Horizontal Outlets (Chicago: apartment, condo, house)

[lepoisson]

I just realized something weird. I've never seen a vertically installed electrical outlet in Chicago. Is there some sort of building code that requires electrical outlets to be installed horizontally?

[Alacran]

Places exist with horizontal outlets?

[lepoisson]

Originally Posted by Alacran

Places exist with horizontal outlets?

I've only ever seen the style on the right in Chicago. Everywhere else I've lived has been the style on the left.

[MillennialUrbanist]

Originally Posted by lepoisson

I've only ever seen the style on the right in Chicago. Everywhere else I've lived has been the style on the left

Interesting thread. I lived in Chicago my whole life, and all I saw are horizontal outlets. I vaguely remember seeing a vertical outlet only once, as a kid. It was in a very old walk-up apartment (old enough to have radiant heating and crown mouldings), but it could be my imagination, for all I know. As for other US cities, like when traveling or on vacation, I didn't pay attention; outlet placements weren't a priority. But maybe I'll sneak a peak next time I travel outside the Chicago area.

[BOBNCHI]

One reason is Chicago electrical code specifies emt for residential ( I dont think the box orientation is there) and having the boxes mounted horizontal makes the wire pulls a bit easier.

The other reason is "that's always how it's been done" and "that's how I was taught"!

Someone from 134 might have some insight on it.

[Alacran]

I'm confused now, My mind doesn't remember how they are placed. I never realized it.

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by lepoisson

I've only ever seen the style on the right in Chicago. Everywhere else I've lived has been the style on the left.

That's funny. I just now look and all the outlets at my apartment is the one on the left. Same at my old apartment. But these are old buildings, 100 years old.

[Manterro]

I live in Chicago and my house is 63 years old. I just took a walk around the house to check and noticed they're all vertical outlets.

[glass_of_merlot]

maybe op is used to newer buildungs.

[emathias]

I've mostly lived in vintage places and I think they mostly had a mix. My current, circa 1890, condo was first renovated in about 1978, with some updates in the late 1990s.. It has a mix of vertical and horizontal outlets. I think if you're renovating, putting them in horizontal makes it easier to rewire without tearing out as much plaster. In my current place, most of the outlets in places likely to be seen are vertical, and the horizontal ones are either in the baseboard on exposed brick walls, under the cabinets in the kitchen, or in places likely to be covered by furniture. It's probably just random, though, and not any actually reasoning to it.