Don’t Do This: How I Almost Burned Down My Indiana Home

Balancing work, life, and home projects can be challenging, but some tasks simply can’t wait. If you’re looking for motivation to get started, let this be the "spark" you need.

I've spoken before about how buying a fixer-upper has become a larger task than originally planned. Over the past year, I've had carpenters, electricians, and plumbers in and out of my home on what seems like an almost monthly basis. Those costs add up very quickly, so any work I feel comfortable doing myself, I tend to tackle head-on. Unfortunately, those projects still take time that I don't always have.

Home Improvement One Day at a Time

My house remodel is currently about 80% complete, with a handful of time-consuming projects left on the list. From installing new ceiling fans to painting my ceilings, it's all things I really don't want to do in my free time. However, it was another task that only took me 15 minutes and a trip to Menards that became the highlight of my week.

I have one outdoor outlet in my carport that has been loose since purchasing the house. I knew at some point the cover, and possibly the outlet, would need to be replaced, but I had no idea the situation would be as bad as it turned out. It was a bit sketchy, and a greater hazard than previously realized.

Electrical Fire Hazards Are No Joke

Protecting your home from electrical fires should always be a priority. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, electrical fires account for over 6% of residential fires, with approximately 24,000 such fires each year. The leading culprits include things like space heaters, the misuse of extension cords, or what could have been my case—a faulty outlet.

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Preventing Faulty Outlet Fires at Home

My original plan was to replace the loose outdoor cover on my carport outlet before I realized a few things. First, upon removing the cover, I found that the terminal screws on the outlet were completely rusted and the wires corroded. Second, I noticed the outlet was not of the GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) variety, which is required by Indiana building codes in bathrooms, garages, and outdoor areas.

Okay, What Is a GFCI Outlet?

If you're like me, and neither an electrician nor an expert handyman, I'll give a brief description of why GFCI outlets are important. A GFCI device is used to protect homes and buildings in the event of an electrical current imbalance. When there is an issue, the device "trips," cutting power to the location and thus preventing electric shock or fire. Since the old outlet did not have this mechanism and was incredibly corroded, it's a wonder my carport never erupted in flames.

Protecting Your Largest Investment

Removing the old outlet was easy, but not for any comforting reasons. While removing the wires, the entire device fell apart in my hands, with dirt and debris falling out of the hole in the wall. I was able to clean up the area and the wires before installing the new GFCI outlet and outdoor cover. The old cover, while rusted, was never properly fixed to the house, with a wide gap allowing in moisture and the aforementioned debris. As an extra precaution, I sealed up the entire area around the new box with clear silicone.

Don't Put Off Until Tomorrow What Can Be Done Today

While I don't have a reputation for procrastination, home projects are just not something I enjoy doing. I've become increasingly burnt out on them in recent months, which is probably why this issue took so long to address. Despite this, however, I now realize I should have prioritized this project a little more. The moral of this story is simple: don't wait to fix something you know needs attention.