Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Electrical

(and a whole bunch of other stuff you probably never knew you didn't know 😄)

We know... electrical work isn't a "sexy topic".  Most people would prefer to daydream about a kitchen renovation or remodeling their master bath.  But a problem with the electrical system in a house is one of the few things that can bring the entire process of buying or selling a home to a screeching halt.

You've signed a contract to sell your home and you're starting to pack up your things when you hear from your Realtor that there's an issue.  They tell you that your house has a Federal Pacific electrical panel so the buyer wants you to either replace it, or give them a credit for the full cost of a new one.  Unfortunately, the most common response seems to be "What the heck is a Federal Pacific electrical panel??  Why should I give them a dime, it has always worked fine and I've never had a problem?!" đŸ€Ź

Or, on the opposite side of the equation, you're buying your first home.  Your inspection says that there are AlumiConn connectors in the electrical panel and none of the bathrooms have GFCI protected outlets.  You might be thinking. "I'm sorry, what now?  Should we cancel the contract??" đŸ˜”

No, the electrical system in your house isn't necessarily a hot topic on HGTV lately, but it's critical that you understand the basic issues as they pertain to Florida real estate before you enter a contract to buy or sell a home.  The alternative could be finding out about a serious issue that you know little to nothing about with very little time to do anything about it.  We see it all of the time; quotes on re-wiring an entire house requested with less than 24 hours left in an inspection period (good luck) because the seller had no idea aluminum wires were a bad thing.  

To help you be better prepared before buying or selling a home, we asked:

  • What's the problem with Federal Pacific electrical panels?
  • How can you tell if you have a Federal Pacific panel?
  • Are there other types of panels that are also a problem?
  • Do electrical panels ever "go bad" or just get to be too old?
  • What is the problem with aluminum wiring?
  • How can you tell if your wires are aluminum or copper?
  • What are your options to remedy aluminum wiring?
  • How does rewiring a house work in FL?
  • What's a GFCI (also known as a GFI) and what does it do?
  • What's the difference between a 2-prong and a 3-prong outlet?
  • What's that 3rd prong actually for?
  • How do you convert a 2-prong outlet into a 3-prong outlet?
  • What the heck is knob and tube?
  • ... and a whole lot more.  

You can view the entire interview or pick and choose the specific questions that interest you back at the top of the page👆.  If you want to talk with an electrical contractor about your options, or have additional questions about electrical work that we didn't cover, we recommend giving All-Pro Electrical Contractors a call!

All-Pro Electrical Contractors Contact Info

Jeff Black

Phone: 407-712-3095

[email protected]

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