Stupid Fatality

Drm50 · #1 03-05-2015, 12:38 AM

I just came from a site where a house used to be, Monday
afternoon. This brutal cold weather has caused a lot of people
to go to extremes to keep their homes warm. I have been to
several homes with electrical problems caused by old wiring
and electric heaters. Electric heat was not enough for this guy.
He rigged up propane tanks as auxiliary heat in his basement.
His lines leaked, he was in basement working on it when it went.
The roof was blown into the street and the house ceased to exist.
The man was killed. Stay warm but use your head.

S&WForty · #2 03-05-2015, 01:07 AM

Where do you draw the line with electric space heaters and old wiring? I recently looked at different models of heaters. Most were rated 1500W. Is that pushing the limits with old homes' wiring? (assuming no extension cords are used)

arjay · #3 03-05-2015, 01:20 AM

Take a look at the breakers on your outlet circuits.If they're rated at 15 amps,be wary.If the house was built prior to the 60s,the wiring probably has a fabric insulation and I'd be very wary.

Drm50 · #4 03-05-2015, 01:37 AM

1500 watt heater is going to pull 11-12 amps. The trouble with
older homes is #14 wire that is rated at 15 amps. Then look
at what is already on that circuit. On top of that most people
will have put a 20 or 30 amp fuse on that circuit to keep it from
blowing. This causes wires to heat up, could cause fire. There
is nothing wrong with a fuse box as long as codes are followed.
15amp /14 wire, 20amp/ 12 wire. Makes no difference fuse or
breakers. If you have fire and insurance adjuster finds out of
code wiring, you ain't gonna get paid in most cases.

walkinghorse · #5 03-05-2015, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drm50

1500 watt heater is going to pull 11-12 amps. The trouble with
older homes is #14 wire that is rated at 15 amps. Then look
at what is already on that circuit. On top of that most people
will have put a 20 or 30 amp fuse on that circuit to keep it from
blowing. This causes wires to heat up, could cause fire. There
is nothing wrong with a fuse box as long as codes are followed.
15amp /14 wire, 20amp/ 12 wire. Makes no difference fuse or
breakers. If you have fire and insurance adjuster finds out of
code wiring, you ain't gonna get paid in most cases.

Good post! Around here insurance companies have been checking and in some cases requiring the homeowner to upgrade their service. One very old house had one panel, two circuits each with 30amp fuse but the wiring was 14ga with broken cloth type insulation, no ground. Gas heat, one register, and multiple 1500w heaters! In one case, 2heaters into one duplex outlet on 20' extension cords well actually homemade lampcord! City helped arrange for assistance to get the electrical system upgraded.
Nice small rural community life! Of course everyone knows your business and gossips about it!