Am I liable here?

[Nomad74]

A few weeks ago I was cleaning a mobile home with my EDIC Porty when all of a sudden it shout down on me in the middle of the job. I immediately checked the fuse panel on the home and there were no breakers that were triggered. All the exterior plugs, the living room interior plugs, and a couple of ceiling lights had all stopped working. The tenant told me, no big deal, and would have her brother look at it. She said that the place had some weird electrical issues sometimes. So I went about my business, plugged my porty into a working plug, and finished the job.

I got a call today from the mobile owner telling me that they could not fix the problem and that there is most likely a melted wire within the walls somewhere. She told me that it was going to be costly to fix and asked me if I had insurance. I told her that she was going to have to report it to her insurance company because I did not think I was liable for the damage. I told her that I was using a newer machine that was made to be plugged into a residential outlet. I told her the same thing might have happened if someone plugged in a leaf blower. She said that the place was old. There did seem to be a lot of things tied into that circuit, living room plugs, ceiling lights, and exterior plugs.

Anyway, she said that she would call her insurance and report it but they might want to question me. UGH!!!!!!!!! This is why I hate working on mobile homes. Anyway, am I liable for this? I really can't afford to be wiring some old lady's mobile home.

 

[emeraldclean]

Sorry to hear about that electrical issue.
Sounds like her house wasn't up to code .
Personally I don't think you are in the wrong...
but insurance company may think different.
Hope it works out fine for you!

 

[Qwikdry]

that is not your fault. think about it. the breakers are there to protect the house wiring from melting or starting a fire If too much power is drawn. if the breakers didn't trip then the wiring was weak or not up to code. it would have tripped the breaker if you were drawing too much power. the wiring in the house was faulty seems like. I consider it a pre existing problem. what ever you do, don't be afraid and stand your ground. I wouldn't pay a dime if I were you.

 

[Nomad74]

that is not your fault. think about it. the breakers are there to protect the house wiring from melting or starting a fire If too much power is drawn. if the breakers didn't trip then the wiring was weak or not up to code. it would have tripped the breaker if you were drawing too much power. the wiring in the house was faulty seems like. I consider it a pre existing problem. what ever you do, don't be afraid and stand your ground. I wouldn't pay a dime if I were you.

Thank you, that is my thinking also. But you never know sometimes. Thanks.

 

[Deco]

Best of luck Nomad, I wouldn't think you are liable and when the insurance company finds what gear you were using (if they do) I don't think they will seek the funds from your company.

that is not your fault. think about it. the breakers are there to protect the house wiring from melting or starting a fire If too much power is drawn. if the breakers didn't trip then the wiring was weak or not up to code.

Good reply from Qwikdry imo.

 

[Troyster]

Hell No!! her crappy wiring is not up to code then its her problem not yours! If her water pipes burst because you hooked up your garden hose is that your fault? > NO!! I have cleaned tons of mobile homes here and not 1 problem!!

 

[Qwikdry]

Hell No!! her crappy wiring is not up to code then its her problem not yours! If her water pipes burst because you hooked up your garden hose is that your fault? > NO!! I have cleaned tons of mobile homes here and not 1 problem!!

agreed. I have also cleaned tons of mobile homes before and I use 3 5.7 vac motors and two are on a plug. and 1 and a pump are on another plug. I have never seen wiring melt. If I plug both accidently into the same circuit the breaker trips. no big deal, just flip it, relocate one of the plugs and I am in business.

 

[1ST CHOICE CLEANING]

I can't see how he is liable for something inside the wall. Now if he jerked the plug out of the outlet and it cracked I can see him responsible for a new outlet.

 

[Troyster]

I can't see how he is liable for something inside the wall. Now if he jerked the plug out of the outlet and it cracked I can see him responsible for a new outlet.

WHOA!! easy big guy!! we are professionals!! we don't yank or jerk our wires on our equipment!!

 

[Vito]

it not your fault but I think I known what the problem is the main buss on the fuss box is lose. on one pole only seen tis 1000 times and it worse with alum main power cable. easy fix just tighten the main lug and the half of the house that is dead will light right up. I fix a ton of these problem. it happen on the older one a lot. will also used a special lub on the terminal.

 

[1ST CHOICE CLEANING]

WHOA!! easy big guy!! we are professionals!! we don't yank or jerk our wires on our equipment!!

But that about the only way he could be liable for anything electrical.

 

[Vito]

the wire is not melted that is impossible to do. unless you remove the fuss and hookup direct to the buss and draw at leat 3 time the amps and them you will have a problem

 

[Troyster]

But that about the only way he could be liable for anything electrical.

read carefully > yank jerk wire equipment > it was a hidden message in reference to masturbation! sheesh!!

 

[Vito]

I used to make a ton of money fixing these problem.

 

[Vito]

too bad I don't live near by I could fix it for you in about ten minute. make sure your are on a wood ladder and don't touch any metal parts used a insulation tool or you will die.

 

[Vito]

I had a drunk electrical and his tool slip and it melted down to nothing. sparks everywhere.lol

 

[Nomad74]

I promise, I did not yank anything out. But by the end of the job I just wanted to get out of that place. I just got a message from her "electrician" about it on my machine. I tried calling him back but he didn't answer. I am not feeling the overwhelming need to try and call him again.

 

[Nomad74]

too bad I don't live near by I could fix it for you in about ten minute. make sure your are on a wood ladder and don't touch any metal parts used a insulation tool or you will die.

Thanks , but I* think I am just going to stay away from it all together. I have no issue doing electrical work on my own stuff, but for old ladies in mobile homes, nope, not going there.

 

[Troyster]

I promise, I did not yank anything out. But by the end of the job I just wanted to get out of that place. I just got a message from her "electrician" about it on my machine. I tried calling him back but he didn't answer. I am not feeling the overwhelming need to try and call him again.

whatever you do > don't take responsibility for it!!

 

[Vito]

if you ever see that problem when half the house goes dead and then come back it is a lose lug on the main. it happen a lot on older homes. because of the alum main cable. I never seen it happen with copper wire. but it cost too much to used copper. so we used the alum wire for the main feed. and then copper on all the small wire. now if she has alum wire on the oulet then it could also be that because alum wire is prone to do that , they get lose over time.