When you stop and think electricity hasn't been inside homes all that long, about 100 years. In the beginning wiring was what might best be termed experimental. Safe was not a word anyone would use to describe the first wiring methods in homes. Of course wiring methods progressively became safer to where they are today. But older wiring is still around in many homes and I find it quite frequently during home inspections.
Most often when I find the old stuff it is tucked away in a location not often frequented by anyone in the home. As they say out of sight out of mind. Then along comes Mr. Home Inspector poking into every nook and cranny.
Yet there are times when antiquated wiring is right out in the open. The homeowners literally walk by it every day. At that point it must simply become part of the woodwork. Like driving the same route day after day, you stop paying attention to the scenery. But just like driving a new route, inspecting a home can be similar. The scenery is familiar, walls furniture and the like, but it's not the old familiar territory.
Take for example this covered back porch. It has the usual amenities, the old exposed bulb wired somewhat haphazardly and stuff piled against the wall.
"Stuff" is a home inspector's nemesis. Lots of nasty things can hide behind stuff. Sometimes bad things are intentionally hid behind the stuff, but that's another blog.
The stuff here was almost hiding a nasty little electrical problem that had become part of the scenery. On the right almost covered by a board is an old fuse block.
I tested the exposed conductors and yes it's live. This fixture had become such an accepted part of the every day scenery it had been painted.
Maybe the homeowners thought it was okay because it wasn't in the house or it was in a corner or high up the wall. Whatever the reason it had become part of their everyday scenery. Not much attention was paid to the potential hazard as is clear by the stuff piled all around the fuse block.
We can get complacent with the everyday familiar things around us. Not really paying attention to something that could hurt us or someone else because it has blended into our scenery.
Stop and think. Is there anything in your scenery that might need your attention?
James Quarello
SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
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