I finally had to rewire my own basement after finding dodgy junction boxes.

My basement lights kept tripping the breaker, so I went down to check the wiring. Behind a panel, I found three junction boxes wrapped in tape instead of proper covers. The wires were twisted together and just shoved into the walls. It took me a whole afternoon to trace each circuit and install new boxes with correct connectors. I kept wondering how the previous owner lived with it for so long without any issues. The job was straightforward but annoying, especially in the tight crawl spaces. It reminded me why code exists, even for simple splices. What's the worst hack job you've had to fix in your own home?

3 comments

3 Comments

julia5571mo ago

Tape isn't a proper cover, even for temporary splices.

miles_lane511mo ago

I mean, tape is just a hope and a prayer, right?

karen_flores371mo ago

Tracing those circuits sounds like a nightmare, lol. I had to deal with something similar where the previous owner used speaker wire for electrical connections. When you were rewiring, did you find any other hidden surprises behind the walls? Like, were the wires actually touching anything metal? It's scary how people skip basic safety.