So suddenly I'm a "handyman".

1403 Views 10 Replies 9 Participants Last post by paintdrying, Dec 31, 2012

imautoparts

Discussion Starter · Dec 30, 2012

I'm a retired automotive engineer. Recently, a friend of mine referred a local realtor who needed an electric ceiling unit diagnosed and fixed.

I did that successfully, as I have plenty of practice from home as I have detailed in other threads.

Now the realtor is calling wanting me to put a baseboard unit into a bedroom addition that has now ducts. The electric dryer plug is on an adjoining but non-adjacent wall, on a dedicated 20A circuit.

The dryer is long gone.

So the plan is, remove the drier plug, and fish wire from that wallbox into the attic, over and back down to the exterior wall with the new baseboard.

I'm no electrician - I'm a complete noob other than my year or so of experience with my 220V ceiling heat. What do you advise? Am I in over my head, or should a lifetime of working on stuff make this fairly simple?

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chemman

· #2 · Dec 30, 2012

Is this realtor trying to sell said house?

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diystephen

· #3 · Dec 30, 2012

Nobody can really say what's simple to one person. That can certainly be a DIY project that an average person could do, but are you allowed to in your area? If you want to moonlight as an electrician you'll need to start calling it 240 though :thumbup:

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mpoulton

· #4 · Dec 30, 2012

Sounds like unlicensed electrical contracting to me. I wouldn't do that if I were you. The liability risk is huge.

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Speedy Petey

· #5 · Dec 30, 2012

imautoparts said:
I'm no electrician - I'm a complete noob other than my year or so of experience with my 220V ceiling heat. What do you advise? Am I in over my head, or should a lifetime of working on stuff make this fairly simple?

IMO you'd be OUT of your mind to do electrical work for pay considering you have no idea what you are doing.
That would be like charging someone to do a full brake job on a car when your only automotive experience is changing a tire. :whistling2:
In fact, it amazes me you are even asking or considering this.

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Jim Port

· #6 · Dec 30, 2012

The home inspection reports I see want a licensed contractor to make the repairs. It does not sound like you have the licensing, insurance that legitimate contractors have.

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md2lgyk

· #7 · Dec 30, 2012

The fact that you're even asking about this says to me that you shouldn't do it.

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imautoparts

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 30, 2012

I agree with all your sentiments. Knowing a bit about one type of very simple system does not an electrician make.

I'm going to meet with him Tuesday, show him the issues he is facing and hand him the business card of a local professional.

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paintdrying

· #9 · Dec 31, 2012

:no:This sounds better than school. You actually are getting paid to experiment on the house of a complete stranger. Just for good measure, i would watch a few youtube videos before the meeting.

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COLDIRON

· #10 · Dec 31, 2012

Asking the question = NO don't do it.

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paintdrying

· #11 · Dec 31, 2012

This was hard for me to believe- people actually look for guys doing unlicensed electrical work to have them take a fall (blame). Weather it be insurance fraud or what not. My electrician takes me on jobs and will show me 6 or 7 serious code violations within 5 minutes of walking into a house. Their is a large number of neighborhoods he will not even work in due to the fact that he does not like surprises. Mostly 3000 sq ft house built in the last ten years.

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