New mod on the house thanks to Verizon

Adam K. · Post by **Adam K.** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:59 am

I just closed on my brand new house last Tuesday. Having Verizon FIOS previously I was very happy with it. So it was a no brainer. I had Verizon come out on Sunday to install it. Somehow he managed to drill a self tapping screw right into my main electrical line going from the outside breaker killing my power. Now my electrician is telling me he needs to pull an all new electrical line and take down sheet rock and tiles across 3 rooms to route it thru. Who would ever think such a small hole would do so much damage. My basement is full finished so it’s no easy feat. I only write this as a warning to everyone. Please watch these people when they work on your house. I now have a big hole in my new living room and waiting on a claims adjuster to approve fixing it.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:20 pm

Ouch man

This is the reason that, like my car, no one works on my house but me.

Good luck getting it fixed quickly and correctly.

dtjackten · Post by **dtjackten** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:22 pm

good luck man... that sucks....

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:26 pm

another reason why i'll keep my cable... thanks! that does suck though man.

ZeroChad · Post by **ZeroChad** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:26 pm

Wow...do they even train these people. 3/0 is not cheap. Verizon is paying for it right.

darthroush · Post by **darthroush** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 2:30 pm

Wow, bummer. Good luck; hope it's a quick(er) fix!

n20sxt · Post by **n20sxt** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:38 pm

did the guy get zapped when he drilled into the cable?

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:42 pm

n20sxt wrote:did the guy get zapped when he drilled into the cable?

we can only hope, since he caused this mess

Adam K. · Post by **Adam K.** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:53 pm

Yeah Verizon will pay for it once insurance clears in. No he did not get zapped. With 200 amps going thru that wire I would have a dead man on my new hardwood floors. I'd hate for my floors to be damaged by his burning lifeless body

I guess all I can do is sit back and laugh about it. I’m just glad no one got hurt and wasn’t me who did the damage.

Haganracing · Post by **Haganracing** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:58 pm

Its a weight reduction

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:23 pm

There are little devices available that will detect wires in walls... you'd think using one would be standard fare for these guys.

I'm surprised the wire looks like it is positioned right against the innner surface of the wall... where it is in harms way. Not the best routing.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 6:28 pm

Tape the new wire to the old wire with duct tape and fish it through that way. Wont need to rip it all apart then.

Mopar00Neon · Post by **Mopar00Neon** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:53 pm

fixitmattman wrote:Tape the new wire to the old wire with duct tape and fish it through that way. Wont need to rip it all apart then.

Unless its stapled in place. Most houses Ive ran wire in have had this issue. Also, holes in fire blockers are rarely large enough for the wire, plus the layers of tape on them.

I love pulling cable, but ugh.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:31 am

Adam K. wrote:With 200 amps going thru that wire I would have a dead man on my new hardwood floors. I'd hate for my floors to be damaged by his burning lifeless body

Easier to cleanup...

That sucks to hear man.

n20sxt · Post by **n20sxt** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:50 am

Adam K. wrote: I’m just glad no one got hurt and wasn’t me who did the damage.

but if he died you could have taken his wallet and got Micky dee's

neonpla · Post by **neonpla** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:59 am

Wow Adam, sorry to hear about that. Did you get a house on SI?

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:06 am

n20sxt wrote:
Adam K. wrote: I’m just glad no one got hurt and wasn’t me who did the damage.
but if he died you could have taken his wallet and got Micky dee's

Oh, that is terrible (but I'm laughing anyway). Glad that no one was hurt and that Verizon will do the right thing by picking up the tab.

n20sxt · Post by **n20sxt** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 2:00 am

Midnight_Rider wrote:
n20sxt wrote:
Adam K. wrote: I’m just glad no one got hurt and wasn’t me who did the damage.
but if he died you could have taken his wallet and got Micky dee's

Oh, that is terrible (but I'm laughing anyway). Glad that no one was hurt and that Verizon will do the right thing by picking up the tab.

The things i would do for a mcdouble... i think i have a addiction

Adam K. · Post by **Adam K.** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 7:42 am

fixitmattman wrote:Tape the new wire to the old wire with duct tape and fish it through that way. Wont need to rip it all apart then.

The electrician patched it for now so I have electricity. He said if I want I can leave it like that. But he also said if it was his brand new house and was not paying for it he would replace the line. Twenty years from now god forbid something happens it will be on my dime. Better do it now on Verizon since they put me in this situation in the first place.

Wow Adam, sorry to hear about that. Did you get a house on SI?

Yeah still on the Island. Would have loved to move back to Brooklyn but just to expensive.

I finally have a garage. We just picked up a 2010 CX7 and told my fiancé that neon is getting the garage. She agreed. Funny with us neon people. My neon is 9 years old and my brand new car stays outside.

Post by **occasional demons** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 8:27 am

Yeah, they make splices with lugs that clamp the wires, kind of like a crimp terminal on steroids. But those lugs do loosen overtime, either from heat cycling, or the wire compressing. You would want the splice inside a metal box also. (In case it did get loose and generate heat)

I would definitely agree to have it restored to new condition.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:07 pm

Mopar00Neon wrote:Unless its stapled in place. Most houses Ive ran wire in have had this issue. Also, holes in fire blockers are rarely large enough for the wire, plus the layers of tape on them.

I love pulling cable, but ugh.

Yeah, if it's stapled that plan is done for. Around here code is it runs through conduit, normally it's just a couple strain-reliefs. Considering he can see where the hole is I think he'll be able to get away with chasing a new cable. You don't need 1/2" of tape to get it to follow, should be plenty of clearance.

Definately get verizon to pay. If that means an ass load of drywall then so be it. The damaged it, they repair it. Just thought the chasing idea would save a headache full of drywall.

Themaggots · Post by **Themaggots** » Fri Dec 18, 2009 3:52 pm

We usually run the main power cables through conduit as to make it easier to change them if the client ever wants a bigger electric panel in the future.

But I'm still wondering why the hell did he use a self-tapping screw for? Those screw are usually used for metal and plastic, no?