topic Re: Oh nuts! in Community Chat

Oh nuts!

chlema — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 20:39:55 GMT

So 3 times in the past month my main breaker tripped but could just turn it back on, both times when using one particular outlet. I figured it wouldn't hurt to have it checked out, maybe just replace the outlet.

Hah. Not so fast says the electrician. Seems like the main cable into the house, way up by the roof, has kind of worn down so water trickles down and messes with the breaker. So instead of replacing the outlet - which is fine by the way, have to replace the cable and add up to code stuff for the tune of just under $7,000. And here sillie me was thinking it was just a thousand dollars or so job. Well, it is what it is - sorry QVC, won't be buying anything for a long while. Good thing I have all the fall decor I need lol.

Re: Oh nuts!

Kachina624 — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 21:19:43 GMT

@chlema I'd get a second opinion on that repair. Those breakers have a spring in them and if they've tripped repeatedly it weakens the spring and they trip readily and often. It takes about 30 seconds and just costs the price of the switch to replace one. You could be getting scammed.

Re: Oh nuts!

Mindy D — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 21:21:00 GMT

@chlema @Get a second opinion or a third. Check licenses and any complaints with your state.

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Zhills — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 21:25:15 GMT

Had a similar thing happen to me. Lights would blink when the wind blew??

Had a broken wire running through a tree and when the branches would move, the wire moved, losing the connection!

Get a second opinion. Electric cables do not just "wear down". It is rubbing something that has damaged it or has been chewed!

Re: Oh nuts!

ScrapHappy — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 21:32:36 GMT

That has been my story with just about everything in my house. We've been fixing, remodeling and repairing for 6 years and it's never a straight out fix. I agree with the other posters. Always get a second opinion. I always get at least 3.

Re: Oh nuts!

PickyPicky3 — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 23:45:36 GMT

That happened to me in the house where I lived in the 1980s. I put off getting it fixed and then we had a hurricane. I had a waterfall coming out of the circuit breaker box. I called the electric company and they say I had to call the fire department. It cost way over $1000 back then.

As you said, it is what it is.

Re: Oh nuts!

happilyretiredgirl — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 01:29:49 GMT

@chlema please get a second opinion and also call your electric company, I had a similar problem and it was the main wire to my house which the electric company repaired.

Re: Oh nuts!

chrystaltree — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 02:04:37 GMT

I'd call the power company first and ask them to lopk at it. If they agree with electrician, then I'd call another electrician to see if it can be done for less money. Even $1000 less would be a big help.

Re: Oh nuts!

Marp — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 02:44:29 GMT

@chlema, in addition to getting a second opinion check with your Homeowner's insurance carrier. Since the cause is water damage it may be covered.

Re: Oh nuts!

new nickname 4 — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 02:53:55 GMT

@chlema , That sounds like a lot of expensive re-wiring. If you know and trust the electrician certainly you need to get it fixed ASAP. If this is someone you called from a list of unknowns, then you should get a second opinion but again ASAP. If it is truly the main cable into your home that is damaged, then you have a fire hazard.

Electric fires are deadly and undetected. They start in the walls, and you certainly don't want that.

It does sound like if it's only traceable to one outlet, that it is not as severe as was told to you. My newer home has many breakers, but simple small voltage outlets are grouped together on one breaker, with another breaker serving other sections of my home. Thus if all the outlets fail on that breaker, than that's a problem with the breaker, but if only one outlet fails, it is the outlet fault. Either way, it there is a short in the outlet, that one single outlet could start a fire.

Do you know for a fact that you have old wiring that needs updating? It sounds like the electrician you had to check out your problem thinks that the entire wiring is old. Please follow through with estimates and repairs.

Re: Oh nuts!

chlema — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 00:55:41 GMT

Thanks everyone. The company I called I have been dealing with for years. However, I did get a 2nd opinion. He agreed re the problem but his charge would be $2,000 less than the first. Big difference.

The problem is that at the top of the outside cable where it connects to the power lines it's worn and when it rains some rain trickles down and gets into the inside panel box. He showed me the corrosian in the panel box so I knew that had to be replaced. So the outside cable has to be replaced and because the meter outside is old and out of code that too has to be replaced and the new ones are much larger and lower with a switch to turn power off. Code also requires a whole house surge protection. All in all it's almost a whole day's work. And then there's the fee for the inspectors to come out too of course. Company #1 was only giving me a 100 amp panel, 2nd guy upgrading me to 200 amp.

So all in all I'm going with door #2 and will call the original company and tell them they are no longer in the running!

Re: Oh nuts!

new nickname 4 — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 11:36:58 GMT

@chlema It's good that you were shown what repairs were needed and why. And while we hate to spend thousands of dollars on something we can't really see, it's great piece of mind. Things like home repairs never get better, just get worse.

On a positive note, the new 200 amp panel is an improvement over the 100 amp. They are recommending anyone interested in getting an ev car to have 200 amp panel to be able to charge the car, plus run your house. I'm not getting one, but I have a full 200 amp panel, which would have to be upgraded.

Re: Oh nuts!

Trailrun23 — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 19:41:03 GMT

I was charged $4700 in June to replace a 10 outlets, replace a small chandelier, and put in two can lights. Electricians don't work for cheap.

Re: Oh nuts!

chlema — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 20:18:26 GMT

@Trailrun23 wrote:
I was charged $4700 in June to replace a 10 outlets, replace a small chandelier, and put in two can lights. Electricians don't work for cheap.

Nor should they work for cheap. However, there is something called price gouging and that is what the 1st estimate I received, a difference of over $2,000 is a bit too much, IMO.