15

I was going to change a light switch and repair some wall damage. When I started opening up the wall above the switch, I saw the electrical wire clamped to the studenter image description here. I noticed black marks around it. Does this look like it might be a fire hazard and need an electrician. Personally I think so but I want to get some other opinions.

B. Stewart
  • 151
  • 1
  • 3

1 Answers1

23

Yes it is. You are correct. Call in an electrician.

Ecnerwal
  • 213,340
  • 10
  • 261
  • 571
  • 1
    If you think you're up to it, you can do a new run of wire yourself. Lots to consider for that operation, though. – Aloysius Defenestrate May 30 '16 at 15:41
  • 3
    @bib, that absolutely did NOT catch fire. What we are seeing is the tar from the cable. I've seen it a thousand times. – Speedy Petey May 30 '16 at 17:38
  • @SpeedyPetey Thanks for the correction. Will delete the comment. But it still needs replacement (as you know). – bib May 30 '16 at 17:53
  • 1
    @AloysiusDefenestrate: considering the age of the cable, there is likely much much more to repair, and its probably a good opportunity to do it all at once, which might be too much for him personally to diy. – PlasmaHH May 30 '16 at 19:29
  • @PlasmaHH -- agree completely that it's a complicated job. (Thus my disclaimer.) But with education, care, and a willingness to make numerous holes in the wall, (plus a few other things I've forgotten), electrical like this can be done DIY. I'm hoping that the OP will have a good sense of their attitude/skills/knowledge (complete with limitations, though it's sometimes hard to know what you don't know). – Aloysius Defenestrate May 30 '16 at 19:58
  • 1
    @AloysiusDefenestrate the problem is that electrical engineering is one of those things that can cost lives if done improperly. I really would hesitate to recommend someone do electrical work themselves without proper training. I mean, small things like replacing an outlet cover is something that a layman can do themselves without much issues, but anything like replacing an in-wall cable or adding new outlets really requires a professional. There's a reason that "electrical fire" returns over a million hits in Google News, and it's probably not incompetent electricians. – Nzall May 31 '16 at 10:48
  • 4
    A cable that has been damaged enough to have a hole in the jacket is not unlikely to also have a reduced conductor cross section in that spot. Which translates to a great fire hazard. – rackandboneman May 31 '16 at 11:05