I enjoy a good DIY evening/morning/weekend as much as the next person, but there are times when it's best practice to call in someone who specializes in the field. My general rule of thumb is that any profession which requires a license to practice, or special certifications for safety, is probably a good one to get a professional opinion, at the least. My two main objectives at this point are livability and safety, so with the carpet out to help the anti-smoke livability side, it was time to address some safety concerns.
First off, the hot water heater exhaust was missing a cap, not only creating an unobstructed opening for furry guests (notwithstanding the rusted wire solution that was employed), but also all kinds of weather. Therefore, I had EES Services come out to install what I have been told is a "beautiful" stainless steel chimney cap. Getting on a roof at any time of the year comes with its risks, but especially after a recent sleet, this wasn't a time for me to get adventurous. Furthermore, having a safe chimney and exhaust is important, and this wasn't an area for a newbie to experiment. Thanks to Jose Salazar for the awesome work on this, as well as snapping some photos for us!
Another area where I don't mess around is electricity. Although the inspector said the wiring looked okay, being that it is an older house and I don't have information on what kind of work has been done on the electrical, I wanted to get an electrician out to run through a long list of questions and concerns. The first objective was getting GFCI outlets installed in the kitchen and bathrooms by the sinks, since that is a critical safety measure to have in place (and required by code). For anyone who has changed an outlet, you know that the process isn't overly complicated. However, I didn't want to take any chances with these particular outlets, given the consequences if done incorrectly.
The other benefit of meeting with an electrician is getting professional advice and counsel on how to approach projects that can be done "DIY" fashion. Luckily I found Yi at YC Electric, who is easily the best electrician I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. We talked about my breaker box, the service from the city, changing the other outlets and switches in the house, and how the generator plays into the equation. After speaking with him, I feel empowered to change out the rest of the outlets in the house myself, but I will definitely be having him back out for some other upgrades I would like to do in the future. In the meantime, here is a dramatic "before and after," which I can't wait to see multiply across the rest of the house!
**Also, note that he left all the screw heads vertically on each of the outlets he installed - I usually have to run around the house doing that myself! That was the definitive criterion which proved to me that this electrician was going to be a great fit moving forward. In the meantime, back to DIY.
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