Insurer asking for an ESA inspection on a Kanata purchase: why?

Because some insurers want one before they cover a home with aluminum wiring. The Electrical Safety Authority says: "Some insurers will not provide or renew insurance coverage on homes without an ESA inspection." It adds that you may need to repair or replace the wiring and provide your insurer with a copy of the ESA Certificate of Acceptance.

ESA says homes built between the mid-1960s and the late 1970s may have aluminum wiring, and that "aluminum wiring is safe if proper connections and terminations are made without damaging the wire." For knob-and-tube wiring, ESA says many insurers will not provide or renew coverage, and recommends an assessment by a Licensed Electrical Contractor, which it says is different from a home inspection because it only focuses on the electrical.

A home inspection is a separate step. Ontario.ca lists plumbing and electrical systems "where visible" among the things an inspector will typically examine, so an inspector may note the type of wiring they can see. An inspector cannot clear the wiring or tell you what your insurer will accept.

A few things to sort out:

• Ask your insurer, in writing, exactly what it wants to see: an ESA inspection, a Certificate of Acceptance, or both.
• If work is needed, that is for a Licensed Electrical Contractor; wiring repair and replacement are covered on electricalottawa.ca.
• How the insurer's answer fits your offer and your condition dates is a question for your agent or lawyer.

Ontario.ca's buyer options after an inspection also apply here: ask the seller to make certain repairs, accept a defect and deal with its consequences, ask for a price adjustment, or not buy the home.

Get the insurer's requirement in writing first; it tells you which document you need before closing on the Kanata house.