Non conformity to electrical code

[Steevo42]

What is the name of your state? What is the name of your state? Texas
I just bought a 90 year old house with knob and tube wiring. This was noted on home inspection. The home had been recently remodeled. All the outlets are 3 prong and are not grounded. I recently had an A/C issue and had a tech come in to fix it. It turned out to be a bad thermostat, but upon inspecting the gas furnace, he told me it had not been installed per code. Is there any recourse I might have against the seller for having improper work done that doesn't conform to established building codes?

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state? What is the name of your state? Texas
I just bought a 90 year old house with knob and tube wiring. This was noted on home inspection. The home had been recently remodeled. All the outlets are 3 prong and are not grounded. I recently had an A/C issue and had a tech come in to fix it. It turned out to be a bad thermostat, but upon inspecting the gas furnace, he told me it had not been installed per code. Is there any recourse I might have against the seller for having improper work done that doesn't conform to established building codes?

You bought the house after an inspection showed that there were code violations?

 

[Steevo42]

The inspection was not a code compliance inspection. As stated in the report, "Although some safety issues may be
addressed in this report, this inspection is NOT a safety/code inspection, and the inspector is NOT
required to identify all potential hazards."

 

[quincy]

The inspection was not a code compliance inspection. As stated in the report, "Although some safety issues may be
addressed in this report, this inspection is NOT a safety/code inspection, and the inspector is NOT
required to identify all potential hazards."

Did you have any contingencies listed in your purchase agreement?

Edit to add: IF the seller was aware of material defects in the house and did not disclose these defects, you might have recourse. However, no seller in Texas is required to repair defects (or any problems with the house) in order to sell his house.

 

[Steevo42]

Due to a recent move, I have not yet been able to locate the agreement documents. I will have to locate/replace them before I can answer this question. I was just wondering if there was some law/regulation in effect that would cover this situation or if the answer remains solely in the purchase agreement.

 

[adjusterjack]

You mean something that would compel the seller to fix it?

Chance of that is slim to none.

 

[quincy]

Due to a recent move, I have not yet been able to locate the agreement documents. I will have to locate/replace them before I can answer this question. I was just wondering if there was some law/regulation in effect that would cover this situation or if the answer remains solely in the purchase agreement.

In the purchase agreement and in the seller disclosure document.

Again, regardless of the condition of the house, the seller is not required to fix anything.

 

[FlyingRon]

As pointed out, house sales are as is. Unless the seller knew about and failed to disclose or concealed the against code work, you won't have an action against them. Note that I suggest you have a REAL ELECTRICIAN look at things, not some "furnace contarctor." There are legitimate ways to connect three-prong receptacles to existing k&t wiring. While it's quite possible you've got a code violation (and an unsafe one at that), it is also possible you do not.

 

[quincy]

With any older house, having a thorough professional inspection is smart. Many older houses will not be up to current codes.

My wife and I purchase old houses (generally 100+ years old) and the wiring and plumbing often needs replacing.

 

[FlyingRon]

And in cases like this, "professional inspection" means getting a licensed electrician in there. Most "home inspectors" don't have a clue about anything.

 

[quincy]

And in cases like this, "professional inspection" means getting a licensed electrician in there. Most "home inspectors" don't have a clue about anything.

Agreed. An inspector who specializes in old homes is a plus.

 

[Steevo42]

Thank you for your responses. They are what I expected.

 

[quincy]

We appreciate the thanks so thank you.

 

[FarmerJ]

Steevo with knob and tube wiring if it is truly undisturbed it can be safe to use , a problem with knob and tube is that in many older homes that have it often times outlet and switch wiring has been patched in and so you are clear a lot of insurance companies will find a way to not cover a fire if there was bad work done to it. I suggest you plan for total wiring replacement and as far as the inspector you hired id lay odds your contract relieves him/her of claims from you about missed things but personally if the inspector did not indicate that outlet grounds were not working perhaps you may want to keep that in mind when or if someone ask you who youre home inspector was and what you thought of that inspectors work, in 87 when I bought my first home It was inspected and it was noted in each rooms details sections the outlets that were the old two slot ones that he could not plug his tester into of seven outlets 3 accepted grounded plugs and the rest didn't { the house had its original 30a 2wire service which really didn't bother me) SO on any of the forms or reports your inspector created did he /she say anything at all one way or another as to having tested them and the results ?

 

[FlyingRon]

Those three-light testers don't tell the entire story either. You need someone with a clue.