Removing Ophan Circuits

[lbperry]

My BIL died several months ago and I'm trying to help clean up/out his house in prep for selling it to the prospective owner. She said that she did not want several of the wall mounted light fixtures. I removed the fixtures and cut off and then capped the wiring. That leaves things in a situation that is at least temporarily safe even when the wall switch controlling them is turned on.
How do I disable the wiring long term? Should I just go back and remove the switch and cover the switch box with a cover? What's the best practice for handling this situation?
Thanks.

 

[ForceFed70]

Lots of theories on this topic.

Honestly - I'd leave the fixtures attached. That's the best way - or replace with something new and cheap if they're ugly. You can buy some pretty cheap fixtures out there.

If that's not an option. I'd remove the switch, put wire nuts on the feeder line, and cover with a blank plate. Same with the fixture boxes.

 

[The Cobbler]

as above, or tell her they're included and she can do what she wants with them on closing.
will she come back & say, "I didn't want the fixtures, or the wiring that feeds them, and I wanted the walls patched where they were?

 

[tfi racing]

Find where the switch legs originate,disconnect and cut them off and then patch over the holes in the wall.If any of this is confusing,one really shouldn't be attempting this kind of work.

 

[ard]

My BIL died several months ago and I'm trying to help clean up/out his house in prep for selling it to the prospective owner. She said that she did not want several of the wall mounted light fixtures. I removed the fixtures and cut off and then capped the wiring. That leaves things in a situation that is at least temporarily safe even when the wall switch controlling them is turned on.
How do I disable the wiring long term? Should I just go back and remove the switch and cover the switch box with a cover? What's the best practice for handling this situation?
Thanks.

Are you getting it ready to sell, or is there already a new owner that wants changes done before closing?

If 'getting ready to sell' the advice to put up any decent looking light, so it is all functional, is the best.

Having closed off switch plates, blank plates in the walls, is an invitation for questions, concerns and low offer prices.

Pulling boxes, removing wires, patching and refinishing are very labor intensive and if down wrong will spotlight 'work was done here'

 

[Richard Cranium]

agreed, you would be much better off just putting up cheap light fixtures.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

So you already cut the wires off?

How short did you cut them?

This was a bad idea since it will make it a pain in the *** for a future owner to add lights if they want. This will just lower the value.

 

[toplessHO]

proper way to abandon is to remove wire at its source and cut so it cant be used again.
you can put a hot patch over the box and blend in with surrounding area by increasing size of mud knife with each new layer

 

[matt_i]

This is slightly off the topic at hand but I would be wary of making any changes to anything unless there's a signed purchase agreement with earnest money in escrow and both parties seem to be working towards the closing.

Since you can't bury junction boxes in the walls, I would label it carefully (the next person to work in there will be thanking you and wishing they could buy you lunch) and then install the blank coverplate.

I would have left the full length tails coiled inside the junction boxes with everything wire-nutted and taped. And labeled at that end too.