If it doesn't rain it pours.
By littleone3
@littleone3 (2063)
April 8, 2008 10:27am CST
I have just found out that my house that i have been living in for the past 17 years could be a potential fire hazzard. It all started this morning when the workman came out to put in some exatractor fans in the bathroom and kitchen due to some damp problems. He is busy working away, then he comes in and says "I can't wire up the fan because your wiring is all wrong". Apparently there is no earths on the wires just positives. To those who are not electorally minded (thats me included) the earths are what protect you. He called out his manager to come and have a look and the manager told him that he could not do no more because of the wiring and put in a call to get our whole house rewired. So now we will have to put up with 3 days of disruption while they rewire the house.
I suppose that the good side to this is that at least we are council tennants so it will not cost us a thing. And we may also get a brand new kitchen fitted out of it. I dread to think how much it would have cost us if we were homeowners.
And to cap it all he could not fit the extractor fan in the bathroom as he said there was no room to put it as the bathroom was too small. Has this ever happen to you, have you had workmen in to do a minor job and then found out that there is a major job that had to be done?.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@Modestah (11177)
• United States
8 Apr 08
I sent too quickly
it cost us only $150 seven years ago.
I would love to have all new wiring, as our wiring is old and we do have troubles with it. but that is thousands I can not afford.
I am not sure what council housing is - is it a government program? if so, lucky you to get all new without any out of pocket expense.
@littleone3 (2063)
•
9 Apr 08
It sounds so simple but they say they also have to put in new sockets in because there is not enough in the house. The council is what we call our local authority they are the ones we rent the house off. They are also responsible for any repairs that need to be done.
@julievy (593)
• United States
8 Apr 08
Please, get a 2nd opinion before you spend boatloads of money! There are alot of scam artists out there, they may just be trying to scare you into spending more money!
That being said, it's probably true that you need to have wiring updated, especially if your house is more than 50 years old. But still, I would have someone else look at it before you agree to the work.
@littleone3 (2063)
•
9 Apr 08
Thanks for the advise but we do know it is legit. My house was built just after world war 2 so it is quite old.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
8 Apr 08
yes,doing it now.
we went to have a new furnace installed only to find out the laws have changed,we need a lining going down the chimney.
so,they come to do the lining..
and discover the chimney is dropping bricks-it needs redone too-all the way down.
so $5000 quickly became $11500.
yea,i'm gonna be eating noodles for a long while :(
@littleone3 (2063)
•
9 Apr 08
Wow thats a lot of money. I should imagine you will be sick of the sight of noodles by the time its all paid off.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
10 Apr 08
i'm already sick of them LOL
unfortunetly,if it's got to be done,it has to be.
hopefully that's it for the chimney in my lifetime though.
@SukiSmiles (1991)
• United States
8 Apr 08
Oh no! I'm glad that you don't have to pay for it. It would be really expensive. I recently had that happen with my car. Small things turn into bigger things. But my car is running a lot better now and I'm getting better gas mileage - which is really helpful with the prices the way they are now.
@littleone3 (2063)
•
9 Apr 08
Im releived we dont have to pay as well would never be able to afford it. Am so glad your car is running better now. I know how expensive it can be when things go wrong we just had to pay out over £400 to get our car roadworthy.
