I am working on an old house and would like to add two outlets in the kitchen. THe space has an attic above and a crawl space below. The breaker box is next to kitchen in closed in porch. An electricial told me I could add two more without a problem to breaker box but still acts like it is nearly impossible to add outlets to the older kitchen. Should it be that difficult to run two outlets either through the attic or through the crawl space to breaker box or what would prevent that from being possible? Thanks-Renee

" but still acts like it is nearly impossible to add outlets to the older kitchen" can you better exlain this sentence? Is the electrician saying this? Adding 2 more receptacles does not mean 2 more breakers in the panel. Are you in the USA, if so some of these kitchen outlets might have to be GFCI if they are counter top outlets

No I do not need more breakers, as I said earlier the electrician told me I had room for three more connections in the current breaker box I have. He just said something about trying to run the wiring is not easy once the kitchen is enclosed? Something about he has a bit that will drill up but once you get in a tight space with cabinets it's hard to do? I wanted to add an outlet over the kitchen counter and yes I am certain it would probably need to be GFCI. Are they more difficult to run or something?

No GFCI connects to the same wire or cable as a regular outlet, no more difficult but wanted to make sure he/you knew that was required. Still then confused why he said "room for three more connections in the current breaker box I have" unless he was planning toi install more breakers, which are not necessary. Cabinets do make it a bit more difficult to use the long drill bits we use to fish new cable down a wall, some of my bits are 5' long so the cabinet above gets in the way if I drill down.http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,1618107,00.html

Let me rephrase Ballenger1's question.

You have an old home that has a breaker panelboard, not a fuse box. There are several open (unused) ports on the existing pamelboard, correct?

You want to add at least two more receptacles to those already serving the kitchen counters, correct?

Now, are the receptacles that are already in the kitchen on 15 or 20 Amp GFCI protected circuits?

If the kitchen has two branch circuits that are GFCI protected serving the kitchen counters and they are both 20 amp branch circuits, then they are at the current code level.

What that means is that if you just want to extend the existing branch circuits to accommodate the new receptacles. For this work, you will most likley need a permit (I strongly urge you to get a permit).

If all you are doing is extending the circuit, then your instalation would be limited to the area behind the kitchen counter back-splash, All that would be necessary would be to go to an existing counter receptacle outlet and install your 12/2 AWG wires. Then continue the run to the first new receptacle and then on to the second new receptacle.

There would be no logical reason to to install a new 20 Amp GFCI breaker at the panelboard and then run the circuit to the kitchen for just two receptacles.

I don't think this is so much an electrical issue, but has to do with the construction of the home, and the obstacles the electrician can see, or suspect.

Some general photos of the interior and exterior may help us answer the question.