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Open electrical splices
By: Patrick Mahoney
Owner/Operator
of SHERLOCK HOME INSPECTOR
In the course of inspecting a home, I often find open electrical
splices in the crawl space and attic, and I cite them in my report.
A splice, in layman’s terms, is a connection between two or more
wires. These splices are
normally made with a small plastic device resembling a thimble that is
called a wire nut. The wire
nut is twisted onto the wires, and holds them tightly together for a good
connection.
In accordance with accepted electrical practice, all splices must
be inside an approved electrical box with a cover, and this box must be
attached to the framing of the house and accessible.
These boxes are either metal or plastic. The reason why splices must be inside a covered box is very
simple.
When electric wires become loose or overloaded, they can get very
hot, and, in some cases, throw off sparks.
If the wires are out in the open, they can drop sparks onto
combustible materials or otherwise cause them to ignite.
The electrical box is designed to contain the heat and sparks long
enough for a fuse to blow or a breaker to trip.
Crawl spaces are not very nice places to work, and the person doing
the wiring is probably in a hurry to get out of there, and not interested
in going back to place a cover on each box.
Open splices are an invitation to disaster, and should be corrected
as soon as discovered. If you
suspect that your home has open splices in the crawl space or attic, have
a qualified electrician correct the problem as soon as possible.
Article:
Open electrical splices by Patrick Mahoney Ó 2004 |
