I am selling my home and the inspector noted three 15 amp breakers with 12 ga wire. He flagged it as something to be checked by an electrician. Is this an unsafe situation? The buyer is concerned. How much of a concern should this be? If it is not unsafe, what is the explanation for why is should not be a concern?

Thanks for your help.

John

I would not think it to be dangerous, as 12 gauge wire is able to safely carry 20 amps.
You can use a 14 gauge wire for 15 amps.

Since the whole purpose of a circuit breaker is to be the weak link in the electrical chain, and to trip before the wire can overheat, having too heavy a wire would not be a safety issue.

The only issue might be with building/electrical code, but electrically I think this would be safe.

Hope this helps,
WallyH

15 amp breakers with 12 AWG wire is not a problem.

If they are connected to 20A receptacles, I'd change one or the other to match

I agree it shouldn't be a problem, yet I wouldn't jump to install a 20A breaker, because we have no idea if the original installer installed 14AWG on that circuit.

Meaning: They may have mixed the wire sizes for some odd reason

Here is Canada

15Amp are for lights, switchs etc. It is call 14/2 and the wire is white.
The 12/2 red wire is dedicated to electric heating and 220V goes through it.

14 Gauge need to be use with 15Amp breaker
12 Gauge with a 20Amp breaker ( under 20 Amp)

In your case you have a 12Gauge wire connected to a 15Amp breaker.

The wire can take 20Amp but not the breaker, the breaker will trip if you surpass 15A. You are safe.

If you had a 14Gauge with a 20Amp breaker that won't work!

If there is a problem with the load (ie motor overheating ) the amp will rise to maybe 18Amp. The 20Amp breaker will see nothing since it trip over 20Amp and the wire might melt because it is rated to 15Amp and you 18Amp going in it.

the rest is more info

Let take a 4800W garage heater.

Watts / Voltage = Amps

4800W / 220V = 21.8 Amp

So this mean

12 Gauge is for under 4800W
10 Gauge is for 4800W and + heater

Inspector was hard up to find something to justify his bill. Get a licensed electrician (prob better to let the buyer pick an electrician) to evaluate the situation and do what he recommends. Can you remove the 12 ga wire from the 15A breaker, splice a short piece of 14 ga to it and then connect the 14 ga to the 15A breaker (if OK with the electrician)?
This is nitpicking but if it is necessary to satisfy the buyer you don't have much choice.

15 Amp. Breaker needs 14AWG wire, nothing in the code book prohibit you from using a large wire gauge. There is nothing unsafe with using 12AWG wire as long it is done properly.