ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Help! Is my home inspector crazy?

I am selling my home and the buyers sent over a home inspector to do the routine inspection. Well I got the report and he said that on the interior of my electrical panel the wires had some drywall mud covering some of the wires and some connections. Per his report "Clearing of mud is not allowed, replacement is required". How in the world would I replace all the wires in the house. Is it normal to recommend to replace all the wires for this??

Sounds like another home inspector that has his head up his a**. I don't think we have wired any homes in the past 20 years that the drywall contractor didn't get mud on the wires in every box. Its best to clean as much of it off as you can but a little mud is not going to hurt anything as long as it is not on the panel bus bars or in any of the connections. There is no reason to rewire you house because of this.

I agree with caselec (to include the part about where the HI's head was located). However, I must also add that a reputable home inspector would have written to have an electrician check if he thought something was wrong. Home Inspectors should not recommend what a trade person should do, they should only point out the problems and have you contact the appropriate contractor. They should also never try and cite codes. BTW, I am a licensed electrician and a home inspector, in my reports I never recommend what to do, I note what I feel is the problem and why I think so. I then recommend they seek a qualified and licensed contractor, to include the electrical, I will not work on any home I inspect, it's unethical to use home inspections to get work.

110.11? Probably not.

Ask for a Code reference. I have written several rebuttals to Home Inspection Reports.
You, as a licensed electrician, are more qualified to determine what is safe or not than a "Jack-of-all-Trades" home inspector.
(Although in my experience some seem to be about a "Deuce-of-all-Trades").

yes your inspector is out there, and your mudder is a slob..... perhaps they should do lunch?

I have never heard of such BULL S@#T !!
The only way to avoid the mud would be to hard pipe the house and not pull any wire until all of the mud has dried.Unless the inspector had his own house wired like this,he needs to pull his head out of it's present location , rip his house apart and replace all of his own wiring.



[This message has been edited by txsparky (edited 10-14-2002).]

Mike,

Can you send us a picture?
If you can, Email it to me and I will post it here.

Bill@Electrical-Contractor.net

Bill, I just sent the pics. Thanks

Here is Mikes' Condemned Panel;







Comments?

Now that there is a mess.
Looks like there is "mud" on the lower right buss, also.
Hey, you sure that it's "spackle"??
Must have been one ticked off spackler!
IMHO, I would have it de-energized and cleaned as best as possible.
Code reference??? 110-11??
Home inspectors usually don't have a code book!

John