Electrical (cont., p. 4)

 

Things You Should Watch For

 

On another page, I write about how you can and should take an active role in seeing that your subcontractors don’t make avoidable mistakes.

Contractors, even the best ones, can and sometimes do make mistakes.

You don’t have to be an expert yourself to spot these mistakes and to get them corrected while it’s still easy to do so.

Here are some things you can double-check.

Remember, double-checking is all you are doing.  You’re not telling him how to do his job, so don’t worry that you’re stepping out of line.

It’s your house.

 

● Make sure underground electric service has been handled properly with conduit and inspection.

● Heat and air conditioning systems require special heavy-gauge wire to be pulled to breaker panels.

Make sure that the wire is in place when electrical rough-in is finished.

 

 

 

 

● After post-framing electrical rough-in, walk the house with your electric plan.  Check to make sure your electrician hasn’t left out or mislocated anything.  It’s rare, but it’s happened to me.  We had to come back later and cut holes in walls to correct the omission.

● Verify that electrician has requested inspection and that it passes, after both the rough-in and final that will allow power to be turned on.