Service & maintenance
Electrical maintenance, before it breaks.
Wyatt Electric keeps homes in Harford County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City running safely: panel checkups, outlet and GFCI testing, smoke and carbon monoxide alarm replacement, and the small jobs that pile up between projects. One visit, findings in plain English, and a price for anything that needs fixing before we start.
- ★5.0 · 12 Google reviews
- 4 Master Electricians on staff
- Licensed & insured
- Veteran owned
- 5.0 stars12 Google reviews
- Since 198640 years in business
- 4 MastersMaster Electricians
- Veteran ownedLicensed & insured
- ESGR 2010Above & Beyond Award
The short answer
Does my house need an electrical inspection?
If it's more than 25 years old, nobody has opened the panel since you moved in, you're about to add a big load like an EV charger or heat pump, or you've noticed warm outlets, tripping breakers or flickering lights: yes. A licensed electrician opens the panel, tests the protection devices, checks the alarms and tells you what's fine and what isn't.
- Panel cover off: scorching, corrosion, loose or double-tapped breakers, and brands with a history of failing
- GFCI and AFCI protection tested, and missing protection flagged where today's code calls for it
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms tested and dated; Maryland law requires replacing smoke alarms at 10 years
- Outlets, switches and cover plates checked for heat, looseness and reversed wiring
- Grounding and bonding, surge protection and the condition of the service entrance
- A written list of what we found, in order of urgency, with a price for anything you want fixed
What a maintenance visit covers
The checkup your house never gets.
Furnaces get serviced. Cars get inspected. Electrical systems mostly get ignored until something trips, sparks or goes dark. Here's what we look at.
Panel and breakers
Cover off. We look for heat damage, corrosion, loose or double-tapped breakers and overloaded circuits, tighten what's loose, and label the panel so you can find the right breaker.
Outlets, switches and GFCIs
We test every GFCI and AFCI device, check outlets for heat, looseness and wiring faults, and add GFCI protection where water and electricity meet.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Every alarm tested and checked for its manufacture date. Expired or battery-only units get replaced with the sealed 10-year or hardwired units Maryland law calls for.
Grounding, bonding and surge
We confirm the system is grounded and bonded properly, and that a surge protector, if you have one, is still doing its job.
Outdoor and garage
Weatherproof covers, GFCI protection on exterior and garage outlets, and the condition of outdoor lighting, well pump and HVAC disconnects.
The small-job list
A dimmer that buzzes, a loose fixture, a dead outlet, a wobbling ceiling fan. Bring the list and we'll work through what we can while we're there.
How a maintenance visit works
One visit. No surprises.
- 1
Book it, and tell us about the house.
Book online or call or text 410-557-8557. The age of the house, the last time anyone opened the panel, and anything you've noticed all help.
- 2
We inspect, test and take photos.
A licensed electrician works through the panel, devices, alarms and outdoor equipment. Most homes take an hour or two.
- 3
You get the findings in plain English.
What's fine, what's worth watching, and what needs fixing, with a price for each. Nothing gets fixed without your OK.
- 4
Small fixes on the spot, bigger ones scheduled.
A failed GFCI or an expired alarm we can usually swap the same visit. Panel or wiring work gets a permit and a date.
When to book
By the calendar, and by the signal.
Maryland has no rule on how often a home needs an electrical inspection. These are the times one pays for itself.
The house is 25+ years old and never inspected
- Why it matters
- Connections loosen, breakers wear, and the code has changed several times since the house was wired.
- What we do
- A full inspection, then a list in order of priority.
Adding an EV charger, heat pump, hot tub or generator
- Why it matters
- New loads can push an older panel past what it can carry safely.
- What we do
- A load check and panel inspection before the new circuit goes in.
Buying, selling or renting out a home
- Why it matters
- Home inspectors flag electrical items, and landlords are responsible for working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- What we do
- Fix the report, or get ahead of it before the inspector arrives.
After a storm, surge or long outage
- Why it matters
- Surges use up surge protectors and can damage connections you can't see from the room.
- What we do
- Check the panel, grounding and the surge device's status indicator.
Every few years, regardless
- Why it matters
- Alarms expire, GFCIs fail quietly, and small problems are cheap to fix early.
- What we do
- A checkup, with alarms replaced as they reach 10 years.
| Situation | Why it matters | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| The house is 25+ years old and never inspected | Connections loosen, breakers wear, and the code has changed several times since the house was wired. | A full inspection, then a list in order of priority. |
| Adding an EV charger, heat pump, hot tub or generator | New loads can push an older panel past what it can carry safely. | A load check and panel inspection before the new circuit goes in. |
| Buying, selling or renting out a home | Home inspectors flag electrical items, and landlords are responsible for working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. | Fix the report, or get ahead of it before the inspector arrives. |
| After a storm, surge or long outage | Surges use up surge protectors and can damage connections you can't see from the room. | Check the panel, grounding and the surge device's status indicator. |
| Every few years, regardless | Alarms expire, GFCIs fail quietly, and small problems are cheap to fix early. | A checkup, with alarms replaced as they reach 10 years. |
Smoke alarms must be replaced 10 years after their manufacture date under Maryland law, whether hardwired or battery-powered. Sources are listed at the bottom of this page.
Google reviews
What our customers say.
“Great service and very friendly. I called last night about an electrical problem with a receptacle box in my basement. The tech, Dave, was at my house at 7:30 this morning and was able to quickly diagnose and fix the issue. Really nice, professional and excellent service and work. I would recommend them to anyone.”
“Nick is very responsive, reasonably priced and great communicator - he was recommended to us and took care of some small jobs, then diagnosed and fixed another problem on very short notice before settlement on a property. Highly recommend!”
“We absolutely love Wyatt Electric. Everyone we’ve worked with has been so friendly, professional, and dependable. They show up on time, explain everything clearly, and do top-quality work every single time. It’s such a relief to have electricians we fully trust and we won’t use anyone else!”
Maintenance questions
Before you book.
How often should a house get an electrical inspection?
There's no fixed schedule in Maryland. We suggest a checkup every few years for most homes, and sooner for houses over 25 years old, a home you've just bought, or before adding a big load like an EV charger or heat pump.
What does Maryland law say about smoke alarms?
Replace every smoke alarm 10 years after its manufacture date, hardwired or battery. Battery-only alarms must be sealed 10-year units with a hush button; the deadline to swap out older battery alarms was January 1, 2018. A hardwired alarm has to be replaced with a hardwired alarm with battery backup, not a battery-only one.
Do I need carbon monoxide alarms?
Maryland requires them in rental units and in homes built under a permit issued since 2008 that have a fuel-burning appliance or an attached garage, and Harford County requires them when permitted work is done on an existing home with either. Rules aside, if you burn gas, oil or wood, or park in an attached garage, you want one outside each sleeping area and on every level.
Will you find things just to sell me work?
No. Plenty of visits end with everything in good shape. When we do find something, you get a photo, the reason it matters and a price, and you decide. Nothing gets fixed without your OK.
Can you do repairs during the same visit?
Usually, for small things: a failed GFCI, an expired alarm, a loose outlet. Panel and new-circuit work needs a permit in Harford County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City, so we schedule it and pull the permit.
Is this the same as a home inspection?
No. A home inspector looks at the whole house, usually without opening the panel, and writes a report; they don't repair anything. We open the panel, test the devices and can fix what we find. If you already have an inspection report, see our home inspection repairs page.
Can you check my generator or EV charger too?
Yes. We check the transfer switch, generator connections and charger circuit as part of the visit. Engine service on a standby generator is a separate job, usually on the schedule the manufacturer sets.
How do I get a price?
Book a visit online or call 410-557-8557. We explain what we found and the price of any fix before the work starts.
Where we work · Service & maintenance
Three jurisdictions, one crew.
Each one has its own permit office and code edition. We work in all three and pull the permits ourselves.
- Harford CountyJarrettsville, Bel Air, Fallston, Forest Hill and the rest of the county.Electrician in Harford County
- Baltimore CountyTowson, Hunt Valley, Phoenix, Monkton, Sparks and the rest of the county.Electrician in Baltimore County
- Baltimore CityRowhomes and older houses across Baltimore City.Electrician in Baltimore City
Related services
When the checkup finds something.
Sources
- Maryland State Fire Marshal: statewide smoke alarm law reminder (December 2017)
- Baltimore County Fire Marshal: Maryland smoke alarm law
- Harford County: carbon monoxide detectors (Public Safety Article, Title 12, Subtitle 11)
- NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (2020 and 2023 editions)
- Harford County: permits, Permit Center and 2023 NEC adoption (Bill 24-06)
- Baltimore County Permits, Approvals and Inspections: electrical inspections
- Baltimore City Building, Fire and Related Codes, Part III (NEC 2020)
- Baltimore City DHCD: ePermits
Book a checkup
Haven't had the panel open in years?
Let's take a look.
Book online in about a minute, or call or text 410-557-8557, Monday–Friday, 7am–6pm. We confirm by text, and a licensed electrician shows up in your window.
Burning smell, sparking or no power? Don't book online. Call now: 410-557-8557