Electrical Inspection in Logan Square, Chicago

Logan Square's multi-unit buildings require a structured approach. We start in the basement: service entrance and meter bank, main panel or main disconnect, and the feeders serving each unit. In a three-flat, that means evaluating the shared building service, the individual unit feeders, and the condition of the basement common space wiring.

At the unit level, we evaluate each unit's sub-panel, test every accessible receptacle for grounding and polarity, check GFCI and AFCI coverage, identify wiring type in accessible locations, and note fixture and device conditions. In plaster-and-lath greystone construction, visible wiring access is limited; we work from the basement, attic, closets, and any accessible wall cavities.

For buyers purchasing a two-flat as an owner-occupied investment, we structure the report to distinguish owner-unit findings from tenant-unit findings and building-scope items from unit-scope items. That helps the buyer understand post-closing priorities.

Coach houses present for inspection when they're part of the sale. Logan Square coach houses typically have a 60-amp sub-feed from the main building and their own small sub-panel; we evaluate the feeder, the panel, and the branch circuits including any existing garage or workshop wiring.

• Three generations of wiring in the same building — Greystone three-flats commonly show original 1910s K&T in upper-floor walls, a 1950s-era fabric-insulated re-pull in the common areas, and 1990s NM cable where kitchens were updated. These systems require proper junctions and overcurrent coordination that is often missing.
• Pushmatic or Zinsco panels in basement electrical rooms — Common in greystones that received a partial upgrade in the 1970s or 80s. Pushmatic breakers are notorious for sticking in the closed position; Zinsco panels have documented failure-to-trip issues. Both affect insurability.
• Shared neutrals between units — In buildings wired as single structures before condo conversion or separate tenancy, circuits frequently share neutrals across unit boundaries. This creates shock and fire risks and causes nuisance AFCI tripping.
• Improperly metered units — A three-flat that was separated for individual tenancy without proper metering work means one tenant is paying for another's electricity — or the landlord is absorbing shared circuits into the common bill. We document metering configuration and identify cross-connected circuits.
• Missing grounding and CSST bonding — Greystones that received partial electrical updates often lack proper grounding electrode systems and the CSST gas-pipe bond that Chicago code requires.
• Inadequate sub-feed capacity for ADU plans — Coach houses and basement units that owners want to convert to ADUs often have sub-feeds sized for light use; a legal ADU requires a 100-amp minimum service with proper grounding and metering separation.

E&P Electric has worked inside Logan Square's greystone three-flats and two-flats for more than 30 years — replacing Pushmatic panels in boulevard buildings, separating metering for tenants on Kedzie, and designing electrical service for coach house ADU conversions. We understand the greystone's structural reality: plaster walls, masonry construction, limited chase access, and landmark designation implications on the boulevard-facing elevations.

Our inspection reports are structured for Logan Square's transaction types — investment purchases, owner-occupied two-flats, and ADU-in-progress properties. We write clearly, distinguish building-scope from unit-scope, and note the Landmarks Commission implications where they apply. Repair quotes are separate from the inspection fee.