Anyone an electrician, or had to hire one recently?

[Inazone]

Several months ago, due to a short in the ice-maker/dispenser on our refrigerator, we lost power to much of our house and had to hire an electrician to do a "circuit restoration" to the tune of $800. Now, we've got a couple of rooms that are losing power again, although it actually came back on before we could have someone out to look at it. We actually thought this was due to a squirrel (who has since been removed) possibly chewing wires, but there's really no way to be sure. Those rooms had power for roughly a week and then lost it again. This time, we had another guy out, and although he did get power restored to the "dead" rooms, he said that the wiring was clearly a DIY job, probably part of a remodel, and was very poorly done. He's recommending that we run new wiring to the upstairs, because even after a couple of hours, he couldn't figure out why a lot of the rooms were wired the way they were. This isn't a surprise to me - we've bought this home as a foreclosure 3 1/2 years ago and have uncovered a lot of shoddy work - but that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Both electricians said that we absolutely need to replace our electrical service panel ASAP, as moisture is getting into it and there is some pretty major corrosion. One of them showed me where the exterior connections weren't properly sealed after the siding was (professionally) replaced prior to us moving in (no idea when) and that water is able to get into the panel. The panel is warm to the touch, and there is a barely audible buzz when it's open. That has me freaked out, both because that's a fire hazard and because this is NOT going to be cheap.

Obviously, there are some factors that will affect the cost of the rewiring, but does anyone have any idea what I should expect to pay for panel replacement with "all the fixins'" including new exterior conduit, a bigger panel (ours is at capacity) and cutting the drywall to accommodate the new panel? Anyone need a kidney?

[Jayster]

Toby,

There's so many variable involved. How far from the box is the room, how many amps of service, etc.... Same goes for the panel, am I understanding that your main panel is outside of your house?

[Alvin_Wilson]

Toby

???

It's Ryan, Jay.

[Trussrod]

I had my service panel replaced with a 150 amp service about 14 years ago. It was part of the closing and the sellers would not give me the $800 and let me do it myself. I think the panel, breakers and entrance cable were about $150 then. I wouldn't be surprised if the materials are at least double these days. You can check Home Depot, Lowes, etc. and price the parts you need.

After the work was done I noticed the panel had never been inspected and managed to get the local electrical inspector to do it for me at no charge and bill the electrician who forgot to call him. I created a few new circuits for a welder and air compressor as well replacing--and properly grounding--every outlet and switch in the house. I saved a lot of money this way.

If you can't do it yourself I suggest you estimate the cost of materials yourself and get as many estimates as you can.

[Inazone]

Panel is in my basement, and the rooms in need of rewiring are on the first and second story.

When the wife gets home in a little bit, we're going to discuss options and then call around for some quotes. Friends and family members have recommended a couple of electricians, but so far, they're all the "weekend warrior" types that do something else for a living, and even the two guys we've had out have been pretty stumped about the upstairs wiring issues, so I'm probably going to hire someone who has done a lot of these types of jobs. Also, I forgot to mention that I rent the second story, so one of my two renters has been without power a couple of times. If not for that, I'd probably deal with the panel replacement now and hold off on the rewiring, unless there is a cost savings for having it all done together.

At this point, I'm still clinging to what little satisfaction I derived from catching that damned squirrel. I think it was a coincidence, considering the condition the wiring was already in thanks to previous owners, but I need a scapegoat now . . . or scapesquirrel.

[Twitch]

The last service upgrade I was a part of cost around $800, but that was parts only at cost plus labor. The guy I worked for at the time and I upgraded my dads 100A service to a 200. So you could probably be looking at around $1600-$1800 for a new service entrance, thats panel, breakers, weather head, roof flashing, feed cable, meter base and labor. Of course, Ive been out of this game since 08, so my estimate may be way off by now.

[Rsmacker]

even the two guys we've had out have been pretty stumped about the upstairs wiring issues, so I'm probably going to hire someone who has done a lot of these types of jobs.

Any Sparky with anything about him won't bother trying to figure out what's going on upstairs, especially if it looks like a bodge job. It'll be quicker and cheaper to rip it out and re-wire, that way they can certificate the work and KNOW it's all good. No-one wants to try and rectify existing circuits that may or may not have bizarre add-ons which might get overlooked.

If any of my mates want house wiring done (and it's amazing just how friendly some people become when they need work doing, despite you not seeing them all year), I'll get them to do the donkey work while I'm doing my proper job, it helps keep the costs down.

Firstly, clear all of the shite out of the rooms that need doing. Nothing worse than having to shift beds, guitars, wardrobes, laundry, dead grandmas, gimp boxes etc out of the way before you can even lift a floorboard - you get charged extra there straight away.
Offer to chop the cable chases into brick or plaster, and drill joists so the Sparky can get the cables in easily, and that will save you loads of money

[dg]

Toby

???

It's Ryan, Jay.

That's funny, because I find myself confusing Inazone w/ Diablomozart (Toby) sometimes when I scan a thread quickly. The only reason I can think of is that Ryan's new avatar might look a little like pics of DM I've seen.

[Jayster]

Ryan, Sorry I meant Ryan : Life's been a bitch for a bit and I drink alot

Anywhoozle, I remember you're good folk. That's why I bothered to answer, sometimes I get a little mixed up(Nothing like Rsmacker mind you)....

I hope you get this resolved at a fair price, I'll do everything I can for a Fellos JCF'er but you're a minute away bro.... Good times !!!!

And Efff ~ ToeJam

[Jayster]

I had my service panel replaced with a 150 amp service about 14 years ago. It was part of the closing and the sellers would not give me the $800 and let me do it myself. I think the panel, breakers and entrance cable were about $150 then. I wouldn't be surprised if the materials are at least double these days. You can check Home Depot, Lowes, etc. and price the parts you need.

After the work was done I noticed the panel had never been inspected and managed to get the local electrical inspector to do it for me at no charge and bill the electrician who forgot to call him. .

Sweet, but now where I live they've got new requirements(fuck the gman), about arc flash interupters verses the end run GCFI's ... a bunch of crap to make everyone spend more money...

[Twitch]

Damn, your states just now mandated arc faults? Arc faults are a thing of the distant past here. The place I worked for carried a few, but their overhead was through the roof. GFIs at the panel ( I think)and at the outlet are whats mandated here for use around water. Arc faults, imo, are useless in preventing electrocution. You touch it, youre a ground path, not a short. Arcs are good for fire prevention though.

[Jayster]

Twitch,

Minimum requirments were on a 20 amp circuit, 1 gfci(regardless of the multiple outlets(keep in mind I only put no more than 3 in a run)). Regardless of bathroom or kitchen status, changing the regulations means big money in the long run ..... about 350 more per house, if you're in a large metro area(erm, say like ATL ~ that's milions in revenue, for nothing. It's hype and bullshit. If the job was done correctly to start with.....

I had run a 200 amp service to my old garage(where I enjoyed fuckin' off, with my shit ... it was more than enough and no problems ever(although I'm a bit of a fucktard and ran oversized wire along the path)....

[Twitch]

I agree, it sounds bogus.

[Inazone]

Not really much of an update, but I talked to a couple of electricians this afternoon and will be having them out in the next couple of days to get their take on it. My wife has heard from friends that the guys we've had out already are known for being expensive, but after doing what research I could online, it's starting to look like electricians in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area run a bit higher than elsewhere. Although this may not benefit me in the long run, everyone I've talked to so far charges by the job, not hourly. If nothing else, that makes it easier to compare estimates "apples to apples" and hopefully not get caught off-guard if it takes longer than originally quoted.

I'm trying not to let this bother me too much. I keep reminding myself that we got the overall type of house/lawn/neighborhood we wanted, and refinanced in the spring after only being here for three years, which has been a considerable help. If not for that, I'd be incredibly pissed off. I guess this means no Scott Ian Soloist for me. Poop.

(Oh, and yeah, my avatar pic *does* look a lot like Diablomozart's now that I think about it.)