Am I over-reacting? Safety issue..

[gdbrewer]

I am having some contractors do some work in my house. I walked outside and saw this. I told them they are not plugging that p.o.s. into any more outlets in my home. Probably would have been fine, but I like my house and I don't want it burning down. So, am I over-reacting?

 

[LovesIPA]

If you didn't tell them to get the **** off your property right now, never come back, and demanded a refund of any money you gave them, I'd say you under-reacted.

 

[duboman]

If you didn't tell them to get the **** off your property right now, never come back, and demanded a refund of any money you gave them, I'd say you under-reacted.

+1
That's ridiculous!

 

[Glynn]

LOL tell that cheap sob to put a plug on that for god sakes

 

[Shooter]

They aren't skilled enough to wire in a plug?!!?? Might want to rethink these guys.

 

[Pratzie]

Call ur zoning/code enforcement and show them, they could possible get cited or have to take a recert test. Not saying this would cause a fire at your house but if they continue this practice, its only a matter of time until something bad happens.

 

[one-L]

If you didn't tell them to get the **** off your property right now, never come back, and demanded a refund of any money you gave them, I'd say you under-reacted.

This, 100,000 times this.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Nothing shocking there. It's common to not think positive. The key is stay grounded and focus on the current situation. If you are worried about fire, just tell them to spray it with the hose to keep it wet.

 

[dkwolf]

There's a LOT more wrong in that picture than just the makeshift plug (which I've seen done before, never liked it)

You've got an outdoor outlet with NO weatherseal on it to seal out rainwater/snow (I realize snow is not much of a concern in Houston). And you've got an outdoor outlet that does not appear to be GFI protected (unless it's on a GFI breaker, or wired in series with another GFI outlet)

 

[Shooter]

There's a LOT more wrong in that picture than just the makeshift plug (which I've seen done before, never liked it)

You've got an outdoor outlet with NO weatherseal on it to seal out rainwater/snow (I realize snow is not much of a concern in Houston). And you've got an outdoor outlet that does not appear to be GFI protected (unless it's on a GFI breaker, or wired in series with another GFI outlet)

I assumed it was on the breaker. That's how my outdoor plugs are wired.

 

[gdbrewer]

...

 

[LovesIPA]

I probably should have told them to leave, but I didn't. Good thing they aren't doing any electrical work!

I wouldn't let those clowns paint my mailbox.

 

[bob1852]

Nothing shocking there. It's common to not think positive. The key is stay grounded and focus on the current situation. If you are worried about fire, just tell them to spray it with the hose to keep it wet.

Nice prattle.

 

[JonM]

Nothing shocking there. It's common to not think positive. The key is stay grounded and focus on the current situation. If you are worried about fire, just tell them to spray it with the hose to keep it wet.

He sounds pretty amped up. Sit down and repeat a relaxing mantra like "Ohm ... Ohm ..."

 

[Skitsofits]

What kind of work are you having done? I would of lost confidence in their ability
seeing that.

 

[oogaboogachiefwalkingdeer]

Not much different than splicing a cord.

 

[gdbrewer]

...

 

[SharonaZamboni]

Nothing shocking there. It's common to not think positive. The key is stay grounded and focus on the current situation. If you are worried about fire, just tell them to spray it with the hose to keep it wet.

Nice prattle.

Ha

 

[wilserbrewer]

That's a great pic in the original post...

and I thought I sometimes like to run fast and loose...I'm not worthy...

I would never shove a cord in an outlet like that! WTF!

 

[brewskerdoo]

Hopefully these guys aren't electrical contractors. If they are, they clearly do not take their trade seriously and probably should be escorted off the jobsite. I would definitely be uneasy with any contractor that can't be bothered with something as simple as a proper plug assembly on extension cords or powertools. To me, this would speak volumes on the quality workmanship I could expect from these guys. Unless of course you're getting a really good deal, then all's good!

 

[whoaru99]

Certainly agree it's pretty hokey for someone to do that. But, as far as risk to your house I'd say it's low to non-existent. I'd be more worried about their work progress being interrupted and possibly compromised by such a connection than it being a saftey risk to you and yours.

 

[gdbrewer]

...

 

[n240sxguy]

Why kind of worthless POS has so little pride in his work that he does something like that! Jeez! A replacement plug is like $4-5 at lowes.

 

[DanH]

I agree with everyone here, but I also envy these guys' level of not-giving-a-f...-ness.

 

[MaxStout]

I probably should have told them to leave, but I didn't. Good thing they aren't doing any electrical work!

I hardly ever use this outlet so I didn't notice the missing weatherseal. Going to fix that and check if its wired in with a gfci on the same breaker. The house was built in 2001, so I would assume it still meets code. I'm no electrician though, so I could be wrong.

If you replace the cover, don't replace it with the same kind like you already have (snap covers), as I think those no longer meet electrical code. You should replace it with one that has a cover that can be closed while a cord is plugged in.

Like this:

If your home center doesn't carry them, go to an electrical supply house. They only cost about 10 bucks.

 

[b-boy]

what was that wire powering?

 

[jmendez29]

Wow! I'm impressed. I used to have a sign at my desk (when I had such a thing as a desk) that said that I made every effort to make my explanation as idiot proof as possible, but I did not expect an idiot of such caliber. This reminds me of that sign.

Even if this guy has absolutely NO electrical ability at all, which is not entirely unfathomable, he has to come into at least some contact with electricians if he is worth half a **** at all. In which case he could ask for a quick five minute favor to get that repaired. And if he doesn't, it means he pisses off other contractors to the point that they don't want to help him, or he's an idiot and other contractors are smart and distance themselves from him. Or he's just an idiot ( or hardheaded) and doesn't ask for help with things he can't handle.

But that's my take on it. Either way, in my house, dude's gone. No further explanation necessary.

 

[gdbrewer]

what was that wire powering?

A drill for mixing concrete.

 

[Airplanedoc]

Hope that is not the wire for the wet saw

 

[gdbrewer]

Just a regular drill mixing concrete in a homer bucket.