How To Install a New Basement Circuit | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey installs a reserve tank so a homeowner can finally fill their tub with hot water for a relaxing bath. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Master electrician Heath Eastman takes us on a house call to help solve a problem with a tripping breaker. Heath investigates and finds that the circuit has undersized wiring and power cords, and should be on its own breaker. He then installs a new 20-amp breaker and outlet in the basement to solve the issue. If there are appliances in the basement tripping breakers throughout the rest of the home, there might be an issue with circuits. And the solution might be to install a new breaker, wiring, and outlets. Here’s how to do that. Where to find it? Heath identifies why a homeowner’s breaker trips when the dehumidifier is running. After, Heath installs a new basement circuit into the receptacle. Heath uses an electrical outlet tester [https://amzn.to/3CqDsky] to see if the existing outlet has ground going to it. Heath uses a drill [https://amzn.to/3qC43J1] and pilot drill bit to create a pilot hole in the stone foundation. He then installs a new work metal electrical box [https://amzn.to/42zAO6O] using screws [https://amzn.to/3X0fLcm]. Heath then uses a cordless jigsaw [https://amzn.to/3CpBQHW] and 1/2-inch offset bender for the conduit pipe. Heath then runs a 12-gauge wire [https://amzn.to/3CrIf5r] from the new electrical box over to the electrical panel. He secures the wire to the joists overhead using a crown stapler [https://amzn.to/43GArc8] and electrical staples [https://amzn.to/3oQZlql]. Heath replaces one of the fillers on the circuit breaker with an arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) breaker [https://amzn.to/3qF1rdl], which is now required by code in Massachusetts whenever a receptacle is replaced. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Materials: Junction box [https://amzn.to/42zAO6O] Masonry screws [https://amzn.to/3X0fLcm] Cable clamps [https://amzn.to/3CsUyhU] 1x6, 1x8, or 1x10 pine boards [https://ift.tt/679aXsh] 1 ½ inch wood screws [https://ift.tt/3ej9mfr] Wire staples [https://amzn.to/3oQZlql] 20-amp outlet [https://ift.tt/27siKHZ] 12/2 wire [https://amzn.to/3CrIf5r] 20-amp GFCI breaker [https://amzn.to/3qF1rdl] Electrical tape [https://ift.tt/OYwNiMB] Tools: Voltage tester (pen tester) [https://amzn.to/3CqDsky] Screwdrivers [https://amzn.to/45ZW1d7] Hammer drill and bits [https://amzn.to/3qC43J1] Wire strippers [https://amzn.to/3NwqBDK] Jigsaw [https://amzn.to/3CpBQHW] Staple gun [https://amzn.to/43GArc8] Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/BHDV04f About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG How To Install a New Basement Circuit | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/