New homeowner checks dead patio outlet, finds builder never secured it, and breaker stayed on

After a patio receptacle in a newly built home quit working, the owner said opening the box revealed a construction mistake and wiring that had already been heat-damaged.

But after surveying it, they initially felt fortunate the carnage wasn't much, much worse.

Here's what to know

In a Reddit post on r/mildlyinfuriating, the original poster said the problem came to light after they unplugged something from the patio outlet and it stopped working. 

When they opened it, they found the receptacle was "just free floating under the cover" because the builder had not used screws to secure it, and they said the wire was so damaged they "had to cut about 6" off to find a usable portion."

They suspected a screw left protruding inside the box may have played a role, writing, "This could have been a fire so easily. Breaker never tripped."

An electrician in the comments pointed to a different cause, describing the damage as "a classic case of a loose connection." The commenter argued "the outlet didn't start melting because you pulled it out or because it shorted out on a screw," and countered that "the one and only cause of this was improper torquing."

The original poster accepted that that explanation could be right, replying: "I could be wrong and those might just be crazy coincidence."

More background

Because the house was a new build, the homeowner said the discovery was especially concerning, and they noted the outlet had not been mounted to the box at all. The concern extended beyond the patio outlet itself. 

"If one outlet is wrong, others probably are too," a commenter wrote.

Much of the discussion focused on documenting the problem. One commenter urged, "Get it documented," while another said, "Definitely get it on the record, and check the other ones while youre at it."

Despite that, the original poster suggested the visible damage may have amounted to only "a $19 outlet," in response to a poster who advocated a lawsuit.

What can be done?

The homeowner said their immediate plan was to start inspecting the rest of the house: "Now I have the fun job of going around the house and checking dozens of other outlets to make sure they didn't repeat this anywhere else."

Other commenters said the builder, not just the homeowner, should be involved. One wrote that it "would be a warranty claim on a new build," while another recommended "a call to the builder's warranty carrier."

Some also wanted an outside professional to weigh in. One commenter said, "I'd say an electrician's time would be well worth it," and another argued the builder should pay for "a licensed, independent inspection and repairs on additional findings."

While downplaying the odds of a full house fire, the electrician commenter added: "It's also why we use fire retardant boxes for every single electrical splice in a house."

Where can I learn more?

Here are other dangerous or expensive problems homeowners and tenants have found in and around their homes unexpectedly.

• A homeowner found a fake EV outlet in a house he bought years earlier.

• In Vancouver, a tenant discovered a landlord's trailer was driving up the power bill.

• A couple found knotweed behind their outlet, raising fears about hidden wall damage.

• A homeowner warned that a neighbor's maintenance service created a serious safety risk.

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