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re: Help with assessing electrician's estimate after lightning strike
Posted on 8/22/23 at 2:08 pm to Obtuse1
Posted on 8/22/23 at 2:08 pm to Obtuse1
quote:
In the end, the insurance will cover the lightning-related issues which I would get repaired ASAP. The other wiring issues are almost certainly going to be out of pocket and have a whole different cost-benefit analysis to go with it.
I mean, I got lost pretty damn quick in your post, so I’m most likely not going to be replacing any backstabbed outlets myself. Considering he wrote it’s a fire hazard, I feel like I’m on the hook for the thousands of dollars it will take to replace every outlet in the house.
Thankfully, the insurance company is going to cover the lightning assessment. Hopefully more damage turns up.
2
Posted on 8/22/23 at 3:23 pm to StringedInstruments
quote:
- The other half of the house is wired into a newer circuit breaker that was installed when an addition was added to the home around 10 years ago. There is no rhyme or reason to what outlets, lights, and appliances are wired where. Nothing is labelled and many things are combined that make no sense. For example, the oven in the kitchen, the TV in the living room, and the ceiling fan in my bedroom are all on the same fuse. - I should note here that the previous owner did a lot of work in this house himself. Almost every service technician we've used since buying the house has given us a "WTF" reaction when they look at what they're getting into. - Many outlets are using three pronged faces but aren't actually grounded. - He said a refrigerator should always be on its own circuit. It's connected to three outlets in the kitchen and an outlet in the living room.
This literally sounds like my house. Kitchen was renovated within the last 10 years, but when my electrician started looking into the wiring he found the microwave, disposal, island and refrigerator were on the same circuit. My house was built in 1926, it was a freaking mess of people who didn’t know what they were doing. The whole upstairs was fed on a 60 amp 220 circuit.
My point being even newer installs can be absolute crap, I learned a $30k lesson
Posted on 8/23/23 at 9:58 am to StringedInstruments
quote:
Considering he wrote it’s a fire hazard, I feel like I’m on the hook for the thousands of dollars it will take to replace every outlet in the house.
Then his strategy worked.
Seriously, you can do this.
Get an outlet tester and check each outlet yourself.
Look at a couple vids on doing a pigtail connection for receptacles.
Posted on 8/23/23 at 1:52 pm to StringedInstruments
Where you live?
Posted on 8/23/23 at 3:00 pm to StringedInstruments
quote:Wow! $175 to change a $20 GFCI outlet. Seems excessive for a 15 minute task.
The GFCI that tripped was malfunctioning. He replaced it for $400, which included a $225 inspection fee.
Posted on 8/23/23 at 6:29 pm to StringedInstruments
Changing outlets is easy and can be done yourself. However, I wouldn't attempt anything more because all that hybrid wiring with a fuse box and circuit breaker is weird and you should leave it to the experts.
If your house is from the 1950's, then it makes sense that nothing is grounded. The NEC did not require grounded (three prong) outlets until the 1970's I believe. And don't let a three prong outlet fool you - a lot of people installed those without a grounding wire in an attempt to fool inspectors. So you'll need to get one of those outlet testers. And the outlet testers aren't 100% because it is possible to "fool" them with a little trick called a "bootleg ground." Some unscrupulous people use this trick to fool inspectors.
If it were me, I'd have the whole house rewired and brought up to 2023 code, but I know that might not be an option depending on your finances. But this is always a risk you take when you buy a house built prior to the 1980's.
If your house is from the 1950's, then it makes sense that nothing is grounded. The NEC did not require grounded (three prong) outlets until the 1970's I believe. And don't let a three prong outlet fool you - a lot of people installed those without a grounding wire in an attempt to fool inspectors. So you'll need to get one of those outlet testers. And the outlet testers aren't 100% because it is possible to "fool" them with a little trick called a "bootleg ground." Some unscrupulous people use this trick to fool inspectors.
If it were me, I'd have the whole house rewired and brought up to 2023 code, but I know that might not be an option depending on your finances. But this is always a risk you take when you buy a house built prior to the 1980's.
Posted on 8/24/23 at 9:53 pm to btrcj
quote:
Considering he wrote it’s a fire hazard, I feel like I’m on the hook for the thousands of dollars it will take to replace every outlet in the house.
To replace an electrical outlet is a 10 minute job.
I had an older house that had several broken outlets covers and the outlets were the 2 prong type. I bought all new outlets, but I did not have time to replace them. I showed my college age daughter what I needed done. She had never done this type work, but got it all done in a few hours. Also, when I moved to another city, she "sold" my house and I gave her a nice payment.
If I lived in your area, I would do it for less than half what this electrician is charging.
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