Got zapped by a hidden junction box behind drywall last Tuesday

I was trimming out a kitchen remodel in an old house built in 1978. Pulled back some drywall to run new romex for a island outlet and my fish tape hit something solid. Turned out some hack had buried a junction box behind the wall with no cover plate and just drywalled over it. Wire nuts were barely twisted on and one hot wire was arcing against the box. Took me an hour to cut it out and properly splice everything into an accessible spot. Has anyone else found nightmare hidden boxes like that in older homes?

2 comments

2 Comments

sagey6918d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, arcing against the box without a cover plate? That's a house fire just waiting to happen, man.

mila_mitchell18d ago

Yeah my buddy tried to save money on a DIY wiring job and the whole wall caught fire. Took the fire department 20 minutes to put it out. Now he rents, won't touch a screwdriver anymore.