On Discouraging DIY Electrical Work...

mdshunk

I borrowed this from another tradesman, and it sums up my feelings pretty well on DIY electrical work:

I would add, also, that I have yet to see a DIY plumber that has ever watercuted anyone. I believe that plumbers should be doing plumbing also, but the very real unforseen hazards that can exist with DIY electrical work have much greater consequences.

Tom R

Though I agree with you (sometimes with great pain ) that electric can be fraught with danger, - - plumbing too, can be very critical in it's technicalities, - - for instance, - - improper venting can cause toilet water to get siphoned into your drinking water, - - definitely not 'watercute', though!!

P.S. Awesome on the Avatar!!

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mdshunk

Tom, Tom, Tom. You disappoint me.

Not using an anti-syphon ballcock in the tank can cause toilet tank water to mix with the potable water. Improper waste venting WILL NOT cause toilet bowl water to mix with the potable water. Ever. Period.

I might be younger than you, but I ain't nobody's fool. Perhaps I should tell you that I invented indoor plumbing when I lived in Greece in my youth.

I really wasn't interested in comments on plumbing here anyhow. I just wanted to pass along that just because an electrical installation functions never means that it was either safe or code compliant.

Tom R

Durn, - - not tryin' to talk plumbin', - - but will this be putting a 'damper' on my hero status??

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mdshunk

No, Tom. You're still my hero. You're still the wind beneath my wings.

PipeGuy

Given our recent PM exchange about the problem I experienced with my own DIY eletrical work, I felt compelled (read 'shamed into') responding to the 1/2 truth set forth above. While I agree it less likely that a pro's work will have deficiencies, the idea that a pro's work will NEVER be subject to deficiencies is entirely false. I'd also note that very real unforeseen hazards can exist in electrical work be it DIY or otherwise.

I can't however disagree with you if your main premise is that most pros are eminently more qualified to do the work than most DIY'ers. There it is - you got me to hang out my laundry for the world to see

PipeGuy

I just picked up on the Avatar(s). ROFLMAO! You're quite the You've got me thinking.........

Teetorbilt

Even the pro's aren't perfect. I went into a new development this week, plugged into a garage receptacle to operate a circular saw and it ran when I checked it but not when I went to use it. Plugged in my quickie checker and it indicated reversed polarity. Pulled the receptacle (back stabbed) and the line side slipped out of the neutral hole.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

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mdshunk

I would offer this. While that installation may have been completed under the auspices of an electrical contractor, but it was not done by a pro. Reversing the polarity, backstabbing, and leaving a job without plug checking each receptacle are three things that a pro simply does not do. Often, EC's leave highly unqualified employees "switch and plug" a dwelling at finish with little or no supervision. It is a management problem, and not an accurate reflection of my trade on a wholesale basis.

mdshunk

Pipe, I truly didn't give our PM exhange a thought when I posted this. It wasn't intended to shame you or anyone else. It was pure coincidence.

Let me simply state that the typical deficiency that might exist in a pro's work are not hazards. They are design issues and functional problems. The average deficiency I discover in DIY electrical work on a day in and day out basis are genuine life safety issues.

Teetorbilt

One assumes that a new home has been done by a 'pro', I would hope. The home passed inspection and was granted a CO. A failure and hazard due to the fault of many. CHEAPOS.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Mike Finley

I'll never forget when the electrician I hired F-up my simple electrical hook up to my hot tub. Since we were building a deck around it the tub never got turned on for over a month and only then did we discover we almost blew the electronics of the panel thanks to the bone head electrician.

As strange fate would have it the very day we discovered this, while the hot tub installers were there fixing the electricians mistake the electrician called me out of nowhere to ask me if I had any more work for him!!!! What were the odds? million to 1? I explained the problem, he said he would arrange a time to come fix it and of course he was never heard from again. He's licensed by the state of Colorado, nice huh?

Md, I certainly understand your point of your post but the word "never" have to worry about it might be viable if you were the guy I hired, but "never" is a bit too general for the rest of the electricians in Colorado.

jproffer

What kind of electrical deficiency would NOT be hazardous? If it was supposed to be done, and it wasn't (as far as electrical work is concerned) IMHO it is dangerous.

Not trying to be smart or start anything, I'm all ears...er uhh...eyes, but I can't think of a single safe deficiency in electrical work.

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Jim P.

Teetorbilt

jp, you are right on all counts. Unfortunately, today the $$ speak and we are stuck with crap like Romex scattered all over the place to save more of aforementioned.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

jproffer

If Romex is an unsafe deficiency, then the pros are just as unsafe as DIY'ers (around here anyway). Every new home has Romex and is wired by a pro.

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Jim P.

Glasshousebltr

The electrician is the last fella ya want with a buzzzzz.

Bob

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Bob

mdshunk

How about the wires mixed around on a 3way switch, so that the light doesn't operate properly. A deficiency, but not a hazard.
How about the receptacle layout along a kitchen counter doesn't match the counter layout symmetrically. A deficiency, but not a hazard.
How about the light box next to the front door mounted too close to the brickmold so that the intended fixture can't be mounted? A deficiency, but not a hazard.
How about all the bedrooms on one circuit, and now the homeowner's SuperServer 9000 computer in the middle bedroom pops the breaker? A deficiency, but not a hazard.
How about a back door chime button that was never mounted? A deficiecy, but not a hazard.
How about all the devices done in regular ivory, when the occupant wanted white decora? A deficiency, but not a hazard.

The list goes on and on...

In Mike's case with the hot tub, there are screwballs in every lot of tradesmen. Your likelihood of running into one in the population of licenced EC's is much less than your likelihood of finding one in the population of DIY's. You can still have a licensed roofer put on a roof that leaks, but your chances are much less than if you had Joe Blow the Handyman put on your roof. The fact that this electrician had to cold call, trawling for work, speaks volumes.

Mike Finley

That's a good point!

Bkessler

Even putting a wire on a screw can be messed up. And I ve seen it burn receptical to a crisp. And one was next to a two year olds bed recently. She told me she listened to it a night. All because they had there builder/remodeler install new decora plugs. Over half of my service call for stuff not working are all because of not so handy men. I think the situation is so bad Iam keeping stats, in a couple of years I ll tell you what up!

K2

A bad plumbing job and a rock fissure into the aquifer can send raw sewage directly into a water supply, (well). Not only one well but it could be many wells. Some sloppy deck framing can send a bunch of party goers to the ground pretty quick or a couple of party animals through the guardrail. I've always had a hard time with the idea that electrical was the most dangerous of all trades.