Bad Kitchen Wiring

Bad Kitchen Wiring That Surfaced During Remodeling - Updated October 25, 2024

Dear Mr. Electrician:  Have you ever come across bad kitchen wiring during a remodeling job?

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Answer:  Yes.  Some photos of one kitchen with bad and unsafe wiring are below.

I received a call from someone who was referred to me.  He wanted me to look at wiring in a kitchen currently undergoing remodeling.

When I got there I saw, in the top photo, that the cabinets were being installed before any work inside of the walls was done.  The owner was not there, only the cabinet installer.  It was the cabinet installer who insisted that the owner call an electrician.

I contacted the owner and told him that the cabinet installation work needed to stop.  An electrical permit was needed for the new wiring that I anticipated.  The old portable appliance cords needed to be removed.  The existing walls also needed patching.  It was too soon to install cabinets.




However, this was not an owner-occupied house.  At the time it wasn’t occupied at all.  I suspect it was going to be a rental, but it could also have been a flipper who called me but didn’t like my response.  I never heard back.  I have no idea what the outcome of this bad kitchen wiring mess was.

The red arrow points to a portable extension cord that was installed as permanent wiring behind a kitchen cabinet.  The insulation on these types of cords is what makes them hazardous when installed as permanent wiring.  The insulation on portable cords is not rated for in-wall use and can cause a fire when it fails.

Bad kitchen wiring was revealed during this renovation.
Bad kitchen wiring was revealed during this renovation.

A closer shot below of the cord behind a kitchen cabinet.

An extension cord is tacked inside a wall and runs behind a kitchen cabinet.
An extension cord is tacked inside a wall and runs behind a kitchen cabinet.

Below,  the red arrow points to the other end of the cord in the wall.  I never figured out where it went inside the wall.  I hope someone did.

An extension cord that has been installed behind a kitchen cabinet and then goes into the wall.
An extension cord that has been installed behind a kitchen cabinet and then goes into the wall.

An extension cord was fished through the wall to power something over the stove.  Perhaps a hood or a microwave oven was connected to this bad kitchen wiring.

A short extension cord installed inside a wall presumably for a kitchen hood is depicted.
A short extension cord installed inside a wall presumably for a kitchen hood is depicted.

A closer look at the bad kitchen wiring cord providing power for something over-the-stove.

A gray extension cord comes through the wall to be plugged in.
A gray extension cord comes through the wall to be plugged in.

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I didn’t bother to open the electrical receptacle outlet below to see what was going on inside.  The lamp cord coming out of the wall plate was enough of a red flag.

You know you have a problem when you see lamp cord coming through the wall plate on a receptacle outlet.
You know you have a problem when you see lamp cord coming through the wall plate on a receptacle outlet.

The only kitchen wiring that wasn’t too bad was the wiring from the old undercabinet lights.  The cabinet installer was doing a good job of taking care of them during the kitchen remodel work.  I have no idea if they worked or not.

Romex wiring ready for a new undercabinet light fixture.
Romex wiring ready for a new undercabinet light fixture.

Wiring from an old undercabinet light fixture ready for a new kitchen cabinet light.

Undercabinet light fixture wiring ready for a new luminaire.
Undercabinet light fixture wiring ready for a new luminaire.

The main electrical panel for the house.  It seems to be original and I didn’t see any bad wiring in there.  However, I noticed that the main breaker does not appear to have a permanent screw or strap holding it in place as required.  It also does not appear to have a ground rod connection, only an aluminum wire water pipe ground connection.

An older Cutler-Hammer main electrical panel with cobwebs inside.
An older Cutler-Hammer main electrical panel with cobwebs inside.

Here is an article with photos about replacing a kitchen hood.

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