Home Improvement Today?

More if you build, but that can change based on the area, currently where I am your better off to buy because if you build you have to have a fire sprinkler system added, so there's an extra 10k+ already

 

new first time home owner, so I know more things are to come, but I had to change the attic vent fan motor yesterday, upgraded a normal outlet in the kitchen to add USBs, replaced an outlet that was arcing in the attic for the A/C. still need to change the A/C plug itself.

list of things that I need/want to do:

1.)replace hot water heater (its 30 years old, so yeah, probably time to change)
2.)install led lighting strips around the outside and under the kitchen cabinets
3.)get rid of the 70-80% weeds in the back yard and replace with grass
4.)add a second attic above the garage (its just a big empty void right now with access only through a crawlspace from the other side of the house).
5.)run conduit from house to shed to power shed, but also possibly add generator in shed to power house.
6.)replace circuit breaker panel:
a)At some point the previous owners changed the cover only, so no way to see what the panel is actually rated for, or brand.
b) they mismatched bkr brands and have multiple neutrals landed on one terminal point (against code)
c) horribly labelled panel and house wiring is a little weird in how it is grouped.
d) most importantly though, it has no main bkr

 

Ok. Ill reach out to home builders in the area of where I'm looking and see if I can setup a meeting. I really appreciate the info!

 

Interesting. That is about the only bad thing I had to say about the Schluter system was the build up in the corners and then Tiling over it.

Here is my shower when I did it about 4 years ago.

 

It's not a bad system at all I loved it when it started to be available. But I can have a wedi shower built in much less time, with an easier to work surface and just as waterproof.

 

Pics of panel? And if the panel you are seeing has no main breaker, then it is a sub-panel. Do you have a main disconnect outside with a breaker in it? If you truly have no main breaker best is to change out that panel ASAP. That is a HUGE hazard.

 

I just watched their install video. I wish i would have had that system. It looks to be pretty easy and would have been a lot easier on my shower.

 

I know its a bad picture. Im not at home to take a picture so i pulled it from my inspection report. I know its a pretty big deal and not something I want to put off for too long, but it is working fine and obviously has been working fine since 1980, so i think it can wait a couple months for me to get the money to do it. Me and my entire family works in the power industry, which helps. If i am correct there is no main breaker at all. cant remember if there is a main fuse box or not, but pretty sure there isn't. So of course i will have to get the power company involved to pull to meter, get the permits and everything.

 

It looks like an electrician can just install a new distribution panel in place of this one. There is probably a disconnection point prior to this panel if not the meter can be disconnected. A licensed electrical contractor can usually do this work without needing a permit. However I am in no-way implying knowledge of your local code and just offering an opinion.

 

yes my plan is to replace the whole panel...the bkrs a loose, drywall was sprayed into the cabinet (fire hazard) multiple neutrals, poorly labeled, mismatched brands, just replace it all, and do it right

 

That is a nightmare panel.

 

Is it just me or do some of those breakers look like they aren't intended for that panel size wise ?

 

I would have had the previous owner have a licensed electrician fix that in their dime....

 

It's not just you. It's like a who's who of off brand breakers that supposedly "fit" that panel. Does look like an older style GE panel.

Correction, an older style GE SUB-PANEL

 

Fire sprinkler system in the house? Like the ones in businesses?

 

I was wondering the same thing haha

 

Yes. Here in M.D. if you do too much work at one time they'll make you put one in. They even started requiring hardwired smoke detectors if you have ANY electrical work done.

 

Man that makes me sad.

 

It always seemed like MD was in competition to one-up CA on absurd when I was there.

 

Loudoun County Va is going to this as well with fire suppression sprinklers in a lot of new developments.....