Handyman not wired for safety
Q. We just went through the headache of selling our home. The worst part was haggling over who should repair the electrical problems found by the buyers' home inspector. According to the inspector, aluminum wires were connected to copper wires in the attic, and the connections were exposed. The electrician we called wanted $225 to repair these splices, but our handyman did it for only $50. The buyers wouldn't accept this because their home inspector said the work should be done by a licensed electrician. Isn't the inspector being overly cautious about simple, routine repairs?
A. Problems with aluminum wiring are rarely simple. They often involve technicalities that exceed the general scope of routine handyman repairs. Your handyman may be exceptionally knowledgeable and experienced, but his electrical background is probably not on par with that of a licensed electrician.
Given the fact that improper aluminum connections can cause a house fire, it would be wise to follow the home inspector's advice.
When aluminum wire connections are not properly made, the contacts can become loose. To prevent this, specially designed hardware is required for joining copper and aluminum wires. Additionally, exposed aluminum tends to develop a thin oxide film that acts as an insulator, affecting the electrical conductivity of the connections. To avoid oxidation, a specially formulated paste should be applied to aluminum wire ends. When these safety procedures are overlooked, wires can become hot enough to ignite combustible materials.
A handyman who is not aware of these concerns might simply install a junction box and fasten the contacts with common wire nuts. With any luck, antioxidant might even be used.
The $225 bid is consistent with an electrician's level of knowledge and expertise, not to mention the additional time and material required to perform the repair in a safe and professional manner. Handymen are qualified to perform many types of maintenance and repair functions, but electrical repairs should always be entrusted to the talents of qualified licensed electricians, as recommended by the home inspector.
Q. The whirlpool system in our bathtub is very noisy, but when we tried to fix it, we couldn't find an access opening to the pump and motor. We asked our builder why no opening was provided when the house was built. He said none was required at the time. This seems rather strange to us, and we're wondering what you can tell us about whirlpool tub access requirements.
A. Access openings for bathtub whirlpool systems have always been required by the Uniform Plumbing Code. If this were not so, common sense alone would dictate the obvious need for an opening to enable periodic inspections, maintenance and repairs.
An access is also needed to verify compliance with electrical safety standards. For example, ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI's) are required on whirlpool systems to prevent electrical shock hazards. These safety devices are often installed near the pump and motor. In those cases, an access would be needed to enable resetting or replacing a tripped GFCI.
If no access is provided, you should insist that the builder provide one, as should have been done when the home was built.
• To write to Barry Stone, visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com, or write AMG, 1776 Jami Lee Court, Suite 218, San Luis Obispo, CA 94301.
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