Missing knock out plug, no big deal… maybe?

Missing knock out plug, no big deal… maybe?    Wenatchee and Quincy Home Inspection Services

Ah another tale from the traveling home inspector.

One of the things we do is to provide safety information. Many times people think it may be not that important or relevant. And for them it may not be. We all live with risk on a daily basis.

On this particular home inspection I was letting my client know that the electrical panel was missing some knock-outs in the panel and that they should have proper plugs installed.

                                 

The reason for this is twofold. One we want to prevent entry by insects, rodents and debris into the panel and two if a fire starts in the panel we want to contain it in the service panel.

Here is a perfect example of why this may come into play. A home in Florida was completely engulfed from an electrical fire that started in the panel.

                             

                                  (Photo courtesy of Bill Siegel - The Florida Home Inspection Team)

Per Bill Siegel of The Florida Home Inspection Team-

(Why the house burned) “This is a result of a missing knock out (as determined by the insurance adjuster). There was a missing plug on the fuse panel. A fire started inside the box. Because the box was not enclosed the flames jumped out of the box and ignited something nearby and this is the end result.

That one little plug may not have prevented this from happening, but it might have slowed it down and minimized some of the damage.”

                                                         

In most situations this will never come into play but like many safety items we want them to be there when needed.  Sometime the simplest of devices can prevent a major catastrophe.

Ancora Imparo

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com                                               509-670-9572