Am I being paranoid
1) To call for a licensed professional electrician to "verify and/or correct ground wire connection" when the SE ground wire goes into the dirt beside the house but the connection to a rod(s) or ufer lead is not visible for my inspection. I don't think so. If it was me I would want to know for sure. There is always the possibility that the connection was there when code inspected but torn up or cut off when backfilling foundation, grading yard, or sod installed.
2) Call for an electrician to check the installation, correct, and/or add a cover over a low-voltage transformer mounted in the ceiling of a bedroom closet. Yes, surface mounted to cover of junction box in ceiling; wired the transformer through the cover, exposed low-voltage side, probably for doorbell.

Attached Images

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The above statements are expressed solely as my opinion and in all probability will conflict with someone else's.
Stu

Transformer does not need a cover. Low voltage.

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The apostrophe troll.

I agree Gunnar, if it was in the hall, utility, master bedroom, or linen closet. But in a bedroom that could be used by kids is, in my catalog of personal experience, asking for trouble. Not that I was overly destructive (I was the most destructive child, according to my older sister) but when I was 8 to 15, give me a science book, a Popular Mechanics, Popular Electronics, or maybe a Boy's Life magazine, and I just had to see how things worked and what they would do. I had access to tools, and could always come up with a good story as to why I needed some wire, or potassium nitrate and sulfur (had charcoal).

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The above statements are expressed solely as my opinion and in all probability will conflict with someone else's.
Stu

Let's see, how much trouble is it to find a paper clip to insert in an outlet? Or take the outlet cover off to fool around inside the box?

We can't protect against everything.

As for the ground...since the ground rod is supposed to be all the way into the ground, we may not be able to see the top, or the clamp, or the ground wire attachment. If I can't see the ground rod, I will sometimes give the ground wire a yank and see if it comes out of the ground.

I agree. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean you should call for a sparky to verify. There's lots of things you can't see. It's supposed to be a visual inspection. I think you need a reason to be suspicious of the attachment to the grounding electrode.

If I can't see the rod I report that grounding was not confirmed and do not make an issue of it. Like Jack, if I see the conductor I'll give it a tug. If it doesn't pull out of the ground I'm happy.

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Eric Barker
Moraine Woods Consulting, Inc.
Barrington, IL

If I could not see the connection of the ground rod, I always wrote up to have the electrical contractor verify proper grounding while on-site doing other repairs (and I cannot think of one single house which did not need an electrical contractor to come out and make other repairs - thus, if you are worried about the cost factor, and we HIs should not worry about that), there is none ... UNLESS ... they have to dig and dig and dig and dig and then still don't find (or do eventually find) the ground rod connection - either way, though, it is worth it to your client to have that dug up, exposed, and checked. Even then, though, the cost is only around $50 ... because they are "already on-site" doing other repairs.

I've had electricians dig along the grounding electrode conductor for quite a ways before finding it loose at or from the ground rod, or cut off underground.

Just because you can't pull it out does not mean it is connected to anything.

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Jerry Peck, Construction / Litigation Consultant
Construction Litigation Consultants, LLC ( www.ConstructionLitigationConsultants.com )

Are you serious? You never did an inspection and DIDN'T call for an electrician?

No to the door bell transformer cover; If the grounding wire disappears into the ground and is 'secured' to something, it's good enough.

I don't call out a framer to verify top plate overlap that I can't see...

It's a visual inspection.

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We know why you fly: because the bus is too expensive and the railroad has a dress code...
www.atozinspector.com

Dead serious.

Are you saying you have found a house which had *NOTHING* electrical wrong with it?

All I can say is ... Holy Cow! Batman.

You are serious, aren't you?

EVERY receptacle was grounded, had GFCI protection, and it all worked, and there was NOTHING wrong with the service, service equipment, panels ... NOTHING WRONG with any electrical anywhere in the house?

Wow.

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Jerry Peck, Construction / Litigation Consultant
Construction Litigation Consultants, LLC ( www.ConstructionLitigationConsultants.com )

Mike,

You are talking about two entirely different aspects here.

One is like saying 'I can't verify how many nails are in each stud, what the spacing of the drywall screws/nails are, etc., how many nails are in each piece of sheathing, etc.'.

The other is checking the grounding of the entire house to its grounding system.

To each their own, but if I can't see it attached to the grounding rod (many times on older homes they used the wrong type of clamp above ground, and when that clamp is used below ground it's even worse), I always wrote it up.

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Jerry Peck, Construction / Litigation Consultant
Construction Litigation Consultants, LLC ( www.ConstructionLitigationConsultants.com )

If you can't find at least a couple of things wrong on ANY house, you're not looking close enough. I've never met any EC who was flawless, on roughs or finals. And if this is an existing house especially an older one, it should be easy to spot at least some violations.

A confession. I've seen plenty of electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofs, attics, exteriors, basements and crawls that I've made no comments on. And often, the conditions are not textbook, to the letter, absolute perfection.

Some of you may be astounded to hear an inspector actually admit to this. And others may understand that this can be a completely acceptable practice.

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Eric Barker
Moraine Woods Consulting, Inc.
Barrington, IL

Jack & Eric
If the GEC is not properly attached to the rod, it may come off when you pull it. This can be dangerous or even fatal.

Thanks Jerry - This is exactly the case. There was a basement family room with what looked like a new ceiling fan and light fixture that would not work. Bulbs were clear and I could see intact filaments. From the DED principle for HI - Detected: Non-working fan and lights; Evaluation: Possible improper wiring or faulty circuit that could manifest into other problems causing damage including personal injury; Direction: Professional licensed electrician repair as required. Also, had a missing wall receptacle cover and then, there was the ground wire. Ok, maybe I went a little overboard on the transformer in the bedroom closet ceiling, but then it was something else the electrician could check and let him/her, the qualified professional specialist, say it was low-voltage and not a safety issue.

Note on other comments:
I think just noting that you observed a ground wire but could not verify connection to a grounding device with out some kind of direction leaves the door open to a suit if ANYTHING in the electrical system causes damage or injury. Doesn't have to be a valid suit. Could be easily proved or disproved. But, there is the cost, lost time, frustration, and if you have E&O, a smudge on your reputation because the Insurer settled.

I'm not too sure how a paper clip and fiddling around inside a receptacle is going to prove a viable ground system. It might show how vulnerable one is to electrocution or how fast a circuit breaker trips. Not my job. Now, if I'm in a pre-70's house with 3-conductor outlets, I will pull of a random receptacle cover to check if a grounding wire is installed vs. a bootleg ground.

Maybe I'm weird, ok, I am, but I work for the client and I try to do every inspection like it was my own or for one of my kids. I learned early in my electronic/electrical training and experience, "Be Aware of the Assumptions You Make"

No one is forcing the client to do anything. I tell them that I try to give them the information they need to make decisions concerning the property in question. Nothing in the directions is a "DO THIS OR ELSE" mandate. Who does it, when its done, or how its done, if at all, is entirely up to them with the aide of their realtor (if there is one).

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The above statements are expressed solely as my opinion and in all probability will conflict with someone else's.
Stu

Many, many times on new or near new houses.....

So, it sounds like you're saying there is nobody (or, at least not in Florida) capable of properly wiring a house?

There is no such thing as correct..... EVER?

Never found it ... especially on "new or near new" homes.

Most of my business the last 3-4 years was "new homes".

"There is no such thing as correct..... EVER?"

No, "never", at least not that I was able to find.

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Jerry Peck, Construction / Litigation Consultant
Construction Litigation Consultants, LLC ( www.ConstructionLitigationConsultants.com )

Eric:

Beware. You are dangerously close to possessing common sense.
JLMathis