dangerous electrical installation: A Most Dangerous Electrical Junction Box
- 10/04/16 06:07 PM
A most dangerous electrical junction box.
Remember the phrase "Most excellent!" in the movie "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure?"
This junction box is not most excellent.
This is in the cellar of an older 1922 historic house in Northern Virginia.
Look closely.
Of course the cover is missing.
And the hole in the box is inappropriate.
There is a mishmash of old and new wires.
No ground line is bonded to the box.
And the wires are sticking out of the box.
But that is for a reason!
Do you see the reason?
The seller brought a new wire from upstairs to service the disposal. It merely connects to some other wires in … (8 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: Electrical Receptacles CANNOT Be Shared
- 07/26/16 06:50 PM
Electrical receptacles CANNOT be shared.
It's possible I have not seen this before. I don't think I have.
This homeowner decided to finish the basement.
Apparently a kitchen needed to be installed down there as well.
A portion of the basement had been finished by the builder, but all that needed to change.
But some of what the builder had done, like the electrical, was used by the homeowner, but in an improper way.
This is the new receptacle for the new kitchen range.
It is a high-amperage appliance, with a high-amperage wire. But the best place for the range was right where a receptacle from the previous … (8 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: Light Fixtures Like This Are Pretty Perhaps, But Dangerous!
- 07/18/16 08:39 PM
Light fixtures like this are pretty perhaps, but dangerous!
Codes may be minimal, but each of them exists for its own reason(s).
Basically codes are to provide a standard, a floor, from which to begin.
Any builder who says they build their houses strictly to code are not saying very much. There's nothing impressive in saying that.
But many codes exist for reasons of SAFETY!
I see chandeliers like the one on the right very often.
They are good looking! It's tempting to put them in a special place.
May I exhort you NOT to buckle to the temptation to install such fixtures over a bath tub or shower!
Standing … (14 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: How NOT To Create Two New Circuits To Finish A Basement
- 04/29/16 07:17 PM
How NOT to create two new circuits to finish a basement.
This house boasted a newly-finished basement. It had a family room, a new bathroom, and a finished laundry/storage room.
I knew there were electric problems when the bathroom GFI receptacle turned off the lights, fan, and another receptacle in the family room. Electricians don't do that. Permits don't allow that.
I had not been in the electric panel box, but knew something fun was in store.
On one side was a classic "double tap." Called a double lug, but referred to colloquially as a double tap, we see two black wires secured under one circuit … (11 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: This Wiring Would Not Be Approved By A Boy Scout Getting A Merit Badge
- 03/25/16 08:24 PM
For sure, this wiring would not be approved by a Boy Scout getting a merit badge.
There are more than 100 merit badges that a Boy Scout can earn. One of them is called "Electricity." This is one of the requirements to get the Electricity Merit Badge. The requirements take up two whole pages: "Complete an electrical home safety inspection of your home, using the checklist found in this pamphlet or one approved by your counselor. Discuss what you find with your counselor."
So, let's say a 13 year old is crawling around the house and sees this. I bet, I JUST BET(!), … (14 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: It Took Some Effort, But I Found This
- 03/23/16 08:07 PM
It took some effort, but I found this.
A furnace room was newly finished, with improper framing, wiring, and they tapped a GFI in the nearby bathroom to create the circuit for the lights and receptacles in this new room. Really professional.
To give a word to the work, it was a MESS.
A new sort of chase was created, apparently to hide an HVAC duct.
That would not be uncommon.
But, I knew from my experience that this area was also where a builder would leave, or people would have, a light fixture.
I could just feel it.
Given what I had seen already, in terms of … (15 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: A Light Fixture Just Hanging Around, Barely
- 03/22/16 06:58 PM
Looking up I noticed a light fixture just hanging around, barely.
I'm not sure what happened here - rot? Squirrel damage? But repairs, or "repairs," were done by someone. And not very well.
The electrical box, which used to be attached properly to the soffit, no longer is.
It's just hanging around!
And dangerously.
Looking closely, that is sheet metal.
Who knows when this wondrous repair was done, but it probably won't take long before that metal, and the wind, cuts into the wire's insulation and causes a short.
THIS "REPAIR" DEFINES THE WORD UNPROFESSIONAL.
It is ugly and wrong. Clearly it is covering the original problem, but who … (4 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: "New Attic Fan." But...
- 03/21/16 09:13 PM
The feature list said, "New attic fan." But...
Darn if I could find it.
I'm pretty sure I know where it is supposed to be.
Everything is ready.
But those wires are not safely ready to be used.
In fact, gee, aren't they touching?
Shouldn't those wires have a nut on top of each to keep them from touching?
Yes, yes they should!
Well, maybe they aren't hot.
Touching the wire with a tester proves that the wires are dangerously hot.
Dangerous? Yes, they are high, unprotected, and improperly hanging. Look how the metal sheathing has been unwound.
What should we see? Wires made safely ready for the installation of a future … (8 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: Inappropriate Use Of Extension Cords
- 11/18/15 06:43 PM
There are many means of inappropriate use of extension cords.
Extension cords are NOT meant for long-term, or permanent, wiring to operate appliances or fixtures.
Especially dangerous, and often seen, is when the cord is undersized for what is asked of it. I see extension cords, (and even speaker wires!), used to wire light fixtures and chandeliers.
It is especially bad when an extension cord passes behind a wall or ceiling.
This extension cord was seen in a basement that to me provided evidence had been finished without a permit.
This is an old receptacle on the wall, and was obviously there before the new wall … (18 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: A Dangerous And Virtually Unusable Kitchen Cabinet
- 07/27/15 07:28 PM
This is a dangerous and virtually unusable kitchen cabinet.
This is a new house! The homeowners have yet to settle. Nobody has lived in it.
There is an electric cook top tucked into the granite counter.
And this is what you see underneath.
First, of all there is so much extra and unnecessary electrical cable servicing the cook top it is embarrassing.
Second, it is all so dusty it is embarrassing.
Third, the downdraft exhaust fan mechanism and tubing are placed to take up so much space it is embarrassing.
Fourth, not only is there duct tape used in the installation, but it is so ugly it … (17 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: More Power, Scottie! But She's Giving You All She's Got, Captain!
- 06/18/15 07:55 PM
In a house recently I saw the so-called "Wonderfully Finished Basement!"
The sellers had bought the house from a Flipper. They did not get a home inspection.
The listing agent was VERY INTERESTED in the home inspection my clients had asked for. She wanted to know what was what. She said, "And I demand photos!"
Well, famous last words. I can provide enough photos to make her eyes bleed. And they set her up for all the disclosure issues that follow. In Virginia, sellers have no responsibility to disclose anything, but agents do!
Just walking into the wonderfully-finished basement I knew things would be interesting!
The … (16 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot - Charred Neutral Wiring
- 01/25/15 06:23 PM
When I saw the hot tub crushing, I mean, resting on the rear deck I stuck my hand in and the water was feeling hot, hot, hot.
Looking at the horribly unprofessional, I mean, interesting wiring to the hot tub and entering the house I knew it was a homeowner job.
Going into the basement and seeing the not-at-all surprising, I mean, obviously homeowner-finished basement I knew things would get interesting.
Opening the panel box and looking at the wiring I thought I heard Buster Poindexter in the background,
Me mind on fire -- Me soul on fire --
Feeling … (14 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: Is This Not Knowing Or Simply Not Doing It Right?
- 12/10/14 10:38 PM
I ask myself this a lot on home inspections regarding new installations - is this not knowing or simply not doing it right?
It's a valid question and the answer could be either or both!
For instance, looking at what was obviously a brand-new attic fan, I saw this:
But I noticed something immediately.
The fan was wired with a common extension cord.
The extension cord was of such a size that it could be grounded, but extension cords are not intended for permanent, or long-term electrical applications.
Not only is this not good, but there was no dedicated receptacle or … (20 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: How About A Really, Really Hot Bath?
- 12/05/14 06:14 PM
Who doesn't like hearing this - how about a really, really hot bath?
After a lot of work, a long day, shoveling snow, getting ready for bed - what's wrong with a hot bath?
NOTHING!
We love our hot water heaters!
You go to the bathroom, draw the bath, slide in and soak.
Sometime during the bath you think you might soap up, or just finish the bath and stand up to stretch.
And you touch Aunt Myrtle's special chandelier in just the wrong place!
Yes, you both thought it would be very pretty to have that very nice chandelier in … (27 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: Sometimes You See Electrical "Stuff" And Still Can't Understand It
- 11/02/14 06:10 PM
In older homes that have been lived in and "fixed up" by different people for a long time, sometimes you seel electrical "stuff" and still can't understand it.
This is a working switch.
It is a new but old switch.
It is wired incorrectly.
It is not grounded.
The wires aren't protected.
It controls three things simultaneously.
The mantle light used to be controlled by a builder-installed wall switch.
That wall switch now seems to do nothing.
When the new but old switch is turned on, all three things in the label turn on at the same time.
This is the … (26 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: Two Wires Diverged On A Wood
- 10/07/14 07:07 PM
Two wires diverged on a wood,
And I, I saw the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
On a pre-drywall inspection I saw a wayward traveler - a wire improperly placed on top of a piece of wood and vulnerable to damage.
Yes, a traveler vulnerable to mischief caused along its path by sharp instruments, blows with blunt objects - well, shocking things can result, all caused by highway thugs and miscreants.
This wire needs protection!
To sum it up, this is poorly installed. It's outside an upstairs bathroom and in a hallway. This spot is … (29 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: When An Electrical Junction Box Is Installed Dangerously
- 09/02/14 09:13 PM
This is a good example of when an electrical junction box is installed dangerously.
An electrical junction box is made to contain electrical wiring. The wiring should be properly connected (with wire nuts), and there should not be so much wiring that the mass of junctions overwhelms the volume of the box used. A cover made for the box should be easily installed after the connections are made.
All junction boxes come with holes, that can be knocked out on whatever side the wiring is entering. These holes, and the wiring going into them, are sealed with a connector clamp, which … (22 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: As Regards Smoke Detectors - I've Never Seen This!
- 08/05/14 08:34 PM
As regards smoke detectors - I've never seen this!
The fifteen year old house was in pretty good shape! Not much done - new appliances and so forth, but no remodeling! It was very well kept.
As I walked in I noticed that the smoke detector in the main level was new. Good! It should be, as the original one would have been too old. There was a another new one in the basement. This owner was well informed and on top of things!
Then on the upper level there was a similar and new smoke detector in the hallway!
Excellent!
… (48 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: Basement "Apartment"
- 06/15/14 08:18 PM
Anytime I see a basement "apartment" I know I am in for some fun.
Looking inside the panel box I knew they had done some wondrous new things to the house (6 double taps and one triple tap in an original, and very small, 125amp panel box), but I could not figure out where the wiring came from to service the basement "apartment."
It had two fluorescent light fixtures and three new receptacles. Each receptacle was overloaded, necessarily. They were all three-hole, but not one was grounded. But where did the electrical service for all that come from?
Looking up inside a … (14 comments)
|
dangerous electrical installation: Electrical Voltage Where And When It Should Not Be
- 03/30/14 08:36 PM
I'm never pleased when there are a lot of homeowner (or clever uncle) electrical "upgrades" in a home, but I am ESPECIALLY not pleased when there is electrical voltage where and when it should not be.
What you say? That's not so odd.
Unfortunately that would be a correct retort! But still, I am especially not pleased!
And you say, "Okay, okay, what's up this time Markanich. You are such a whiner."
Interesting you should say that - I was looking up!
The electrical issues in this house were bothering me, and at the end of the inspection we were all … (33 comments)
|
|
|
|
A most dangerous electrical junction box.
;)
;)
;)
