terminology about home electric code retrofit (Austin: for sale, power lines, countertops)

[Dwayne Lassiter]

OK, I have a sixty year old house in Austin, and the 120v/240v a/c drop from the power lines connects directly to the house below the roof. That kind of connection is evidently no longer consistent with Austin city code. I believe one is required to retrofit the connection with at least a large conduit that accepts the power lines a few feet above the rooftop and drops to a junction box and meter on the wall below. I see that retrofit being done in such older homes for sale. That is, like this, which is code-compliant.



My question is one of terminology. What exactly is this retrofit called? That is, if I'm pricing out such a job, what do I tell them I want to have done? Recommendations? Also, can someone give me a specific reference to the city code? I'd appreciate such info.

[Dwayne Lassiter]

Heh. No takers? I just saw a ad for a sale house with this mod that said "updated electrical service and subpanel". So I go to an electrician and say, hey, gimme one of those "updated electrical services and subpanels"? That, I guess, is what a realtor calls it.

[hornraider]

I've always called that a meter/service feed.


Technically, I think what you are asking is to have an electrical contractor come in and:


1) Install a weatherhead, with 2-3 " conduit running down to the meter.
2) If your old meter box and main breaker panel are old, it will be recommended to be replaced.
3) All new service has to be grounded with a grounding rod at the main panel.
4) This job requires power to the house to be de-energized, so permit is obviously required and coordination with Austin Energy or your electric provider.


Bottom line is that you need a quote from an electrical contractor for a service upgrade

[Dwayne Lassiter]

Thank you. Those are the exactly the words I was looking for. Good point about coordination with Austin Energy. In our neighborhood, such a service upgrade is needed on just about every residence, at least before a sale can take place.

[Roadking2003]

Or call an electrical contractor and ask him the cost to make your electrical system "code compliant."

[hornraider]

Originally Posted by Roadking2003

Or call an electrical contractor and ask him the cost to make your electrical system "code compliant."

The problem with that is with a 60 year old house, a contractor will recommend the house be completely re-wired. As a licensed Journeyman, that's what I would say(and have done many times). As long as the house has no aluminum conductors, I would just make sure you have GFCIs in the wet locations(bathrooms, countertops) and have grounded outlets(3 prong). I've even went a step further and replaced all the 14 gauge wire with 12 gauge, as it was allowed on lighting circuits until the late 90s per NEC. That 14 gauge wire sucks because its so thin and brittle. Its a real headache to troubleshoot on a service call.

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by hornraider

The problem with that is with a 60 year old house, a contractor will recommend the house be completely re-wired. As a licensed Journeyman, that's what I would say(and have done many times). .

He can recommend anything he wants to but that's not answering the question. The question should be "what is needed and what does it cost to make my house code compliant for resale". Not "what do you recommend".

I am 100% sure that there are electric service companies who will answer that question.

[FalconheadWest]

I had a listing where the city came and made it code compliant, no charge to my client. It was compliant when it was built, and it's hard to keep up with all the changing codes. Many times, the entities that require the changes will come and do it. For example, if there is a gas leak, the gas company will run out and fix it at no cost. They don't want things blowing up! Electrical outside the house doesn't really belong to you. It belongs to the power company. I would call them first.