulation or sharp edges

• Rodent or moisture damage

If you’ve had renovations or additions, we make sure all electrical extensions were done properly and permitted.

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What Happens After the Inspection

After we’re done, we provide a clear written report with photos, notes, and recommendations.

If everything looks good, we’ll sign off and you can submit it to your insurance company right away. If there are issues, we’ll list what needs to be repaired — and, if you want, we can handle the repairs ourselves so you can pass the re-inspection without delay.

We make the process simple: no technical jargon, no finger-pointing, just honest feedback about what your home needs to stay safe and insurable.

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Common Problems That Fail Inspections

Here’s a quick list of issues that often cause homeowners trouble:

• Federal Pacific, Zinsco, or Challenger breaker panels

• Aluminum or cloth-covered wiring

• Missing GFCI protection

• Double-tapped breakers

• Ungrounded outlets

• Exposed splices or open junction boxes

• Loose neutral wires

• Overfused circuits (wrong breaker sizes)

We see these every week, and they’re all solvable. Most can be fixed in a day with the right materials and know-how.

If your 4-point report calls out an older or unsafe panel, this guide to insurance panel upgrades explains what adjusters look for and how the right upgrade can protect both your home and your policy.

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Real Example: Fort Myers Beach Re-Inspection

One homeowner on Fort Myers Beach called us in a panic after their insurance denied renewal because of “electrical hazards.” They had a 1965 panel and aluminum wiring throughout.

We replaced the old panel with a modern 200A Square D load center, pigtail-connected all aluminum branch circuits using copper-rated connectors, and added GFCI outlets in the kitchen and bathrooms.

They passed inspection the next day — and their insurance premium dropped afterward.

That’s what we like to see.

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How We Handle It at Coharbor Electric

When you call us for a 4-point inspection, we:

1. Inspect the full electrical system (panel, wiring, outlets, grounding).

2. Document everything with photos and clear notes.

3. Explain any problem areas in plain language.

4. Provide repair options and pricing if needed.

5. Submit a professional inspection form suitable for insurance review.

We’ve built strong relationships with local insurers, so our reports are trusted and accepted without hassle.

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Wrapping It Up

A 4-point electrical inspection isn’t just a box to check for insurance — it’s a safety snapshot of your home’s most critical system.

If your house was built before the 2000s, it’s worth knowing what’s behind those outlets and inside that panel. A little attention now can prevent a fire, shock, or denied insurance claim later.

Once you’ve made sure the wiring and panel are in good shape, our surge protection FAQs explain how whole-home surge devices help protect that investment from Florida lightning and utility spikes.

👉 Call Coharbor Electric today to schedule your 4-point electrical inspection. We’ll give your system a thorough, honest review and make sure it’s safe, compliant, and ready for peace of mind — no stress, no surprises.

We make electrical safety simple, straightforward, and built for Fort Myers homes that have stood the test of time.