Predatory Remodeling

Is it crazy to move a service panel? Yes. But since we already have everything exposed, and we’re laying out the basement from scratch, why not rethink it? We had already moved the service panel from a closet to a bedroom. This time, we’re going to move it to the laundry room, near the furnace and other mechanicals on a different side of the house. Luckily, we won’t need to run new wires for this.

I start by picking an ideal spot on the basement wall and marking it off with tape. Then I anchor some framing to the wall and carefully insulate around it.

Meanwhile, Harry help cut some additional insulation.

I hire an electrician to move the service panel. The plan is to have a second meter and panel for an electric car charger. Also, we’re going to remove the overhead power line and mast from the back of our house and have an underground service line installed.

Just when I think there’s no more demolition to be done, there’s always another Bagster to fill up. It’s fun watching them lifted up, though.

Today my electrician disappointed me. I hired him to move my electrical service panel, which he did. As for all of the other electrical problems in the house, he simply refused to fix them. He said they’re too hard to find, and not worth his time.

One such problem has to do with a circuit that runs through this junction box. It’s huge circuit that powers most of the house including lights, outlets, the refrigerator, the washing machine, the garage door opener, and more. Somehow, both ends of the circuit are on separate breakers. Removing the connection at this junction box doesn’t break the circuit. Instead, it causes a “free neutral”. When that happens, the lights in the house blink on and off. You can’t make this stuff up.

I asked him what it would take to fix the problem. He wouldn’t give me a bid, saying the problem could be hidden anywhere, like in the attic. I tried to reason with him, saying that the entire basement is exposed, and the attic has very safe lighting and rat runs. He simply said “I don’t do attics” and wouldn’t even look.

Unfortunately, untangling this mess means I’m going to have to hire another electrician, or find a way to do the job myself.

These drain and vent pipes are attached directly to the basement wall. I need to insulate that wall with foamboard insulation. This means carefully cutting out pink foamboard shapes that exactly match the pipe hangers and fitting them into place. Then I’ll have to do this again for with the fire-resistant foil-faced foamboard, but this time I’ll have to insulate around the pipes themselves… very complex shapes. What a painstaking job. No contractor would do this kind of work, but I’ll feel better knowing that wall is thoroughly insulated.

Readings around the furnace suggest that something is wrong with the fresh air intake. The duct is just a flexible hose, so I thought it might be pinched somewhere.

I discovered that the fresh air duct was not really attached to the outside of the house. Instead, it was simply resting in front of the rim joist in front of the exterior vent. The vent collar was missing, so there was nothing for the duct to attach to. That’s like breathing through a snorkel that’s only touching your lips. What’s more, the vent only lined up with half of the hole in the rim joist. That’s like breathing with only one nostril. At minimum, I’ll have to replace the rusty exterior intake vent in order to fix this.

My plumber also returns to move my laundry drain pipes to their final location. He only moves the drains, so he’ll have to come back and do the water pipes later. I ask him to leave some of the venting disconnected while I finish insulating the basement wall.