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Adding a circuit the electrician "forgot"

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dcg9381

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So we've got a utility room off the garage. It has a vent fan that "never worked". I didn't make too big a stink out of it at the time, I just assumed the fan was bad.
Well, finally got around to having a look.
Pulled the fan cover, manually powered up the fan. Worked fine.

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Next went to the switch. Not the worst thing I've seen, but not exactly inspiring confidence.. Apparently copper wire, is copper wire, never mind color codes. Tested all that out. Power to the switch, power from the switch.

1781549786370.png

Dropped the fan, housing is hard-attached to ceiling framing, so the "box" is not coming out. The problem is immediately obvious and probably "worst case". It wasn't wired. Likely the wire is up there "somewhere", now totally covered in foam insulation.

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So somehow I've got a "live" circuit to no-where. Not great. Now I take a look at the framing photos, can't find one where I captured the wiring, but I can see the direction and confirm the joist orientation:
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I really dont want to have to re-drywall most of this utility room, so what I'm thinking about doing:

1) Remove the fan switch, plate it, cap the hot.
2) Start drilling 9" holes in the ceiling, between the joists, and cut over the circuit from the interior light to the exhaust fan, cover them up with "access plates":


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3) Add a "timer switch" to the fan/light combo....
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Thoughts? Other than "find a new electrican" ?
 
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larry4406

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Ugh.

I think I would bite the bullet and fish in/find the switch leg that was not tied into the fan and repair. Couple of strategic holes and not too hateful.

If you want to slave it off the ceiling light, that is an option. The old switch instead of blanking maybe convert it to a receptacle.

If slaving off the light, use a hole saw maybe 4-5” diameter with short pilot. Remove pilot once started on the drywall which will guide it. Cut a drywall plug centered on each joist. Chisel foam out and fish wire. Screw the drywall plugs back to the joist and minor repair.
 
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dcg9381

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larry4406 said:
I think I would bite the bullet and fish in/find the switch leg that was not tied into the fan and repair. Couple of strategic holes and not too hateful.
Click to expand...
First hole will be next to the fan box, if I can find the wire, that will solve a lot of problems. But I'm going to assume I won't find it.
larry4406 said:
If slaving off the light, use a hole saw maybe 4-5” diameter with short pilot. Cut a drywall plug centered on each joist. Chisel foam out and fish wire. Screw the drywall plugs back to the joist and minor repair.
Click to expand...
Why cut the plug centered on the joist? I get it if I was going to re-finish the drywall 100%, but if I center the hole on the joist, I've got 1/2 diameter access to either side of the joist... One hole (potentially) instead of two, but I'm going to have to drill that joist to bring a wire over from the light to the fan box...
 
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larry4406

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At the day job, it’s not uncommon for a fart fan housing to be missing at hvac rough.

Later it gets punched out and by then the electrician may have just left a hang wire for the hvac tech to connect. Tech says eff it not my job, boom missed.
 
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dcg9381

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larry4406 said:
Later it gets punched out and by then the electrician may have just left a hang wire for the hvac tech to connect. Tech says eff it not my job, boom missed.
Click to expand...
On this job, electrican did the poop fans as part of his bill. He missed it 100%. I'm going to have to de-tangle at least of his 3-way switches that are wack-a-doodle too.. Wonder if that wiring is just as hosed.. One thing at a time.
 
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larry4406

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dcg9381 said:
First hole will be next to the fan box, if I can find the wire, that will solve a lot of problems. But I'm going to assume I won't find it.

Why cut the plug centered on the joist? I get it if I was going to re-finish the drywall 100%, but if I center the hole on the joist, I've got 1/2 diameter access to either side of the joist... One hole (potentially) instead of two, but I'm going to have to drill that joist to bring a wire over from the light to the fan box...
Click to expand...
You ever repair drywall patches?

You need something to screw it back in to. Some sort of scrap material. If you cut a large enough hole at the joist, you can drill joist, fish wire thru it, and then screw the plug back to it. Use a larger hole saw or a drywall keyhole saw and cut a square of your choice.

If you want access panels across your ceiling that option works also. Cut wherever you want them to match the access panels you choose.
 
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welder4956

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I see a wire crossing the ceiling joists in your first photo in the area of your pointer, as well as a wire running parallel to a joist to the right of your ppointer. Maybe the wire is there, but was not pulled into the box. Can you remove the box to check?
 
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dcg9381

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larry4406 said:
You ever repair drywall patches?
Click to expand...
I do my best to try not to deal with drywall. My "bar" for patches is very high and I'm probably not capable. I'd rather see the access plate... I get what you're saying - if I was going to patch it and not plate it, center on the joist. That doesn't leave me enough room to drill the joist though to run wire... At least not with the current tool set.
welder4956 said:
I see a wire crossing the ceiling joists in your first photo in the area of your pointer, as well as a wire running parallel to a joist to the right of your pointer.
Click to expand...
That wire is on the "garage side" of the wall, I doubt that it is from the interior side switch. There IS wire there, somewhere, I just didn't get a photo of it when this was built.
welder4956 said:
Maybe the wire is there, but was not pulled into the box. Can you remove the box to check?
Click to expand...
Nope. The boxes are screwed into the joists and basically permanently fixed. When the fan fails, you just replace the fan that comes out of the box.

The box is also (I assume) connected to a vent. Come to think of it, I'm not sure I know of a vent.. Let me confirm there is one.
 
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dcg9381

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PCustoms said:
Little holes are easier to patch!
Click to expand...
I don't do patches. I'm going to do an access plate. As you can only center drill these once (unless using the stud), I've got one shot at it... I'll end up with an 8" plate next to that fan, but beats seeing my lousy drywall patches or paying a "professional" to do it...
 
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PCustoms

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dcg9381 said:
I don't do patches. I'm going to do an access plate. As you can only center drill these once (unless using the stud), I've got one shot at it... I'll end up with an 8" plate next to that fan, but beats seeing my lousy drywall patches or paying a "professional" to do it...
Click to expand...

I get it, but a 2" hole an an inspection mirror or scope is easy to hide after...

Did you knick the wire with the saw?
 
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dcg9381

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You guys can debate patch or plate. I went with plate.

Had I patched it, I'd be required to list this on a Seller's Disclosure. As I installed an "access plate", that's a feature, right? :)

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larry4406

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Does the flapper on the presumed wall cap open upon fan initiation?

I think the disclosure concern of a drywall repair is a bit overblown honestly to fix a build error.
 
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