Electrical
Exercise the breakers in the panel
Every year, in April.
What to do
Switch each breaker fully off and back on, one at a time, and feel the panel cover as you go.
Why it matters
A breaker is a mechanism and a mechanism that never moves can seize, so the one that has been on for ten years is the one that may not trip when it matters. Cycling it also gives you a reason to put a hand on the panel, and heat is the first sign of a loose connection.
What to look for
- A breaker that feels gritty or will not seat firmly
- Any warmth on the panel cover or on a breaker face
- A burnt or fishy smell at the panel
- Rust or water staining inside the cover
- A breaker that trips as soon as it is reset — leave it off and call an electrician
- Any circuit whose label no longer matches what it actually controls
Where this comes from
Travelers Canada New Home Maintenance Manual, Appendix G, "Check electrical breakers" (section 10.11). No code reference: CSA C22.1 Section 26 is behind a subscription nobody here has, which docs/alberta-code-required-systems.md already records as a gap. April so this and the GFCI test are one visit to the panel.
Catch it while it’s still maintenance.
Domisura keeps this schedule for your house — dated to when things went in, and reminding you when each task comes round. The record stays with the address when you sell.
Start a record for your homeGeneral guidance, not professional advice. For gas, electricity, structure or water, get a qualified trade.