Rant: A simple ground fault search turned into a four hour hunt

I got a call for a GFCI tripping in a kitchen. Figured it was a bad outlet, easy swap. Traced it back and found it was on a shared circuit with an outdoor patio light. The junction box for that light was buried under six inches of blown-in insulation in the attic. It took me two hours just to find the box, and another two to re-seal the conduit entry that was letting in moisture. What should be the cutoff for troubleshooting a single fault before you start recommending a re-wire for that section?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_paul15d ago

That buried junction box is the worst. I'd call it at two hours of hunting.

robinson.wren15d ago

My old house had three of those hidden boxes, @the_paul. It's like a universal rule that the most important wire always leads to a wall you just finished painting. I spent a whole Saturday once just tapping on drywall listening for hollow spots. The hunt is REAL.

the_anthony9d ago

Remember finding a hidden box full of old phone wires after I'd already patched the wall, robinson.wren. That's the exact moment I bought a decent stud finder. Some lessons just cost you a weekend.