miam11•2mo ago

Showerthought: I watched a homeowner try to fix a breaker with a butter knife

I was doing a panel upgrade in a 1970s split-level yesterday when the owner grabbed a kitchen knife to 'jiggle' a stuck 20-amp. He got a nice flash and a new nickname from his wife. What's the dumbest DIY fix you've walked in on?

3 comments

3 Comments

janac5921d ago

Man people act like a little spark is the end of the world lol. Half the time it's just a loud sound and a bad smell, not even a real fire hazard.

miles2772mo ago

Ever see someone try to fix a loose outlet with a paperclip? @johnthompson is right, always kill the main power first.

johnthompson2mo ago

Saw a guy use aluminum foil in a fuse socket once. That's a good way to burn your house down. Always cut the main breaker before you touch anything.