Why was a live receptacle buried in the cinderblock walls of my basement behind old, brittle insulation, and should it be used now that it still works?
Asked by Félix López 
7 months ago
Last Updated: May 7, 2024
So, I’ve been doing some renovations in my basement and found a live outlet hidden in the cinderblock wall. Lime has been coming out of it. Any thoughts on why the previous owners would hide it behind the old insulation? Should I bring it out and use it, since it’s still functioning?
Break it down, secure the wiring with tape and marrets in a junction box. I wouldn’t risk using that.
The conduit should be fine, but I recommend replacing the outlet and box.
It seems to be armored wiring. I would advise disconnecting it from where it connects. It’s fortunate that it hasn’t caused any problems so far. Just imagine constantly tripping a breaker without realizing there’s an outlet hidden in the wall. Haha
That’s exactly what I was thinking. Even with experience, I wouldn’t have been able to find that quickly if I was searching for the short.
I wouldn’t recommend using it as-is. If you need a receptacle in that spot, I would suggest cutting the power, taking out the receptacle, and checking everything thoroughly. It seems like the box got wet at some point, so it might not be safe to use. The armored wiring appears to be in good condition. The receptacle is old and hidden. It’s best to change it.
While it’s open, I suggest removing it. But first, make sure it’s not live. You can keep the wire in place but disconnect it where it connects to the nearest junction box. If you want a receptacle there, it’s best to run new wire… especially if the rest of your house’s wiring is metal clad, as there are specific considerations to keep in mind.
Remove it, secure the block with cement, correctly install the outlet, and then use it as needed.
What’s your task? Seems like new mortar. Huh
Can it be recessed within the interior wall instead of being mounted on the wall?
You never really know the condition of the wiring, outlet, or box until you actually take the outlet out. If it’s still functioning and in bx cable, it’s probably okay, but you won’t know for sure without proper inspection.
That’s what the previous owner did, who knows
It’s important that it’s never buried
They refer to this as the homeowner special.