Then comes the invasive inspection.

[Glenn R Cummings]

My latest purchase has been interesting.

Of course I performed my own inspection before making an offer, but we know things can only go so far, especially with a HUD home.

I have often said to others, we really won't know until we open things up.

So here is the kitchen / living room partition wall. One of a few places that had splices buried in the wall without junction boxes.

Generally if a wall looks like it has been diddled, I pull the paneling or sheet rock. I always expect a poor homeowner repair. i.e. if the visible wall looks like crap then what is behind it.

Have any of you folks found a way to locate poor wiring without pulling walls?

30213

Original wiring was routed correctly with a junction box for the splice. All is good now, but an unneeded repair.

[Glenn R Cummings]

After removing dining room ceiling, I found that the round box had been relocated.
About three feet of rubber extension cord (stranded wire in black sheathing) solved their problem.30214

[Raymond Wand]

A borescope would be very useful for such purposes.

or multipurpose stud/electric wiring finder -
Zircon designs and manufactures the best stud finders and a wide range of DIY and professional tools including metal detectors, electrical scanners, leveling tools, and more! (http://www.zircon.com/products/products.html)

[Glenn R Cummings]

A borescope would be very useful for such purposes.

or multipurpose stud/electric wiring finder -
Zircon designs and manufactures the best stud finders and a wide range of DIY and professional tools including metal detectors, electrical scanners, leveling tools, and more! (http://www.zircon.com/products/products.html)

Funny you mention the borescope. I looked at the Milwaukee M12 for $199.


I like Zircon products, I'll look at that also.

In the meantime, I have some junction boxes to install. :)

[Mbrooke]

Those are good pictures of DIY not so right.

Im glad you found them, fires are no laughing matter.

Generally the panel and the visible wires above it give a good overture to what might be behind a wall. Add ones to old buildings are less evident, but if any circuits are tapping of a panel somewhere they generally speak for the quality as a whole too.

[John Kogel]

Yes, this is why if there are visible issues, I will often include this comment - "Amateur workmanship. Have a qualified and experienced Electrician inspect the wiring for hidden defects".

[Scott Patterson]

You should of hired Mike Holmes! :)

[Don Hester]

On my last home of the 1950's vintage I found several wire splices and hidden junction boxes in the walls. There is really no way to know till you start digging in, but you know how one thing lead to another.

But I do have to say the guy (or gal who knows) who did the splices, though not in junction boxes performed some of the best splices I have seen, almost as good as the old knob and tube days.