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cgoodrum4 · Feb 8, 2013, 06:48 PM

The home inspector said anti-oxidant needs to be applied to our already in use service entrance cables. How do you do this? Do we need to hire an electrician? My realtor said you just use a paint brush and paint on. Belle

ballengerb1 · Feb 8, 2013, 08:31 PM

Your service lines are likely copper but the lugs may be aluminium and the paste stops corrosion from biulding up. I have no idea about your skill level so you could hire an electrician to paint them up with a brush. It is not dangerous if you know what you are doing. I assume you are the seller, right?

donf · Feb 8, 2013, 09:02 PM

Why did you have the home inspected.

I would challenge this home inspector to find out why he/she has takn such a position. I would also ask where in the NEC is this statement made.

To kill the panel service feed, you would need to pull the meter. You would need the permission of the Power Company to do this. The power company may require that a licensed electrician do the work.

hkstroud · Feb 8, 2013, 09:21 PM

I would challenge this home inspector

I would ignore him. I've never known of anti-oxidant being required except at initial installation. I don't know if the anti-oxidant is conductive or not, but I wouldn't be messing around with any liquid on a live wire.

ballengerb1 · Feb 8, 2013, 10:12 PM

This observation is not uncommon with home inspectors who need to show they earned their keep. We are missing the details from his report such as existence of corrosion and if the op is the seller or buyer

hkstroud · Feb 8, 2013, 10:24 PM

missing the details from his report such as existence of corrosion

I agree Bob, but a home inspector can always be ignored and most of the time probably should be. What they provide is a negotiating instrument.

stanfortyman · Feb 9, 2013, 04:50 AM

I would also ignore him.
Even though the service conductors are probably AL, anti-ox paste is not code required. Just the absence of it is not a defect.
Sure, it's definitely a good idea, but it not required.

For him to say it needs to be put on now is beyond ludicrous. I agree, he's looking for anything to justify his existence.

stanfortyman · Feb 9, 2013, 04:50 AM

I agree Bob, but a home inspector can always be ignored and most of the time probably should be. What they provide is a negotiating instrument.

1000% agree!

cgoodrum4 · Feb 9, 2013, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Your service lines are likely copper but the lugs may be aluminium and the paste stops corrosion from biulding up. I have no idea about your skill level so you could hire an electrician to paint them up with a brush. It is not dangerous if you know what you are doing. I assume you are the seller, right?

Yes I am the seller. My husband is an electrical engineer not an electrician. He has not heard of this and doesn't know how to apply it

cgoodrum4 · Feb 9, 2013, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Your service lines are likely copper but the lugs may be aluminium and the paste stops corrosion from biulding up. I have no idea about your skill level so you could hire an electrician to paint them up with a brush. It is not dangerous if you know what you are doing. I assume you are the seller, right?

We agreed to do this because my realtor insisted we do it. She said you just paint it on however those cables are carrying a lot of electrical power. And there's no corrosion on these cables.

stanfortyman · Feb 9, 2013, 08:31 AM

I would find a friend who is familiar with electrical work. Go get a squeeze tube of anti-ox. Let them squeeze the goo into the terminations.

Job done. Now the PIA realtor and *#@#*^% home inspector are satisfied.

donf · Feb 9, 2013, 03:27 PM

First, fire your Realtor! Next, contact the State or County Electrical Inspectors and ask if this is mandated by your State or County.

It is probably not, because there is no reason. Take a moment and research the service panel. You will more than likely find it was made to accept either Aluminum or Copper wiring.

Again talk to the inspector's boss and demand proof that this required! It is not!

stanfortyman · Feb 9, 2013, 07:43 PM

Again talk to the inspector's boss and demand proof that this required! It is not!

Remember, we are talking about a home inspector. Not a real inspector.
Home inspectors are bargaining tools. That's it. They hold no power whatsoever, other than in the buyers minds.

hkstroud · Feb 10, 2013, 07:29 AM

As stated earlier a home inspection is a negotiating tool.

For a novice buyer, or a buyer not knowledgeable about the workings of a home, a home inspection may reveal some potential problem.

For the experienced buyer and home owner, it is just a negotiating tool.

If I were the buyer, I would, and have made the sales contract contingent on a home inspection. I would then, and have, negotiated the price based on the inspection report. There is always something.

If I were the seller, and I have bought more homes than I have sold, I would have an home inspection done to counter the inspection done by the buyer. As a seller I could make the sales contract "as is".

The inspector can only make recommendations. He is in no position impose any requirements.

As a seller you should only do things that are profitable to you or make the house sell faster. This is not one of them.

The inspection report is a negotiating tool, your realtor should know that.

The realtor is working for you. Assert yourself, just say NO.

ballengerb1 · Feb 10, 2013, 12:18 PM

In response to your post #10. your agent or realtor isn't actually YOUR agent. You may be the one who picked the agent but they are working for the buyer more than you. Tell this one to take a hike because he/she is a nitwit and knows nothing about code.