Special offer

Color Coordination Is More Important Than You Think!

By
Home Inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. TN Lic#050

We hear the latest and greatest on HGTV and similar programs about color coordinating your house with your accessories to bring out all the pizzazz a oomph to your home. But, you knew that this was coming, color coordination is also important in electrical wiring.

Having been a licensed electrician and electrical engineer, yes, licensed electricians, or supposedly so, are supposed to know what the wire color coding standards are for residential, commercial and industrial applications PEROD. HVAC contractors in the State of Tennessee must also be licensed electricians. What is common to all industries is the color green. Green is the universal color code for ground or earth ground and is not to be used for any other purpose than grounding appliances, equipment, or house hold items. The black neutral wire in the upper left background is supposed to be white. DUH!

While inspecting a rehab in Nashville, Tennessee’s East side, with a brand new HVAC unit, I opened a panel for the HVAC system and found that the wires powering the unit, although appropriately sized, were the wrong color for the application. It just goes to show the inept or lazy workforce that we have out there working on our homes. Maybe they thought that no body would know or catch them. Heh, Heh, Heh, I did.

Is there any debate on why your buyers need a good qualified home inspector?  

Posted by

Complete Home Inspections, Brentwood TN 615.661.0297
 

Comments(12)

Sean Allen
International Financing Solutions - Fort Myers, FL
International Financing Solutions

Green is such a purdy color. Can't they just leave it the way it is.... just to be different?

Sean Allen

May 22, 2008 01:46 PM
Ritu Desai 703-625-4949
Samson Properties - Chantilly, VA
Northern Virginia,Washington DC & Maryland Realtor

I never doubt on not getting a home inspection. Even its a smallcondo its worth to get it check out by professional. We did an inspection couple month back on a new construction, they roof thrust I belief or a beam was cut down by the HVAC company that installed the heat pump and the builder's supervisor did not know about ..we found out at the inspection and it was a load bearing beam.

May 22, 2008 02:04 PM
David Holden
DRH Home Inspection Akron, Ohio Summit County Home Inspector - Akron, OH
DRH Home Inspection Akron, Ohio Summit

WOW, they could have a least used a sharpie marker on the ends, LOL

May 22, 2008 02:31 PM
Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

Whoever put it in thought no one would probably ever look at it as long as it was working properly.  Little did they know you would be coming along.

May 22, 2008 06:27 PM
Susie Blackmon
Ocala, FL
Ocala, Horses, Western Wear, Horse Farms, Marketing

Little did the HVAC guy know that the Electrical Wiring Policeman would catch him!

May 22, 2008 09:58 PM
Charlottesville Solutions
Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA

Is that called a double ground? lol

Guess they just ran out of wire and only had green left...

May 23, 2008 01:19 AM
Latonia Parks
Top Bragg Realty, Fayetteville NC, Home of the 82d ABN DIV - Fayetteville, NC
Certified Military Relocation Expert

Duh is right since this is not my place of expertise.  Keep your badge handy.

May 23, 2008 12:22 PM
Atlanta's Home Inspector, David Lelak IHI Home Inspections
IHI Home Inspections 404-788-2581 - Canton, GA
Experience the IHI Difference

I can't say anything, I'm too busy laughing.  Glad you caught up with them.....

May 23, 2008 12:31 PM
Barb Overmann
Keller Williams Realty - Lugoff, SC

Home inspectors rock!  Though I once had a home inspector that decided to comment that a screw was lose, rather than just tightening it.  It took longer to talk about it than to fix it!

May 23, 2008 12:33 PM
Debbie DiFonzo
Debbie DiFonzo - United Country VIP Realty, SW Missouri - Lebanon, MO
Lebanon MO and Buffalo Missouri Real Estate

A qualified home inspector really is a must in this day and age.

However, your blog brings up another excellent point: a home inspector that uses technology is priceless.

I recommend three home inspectors that all use photos in their reports. There are a few local inspectors that use a checklist form only and no photos are included. While they may be competent they don't make my short list. I think the client needs to see the good, the bad and the ugly - all in COLOR.

May 27, 2008 03:03 PM
Frank Schulte-Ladbeck
Frank Schulte-Ladbeck Professional Real Estate Inspections - Houston, TX

Just as a note: brown wires are the standard for grounds in many places of the world. I have seen some wiring here where brown was used, and it was usually done by an immigrant familiar with that standard, so I make a note of it on my report.

May 28, 2008 10:59 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Color coordination for wiring is the most important in a home.  I love the handy items you point out here on Active Rain. Thanks.

May 29, 2008 12:49 AM