Homeowner confused about electrical report
Q: I've got a problem that's very technical, so I hope I can explain it clearly. According to the home inspector who checked my house, my electrical service panel is used as a "raceway," whatever that means. He reported this as substandard wiring and recommended evaluation by a licensed electrician. When the electrician checked the system, he found some additional problems needing repair, but said it was OK to use the panel as a raceway. I'd appreciate a better understanding of this raceway issue, if you can boil it down to layman terms.
A: Let's begin with a simple definition. According to the National Electrical Code, a raceway is "an enclosed channel designated expressly for holding wires …" Typically, raceways consist of pipes known as conduits, and enclosures known as junction boxes.
In most instances, the use of a service panel as a raceway is prohibited, but the code does make an exception when the available space inside the panel is not more than 40% filled with wiring. Therefore, your electrician was probably correct in approving the use of your service panel as a raceway.
However, the home inspector was wise in disclosing this condition as a red-flag issue and in recommending further evaluation. Although permitted by code in some cases, the use of a service panel as a raceway is an uncommon practice because it is regarded by most electricians as a marginal level of workmanship. Wherever it occurs, it is usually a sign of laziness on the part of the installer: someone who was either too hurried or too thrifty to install an additional junction box or conduit. Often, this kind of shortcut is an indication of further problems in the system, as was verified by the additional wiring problems discovered by your electrician.
When someone runs unspecified wires through a service panel, the wiring layout becomes needlessly complicated. Often there may be unseen problems involving ground and neutral connections, and this can pose problems for electricians who may need to troubleshoot the system at a future date.
The use of service panels as raceways may not be a significant problem in and of itself, but it is an indication that other wiring problems are likely to be found. In this respect, it should be regarded as an item to be disclosed by every prudent home inspector.
Q: The exhaust vent for my clothes dryer is an ongoing maintenance problem. At least once a month, I have to get up on the roof to remove the lint that builds up on the filter screen. Isn't there a simpler way to deal with this lint problem?
A: There definitely is a simpler way. Next time you climb onto the roof to clean the filter screen, remove that screen and throw it away.
The Uniform Mechanical Code specifically prohibits the use of screens on clothes dryer exhaust vents because they can cause overheating of the dryer. The filter that is built into your dryer should be sufficient for capturing most of the lint. Whatever lint gets past that filter can simply blow away after it leaves the vent opening on your roof.
• 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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