I am a fairly new home owner. (8 months)
The home we purchased is well over 100 years old.. about 120 years old to be exact.
The house is considered a one and a half storie, and had virtually zero plug ins in the upper part of the house and only one to two in each of the downstairs rooms. To make matters worse, most plug ins were on the same fuses (Yes it was the old fuse pannel) Nor did the home have a Dryer plug in or Washer hook ups.
So we brought in an electrician to remove things off of the same fuses... giving things like Freezers, refridges, microwaves, Stoves and a few other things their own fuse. And for the most part we were satisfied with the work done.
Yesterday morning we noticed smoke coming from our electrical panel. We immediately cut the power to the house (main switch) and called the power company. We are not electrical savvy.. so that was our first move.
The power company came out and said that our 'Neutral Bus' (I think is what it was called) was completely melted and fried and that we need and electrician.
We called a gent and he stopped by. He ended up having to replace the whole electrical panel, putting in a breaker box instead of repairing the old fuse box. Which is fine with us.
My question is that now that this is all said and done... the Power company did a mini inspection so that the power could be turned on, and now we have to have an inspector come and check it all out.. But what I am wondering is the contractor says that he has to install an outdoor plug in as well as an electric fire alarm. Two things that have nothing to do with the original situation.
Why do I have to have an outdoor plug-in? and Why do I have to have an electric fire alarm.. when I have fire alarms on all three levels of the home? (Basement, main floor and upper floor)
Anyhow.. I am just trying to educate myself as we go.. so sorry if this is not the place to ask these questions.
~Sande
The home we purchased is well over 100 years old.. about 120 years old to be exact.
The house is considered a one and a half storie, and had virtually zero plug ins in the upper part of the house and only one to two in each of the downstairs rooms. To make matters worse, most plug ins were on the same fuses (Yes it was the old fuse pannel) Nor did the home have a Dryer plug in or Washer hook ups.
So we brought in an electrician to remove things off of the same fuses... giving things like Freezers, refridges, microwaves, Stoves and a few other things their own fuse. And for the most part we were satisfied with the work done.
Yesterday morning we noticed smoke coming from our electrical panel. We immediately cut the power to the house (main switch) and called the power company. We are not electrical savvy.. so that was our first move.
The power company came out and said that our 'Neutral Bus' (I think is what it was called) was completely melted and fried and that we need and electrician.
We called a gent and he stopped by. He ended up having to replace the whole electrical panel, putting in a breaker box instead of repairing the old fuse box. Which is fine with us.
My question is that now that this is all said and done... the Power company did a mini inspection so that the power could be turned on, and now we have to have an inspector come and check it all out.. But what I am wondering is the contractor says that he has to install an outdoor plug in as well as an electric fire alarm. Two things that have nothing to do with the original situation.
Why do I have to have an outdoor plug-in? and Why do I have to have an electric fire alarm.. when I have fire alarms on all three levels of the home? (Basement, main floor and upper floor)
Anyhow.. I am just trying to educate myself as we go.. so sorry if this is not the place to ask these questions.
~Sande
