My contractor plugged in a power tool and my electrical outlet was overloaded. Who is responsible for repairing it?

My contractor plugged a power tool into an outlet and overloaded it. Who is responsible for repairing it?

Hi, dool01!

That's damage to your property in the course of someone doing work on it. So, it's something that the contractor should take care of. I would like to assume that the contractor has liability insurance.

Do you know if the contractor has liability insurance, please?

Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Clough

Hi, dool01!

That's damage to your property in the course of someone doing work on it. So, it's something that the contractor should take care of. I would like to assume that the contractor has liability insurance.

Do you know if the contractor has liability insurance, please?

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Seriously?


Am I the only one who thinks this is just a tripped breaker?
What needs to be repaired? Did something get damaged?

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Originally Posted by stanfortyman

Seriously?


Am I the only one who thinks this is just a tripped breaker?
What needs to be repaired? Did something get damaged?

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It will not reset.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stanfortyman

Seriously?

Am I the only one who thinks this is just a tripped breaker?

What needs to be repaired? Did something get damaged?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by dool01

It will not reset.

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What kind of power tool was it, please?

Thanks!

This is a grey area IMO.
He did NOT do anything wrong, but he did cause it to trip. He likely just revealed a problem in your system that was there the whole time.

This is kind of like bringing your car in for service and blaming them for a scratch that was there the whole time, only you never saw it.

Keep in mind, I could be completely off base here. I only know minute details of what actually transpired.

You didn't have the right size circuit breaker?

The contractor probably reasonably assumed your wiring had been done correctly. You are probably responsible. Pay for the repairs and be thankful it didn't burn your house down.

If for example, the tool was a 15 amp tool and he pluged it into a standard outlet, there is no reason one would blow unless it was done improper.

So, if your wiring was not up to code, wrong size fuse or breaker, then you are, if he did something wrong, he would be

Please do not start several threads on same subject, all threads merged

Did you turn the breaker to the off position before trying to turn it back on? If that doesn't work then just spend the $3 on a new breaker. Even if it was the contractor's fault, which is unlikely, it's not worth the fight.

This is like expecting the contractor to bring his own electricity.

Just have it repaired.

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Originally Posted by KeepItSimpleStupid

This is like expecting the contractor to bring his own electricity.

Just have it repaired.

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It may not be that simple though...

If it isn't simple, it's not the contractors fault.

It's instantaneously tripping.

Simple:
Bad breaker (Rare)
The outlet moved slightly, so the screws hit the side of the metal box. (This would be my guess)

Complex:
Insulation damage - the breaker should have worked.

What kind of work was being done?
The use of an outlet will not damage your electrical system.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dool01

It will not reset.

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What does that mean? Does it mean the breaker immediately trips again when you reset it or does that mean that resetting the breaker does not restore power to the outlet?

If the outlet is on the exterior is probably a GFI circuit and there is a GFI outlet somewhere that needs to be reset.

Is this the only outlet that is not working.

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Originally Posted by stanfortyman

This is a grey area IMO.
He did NOT do anything wrong, but he did cause it to trip. He likely just revealed a problem in your system that was there the whole time.

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I have to agree.

The Breaker should have tripped, if it opened up a bad connection, he shouldn't be responsible, but would think he would do a quick test.
Single pole breakers are cheap. What did this happen on.(20 amp circuit)?