In the course of many a home inspection I find something that makes me scratch my head in wonder. Now when I find a Handy Homeowner fix or a weird install by a contractor, it’s not hard to understand that somehow the synapses in this person’s brain matter connected in such a way as to view their work as sensible and good. What really makes my head throb is when there are very likely multiple people involved in weirdness.
Take for example a recent rainy morning inspection. As I came around to the one side of the exterior, right where the main electric service is attached to the house, I saw this little bit of strangeness. The main service wires from the street had been run through the gutter down spout. Not only run through, but upon closer examination from they roof, they were resting on the leader.
There is no doubt more than one person was involved in the installation or saw the wires during construction of this five year old house. To add to the concern are the clamps. They are covered with electrical tape and not well at that. The tape will assuredly wear exposing the wire. If it contacts the gutter, which is aluminum and an excellent conductor, and a person were to then contact the gutter or down spout, zzzzzzt!
That could really ruin someone’s day.
So how was this viewed as okay by all involved?
James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
2010 - 2011 SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:
| Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services. | Learn more about our home energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®. |
Serving the Connecticut Counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London.
Comments(9)