Switched my stance on hiding splices after a bad attic job

I used to think burying splices in walls was fine if they looked clean. Then a crew I was helping in Phoenix had a splice fail inside a ceiling three months later. The homeowner's drywall repair cost $400 and the boss blamed me for not using a junction box. Now I put a box with a cover on every single splice, no exceptions. Anyone else learn this one the hard way?

2 comments

2 Comments

joseph_adams661mo ago

Learned this one the hard way too. I had a splice in a wall that I thought was perfect until the homeowners dog started barking at a spot in the living room for no reason. Turned out the wire nuts had loosened up from the vibration of a ceiling fan above and were arcing behind the drywall. The dog saved the house from burning down but my reputation took a hit when they found out I was the one who buried it. Now I treat every splice like its going to be inspected by a grumpy old man with a flashlight and a bad attitude.

the_thomas1mo ago

Jumped on that bandwagon after my own Phoenix attic job went sideways. Found a splice hidden in insulation that had corroded through (dusty dry heat does a number on wire nuts). Cost the homeowner $600 to fix the melted drywall and I had to comp the labor just to keep the client. Now every splice gets a Carlon box and a cover plate, no exceptions.