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Duff electrical work done on my house
Comments
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Green goo....
It's apparently moderately toxic. So wash your hands if you touch the stuff.
Actually, that might be the plus point after all this the way I'm feeling right now - might as well ingest loads of it....:(. It's not green or goo-ey - it's just like I'd got out my spray oil and sprayed lightly on a section of that old wiring.
I've come across this mention of green goo during the weekend googling and would estimate it's probably not that. As far as I could make out - the wiring that would cause that was made a few years prior to my house being built. My house is 1974 and it looks as if that stopped in the late 1960s as far as I can see. Though, given that this is an area where things took longer to "catch up" than some and the early 70s were pre-Internet, pre people moving into the area and starting to buy houses/do them up. So - it is entirely possible that someone used "old stock" they should have thrown out. I'm guessing the old wiring is 1980s/90s. The previous owner of this was very prone to doing cheap-as-possible bodges and they certainly did some electrical work by the look of it.0 -
We've just had a lot of work done on our new (1965 build) house which had original wiring in. There were twin wires with no earth in some places, these have been stripped out and updated. The electrician was very thorough, where the original wiring tested OK, he was happy to leave it, where it didn't he replaced it. He knew this was a job we wanted sorting properly as we plan to live there until we go out in a box. New consumer unit has gone in, certificate issued with recommended retest date 10 years time.
What I'm trying to say is that just because some of the original wiring has been left in place doesn't mean that those bits have been bodged necessarily.
Did your original electrician issue an official certificate? We had a handwritten copy with all the things he'd changed on it, followed by a computer issued certificate from the governing body through the post.
That's somewhat reassuring.
Though I've certainly made a point to all tradespeople coming here that I expect to be "going out in a box" from it too. In theory - I would put it on the market tomorrow (well - maybe it might take a few months to do so - as I've zeroed down to a very very small area indeed that I would re-buy in - though there is one there right now - at £300k and costs to gut the place. Also "done" ones nearby for £400k odd) if I had a suitable size Premium Bond win. In practice - yep....I expect I will be here until I "go out in a box" - with the Premium Bonds odds being so low.
On checking the paperwork he left me - and I see the words he uses are "part rewire" - so I guess he thinks he has covered himself. I just followed my usual practice of "Oh...bit of paperwork....stick it away in a file in case it's needed in the future" and didnt cross-analyse it. The whole house was in such a state that I could barely use my computer to google things for some while after moving here and my phoneline for computer was one of the long list of things wrong with the house anyway (and affecting my access to it).
I've not had any computer-generated bit of paperwork from any other body ever. On ringing the NIC/EIC I find he's no longer with them. That might explain that....
As regards having a re-test in 10 years time - I've read that it's 10-yearly and been puzzling since why he put a label on my new consumer unit to re-test in 5 years time. I guess he was covering himself again...0 -
I don't think the lack of an accessble power connection to the hood is a big deal. Like me, you could walk a few metres and kill the whole system in a few seconds anyway, if it hadn't already done that itself. So long as it's correctly fused, it's fine.
I'd concentrate on how to get the main power points rewired without major disruption, if that's what they need.0 -
With regard to the green goo...
The Electrical Safety Office has investigated the possible safety issues of a green oily substance exuded by some thermoplastic insulated and sheathed cables. The results were that:
- The affected cables are V60 and V75 type PVC insulated and sheathed cables.
- The substance is a plasticiser used in the manufacture of the cable.
-The release of the substance is initiated and exacerbated by high ambient temperatures such as can be found in ceiling spaces and in hotter climates.
- The substance is not conductive and therefore not liable to electrical tracking.
- The presence of the substance will not alter the flame propagation characteristics of the cable.
- The presence of the substance does not necessitate replacement of the cable.
-Cables should be assessed for replacement only when insulation tests reveal failure or when cracking of the insulation becomes apparent.
- The green exudate is mildly toxic and can cause burning and irritation, especially to mucous membranes such as in the eyes, nose and mouth.
- There has been no epidemiological link established with cancer in humans.0 -
Thanks Gloom and Doom.:T.
Re temperature nearby - West Wales aint a "hotter climate" by any stretch of the imagination:rotfl:
Other "heat" wise - one of the sockets concerned had me using my kettle and toaster regularly on it (not likely to use it that much again..). The other one - it's the one I now use my kettle/toaster from.0 -
the cooker hood socket might be inside the metal chimney /cover which hides the the extractor tube, ours is.0
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If you don't want the disruption of walls being chiselled out but your electrician finds stuff that needs replacing, don't forget there's always the option of surface mounted wiring. We've had this done in our 'new' house in some places. We're not going to be living there for a while and we needed this work done so that we could let it out. We've gone for surface mounted in some places for ease of speed and having enough 'making good' as it was, without adding to it. The electrician left enough slack so that the walls can be routed out and the wiring buried inside when we do eventually move there. It's not exactly pretty, but if you're facing having to do a replaster, surface mounted could be an alternative you want to consider.Make £2025 in 2025
Prolific £617.02, Octopoints £5.20, TCB £398.58, Tesco Clubcard challenges £89.90, Misc Sales £321, Airtime £60, Shopmium £26.60, Everup £24.91 Zopa CB £30
Total (4/9/25) £1573.21/£2025 77%
Make £2024 in 2024
Prolific £907.37, Chase Int £59.97, Chase roundup int £3.55, Chase CB £122.88, Roadkill £1.30, Octopus ref £50, Octopoints £70.46, TCB £112.03, Shopmium £3, Iceland £4, Ipsos £20, Misc Sales £55.44Total £1410/£2024 70%Make £2023 in 2023 Total: £2606.33/£2023 128.8%0 -
Yeh thanks - I see your point Slinky - but a bit of what I know was ripped out of this house was surface-mounted stuff (because I don't accept that). I've ripped it out of both my first house and this one because I don't like it.
I "hide" everything mechanical - hence all sorts of "fun and games" when it came to updating central heating in a house that has concrete floors. That required a lot of ingenuity to have as little as possible of the covers that some tradespeople put over the pipes in places they shouldnt be (like going down walls) and I've had to change position of some radiators to have the "pipes that shouldnt be on show" hidden inside cupboards or behind curtains etc.
Hence I don't envy the new electrician - as the walls can't be channelled out now and I won't have surface mounting:cool:. I'm having a headache worrying how he's going to manage to replace old wires myself...
Yep....I'd have plaster re-done (again) and re-decorating done (again). In the 4 years I've had this house - I've had half of it re-decorated again - as it wasnt good enough.....and that is seriously worrying me I might have to do that (agh!)/pay for that (agh!).0 -
Just been told there is a switch for cooker hood by kitchen firm - absolutely where it shouldnt be in the event.
Gawdgimmepatience time......
Did they get a polite response from me? I think you can guess the answer - considering where it was (ie pretty inaccessible by any definition.....)....0 -
Money, I know it's easy to go overboard with worry and frustration when a job appears to not be done properly but, remember, every electrician (plumber, window fitter, roofer, decorator) will have his own foibles, his own reasons for going over the top, or cutting a corner.
Sure, there are defects that are dangerous, but there are also innumerable minor defects that are neither here or there. Your current electrician may be more picky (or more interested in the work, or more interested in the remuneration) than the last chap.
You probably don't need to replace the older wiring. Old wire (from the 70's on) is likely still in fine fettle. Your cooker hood should have an isolation switch, but that can be re-routed from the hood itself, so wouldn't need the wire unburied from the supply. Not ideal, but totally safe and functional. If your current electrician is unsure if there is such a switch, I'd have more doubts about his ability than the last guy's! The missing earth wire... probably was missing, but I've known a few electricians and plumbers who overemphasise the poor work before theirs...
Time for a quiet rethink and reflection. There may be little wrong with the earlier job.
"Local Heroes" is much like any of the other self-recommended websites. Advertising on their listing doesn't convey special skills, or guarantee quality of work - or honesty!
{I see a switch has been found... hold the impatience and fireworks. You'll get far better service with patience, manners and quietude.}0
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