🔎The Mystery of the Missing Breaker — and How It Left New Homeowners High and Dry

The Inspection Insider

The Inside Scoop for Buyers, Sellers, and Realtors

The washer worked during the inspection, but after moving in, the new owners discovered it wouldn’t power on. What they found in the electrical panel left everyone scratching their heads...

The Case of the Vanishing Breaker: A Homeowner’s Powerless Predicament:

Imagine moving into your new home, unpacking boxes, and finally feeling settled—only to find that your washing machine refuses to power on. That’s exactly what happened to one unlucky couple, and the reason behind it was as baffling as it was frustrating.

The home inspection had gone smoothly. The buyers had asked me to checked the washer and its dedicated plug-in during the inspection, and everything worked perfectly. The buyers had even followed the Possession Day Checklist, which helps homeowners spot issues before they become headaches. But despite all that preparation, something still went wrong.

After moving in, the new owners discovered their washer wasn’t working. No power, no lights, nothing. Naturally, they assumed the worst—maybe the washer was broken. To troubleshoot, they ran an extension cord from another outlet, and sure enough, the washer roared back to life. The problem wasn’t the washer; it was the outlet.

Their realtor called me, wondering if I remembered whether the washer and outlet were working on inspection day. I knew they had been—I'm pretty diligent about checking those things.

I asked her to take a look at the electrical panel to see if the breaker for the washer was simply switched off. A few minutes later, she texted me a photo of the panel.

Breaker - No breaker!

The slot for the washer breaker was empty—just a lonely cover that had slid down when the breaker was removed (where it should have been). I scrolled back through my inspection photos and sent her a picture of the same panel from inspection day. Sure enough, the washer breaker had been there, clear as day.

The realtor contacted the seller's agent, who got in touch with the previous owner. The seller's response? "I didn’t think the new owner would need it."

I have no idea what they were thinking—maybe they assumed the new owners would run the washer off batteries or harness lightning like some kind of modern-day Ben Franklin. Whatever their logic, removing the breaker was an incredibly odd move and one that could have led to costly electrical work if we hadn’t caught it.

The takeaway here? Document everything. As a home inspector, I rely heavily on photos not only to show what’s wrong but also to prove what was right (or there) at the time of inspection.

And for homeowners, that Possession Day Checklist isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a critical tool to spot issues before they become expensive surprises.

Next time you’re moving in, make sure to check your panel. After all, who knows what someone might have decided you “wouldn’t need”?

Pro Tip of the Week

Before calling an electrician for a non-working outlet, check your electrical panel — a missing or tripped breaker could be the simple fix. Don’t forget to check your GFCI/AFCI plugs and breakers to make sure they are not tripped.

What’s Coming Next Week?

Next week: How one DIY roofer turned their home into a patchwork quilt with six different types of shingles — and the costly lesson they learned.

Ron Henderson, CMI
Certified Master Inspector

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