Nashville Home Inspector – Electrical Installation – What’s Wrong With This Picture? 12-14-11

Nashville Home Inspector – Electrical Installation – What’s Wrong With This Picture? 12-14-11

Look at the picture below.  What is wrong?  HINT:  Junction boxes should be used for junctions.

ANSWER:  Junction boxes should be used to house any junction of electrical conductors, or wires.  But, junction boxes, like the one in the picture above, should not be used to rig an outlet so one can plug in an extension cord.  So there is a lot wrong with this picture.  Junction boxes should be used only for conductor junctions and the box should be closed after the wires are joined and inserted.  Outlets should be housed in outlet electrical boxes with that appropriate cover plate.  Extension cords should not be used as permanent wiring.  If you need permanent wiring, call an electrician and have a dedicated circuit put in.  The installation in the picture above is a fire or electrocution waiting to happen.

Thank you,

Richard Acree

Comments in this blog posting are the copyrighted intellectual property of Richard Acree, President, HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC,  and are intended to educate and otherwise assist home owners, sellers and buyers, building owners, sellers and buyers, realtors, real estate investors, property managers, and lenders in the process of owning, buying or selling homes or commercial buildings.  HABITEC is a residential (home) and commercial building inspection company serving Middle Tennessee including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, Dickson, Belle Meade, Columbia, Spring Hill, Lebanon, Gallatin and more!  In addition to building inspections HABITEC offers Environmental Services for mold assessments, radon testing and water quality analysis.  Additional information about HABITEC can be found on our website at http://habitecinspections.com, or call 615-376-2753. 

Richard Acree is the author of  the HABITEC Home and Building Inspections blog at ActiveRain, WordPress, and Blogger, and Founder of the ActiveRain Group Tennessee Home and Building Inspectors.  All are welcome to join and comment on those blogs and group.   You can also follow HABITEC on Facebook and Richard on Linked.  Thank you!