Even in El Paso that’s violation of city code and a few visits from code compliance can actually help. (don’t ask me how I know)
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It is a code violation here as well. I’ve looked up the neighbor’s property and he already has a few complaints and fines already over the junk cars, weeds, and trash in the yard. I worry if I add to the complains, it would just strain our relationship as we get along well now. Thankfully he doesn’t come out and yell at my guests when they wander through his yard. Not sure why the guests do that–maybe because my yard is fenced and his isn’t. (My fence is a low chain-link so it doesn’t do much to block the view.)
If I talk to my neighbor directly, he’ll pick up the trash or mow the lawn immediately. I can’t get him to move on the cars, though. He wants to get money for them, but I get the sense he can’t find anyone who will take them since he doesn’t have the title (I believe two of the cars were left behind by old girlfriends).
As you can see, the yard situation is complicated! It hasn’t really caused an issue yet, but I was pondering if landscaping in a creative way could take care of the unsightly view and the wandering guests.
But yes, the bathroom first is probably the more pressing issue since that would probably lead more immediately to an increase in 5-star reviews and maybe even bookings.
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Hi @Xena.
Depending on your house it might be simple to literally follow the wire from the panel to the “outlet” (also called a receptacle or outlet receptacle).
The wire could be an unbroken “home run” (single circuit with no breaks between the outlet and panel. Or it could have one (or more) junction boxes in between.
Junction boxes can be perfectly safe and are used all the time. But, they must be accessible (not hidden inside a wall). The breaker must match to the lightest gauge on the entire circuit. So - if there is any 14 gauge on the circuit, either the breaker must be 15 amp. OR - the 14 legs must be disconnected from that circuit - and then a 20 breaker can be used.
If the wire is hidden behind walls or ceilings for part of the circuit, it is possible to still trace it but a PITA and requires equipment that your handyman may not own.
Please note that 12 gauge romex is cheap - about $60 for 250 feet. Breakers are $3-4. Etc - electrical stuff is very reasonable.
If it were me, I would pull two additional brand new runs. It takes about the same effort to pull two wires instead of just one. One dedicated for the heater (high amp pull). The other could be shared by a lot of stuff without blowing a 20 amp breaker.
This is a great opportunity to “keep it simple” - and just add a few circuits. It is inexpensive and makes everything much safer.
Your guy may know all of this … or not. Being a host does not magically impart intimate knowledge of electrical circuit design and code compliance. Many handymen are generalists.
Technically, code requires an arc fault breaker on any circuit that you add or modify. They are very sensitive to anything slightly wrong with how a circuit is wired. Even if you do not wish to keep one on the actual circuit they are GREAT for testing if there is something “off” about it.
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I put in privacy fence between my yard and the “messy neighbor” and you would not believe how much nicer that makes it look. I wish I had done it years ago!
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Even in my rural suburb of NC I called the county at least a half dozen times in order to get the neighbor across the street from the whole house listing to take his 2 year pile of trash to the dump…it was a health hazel add and was really smelling bad the second summer…(luckily it had only just started the first summer).
Maybe you can work this neighbor into an Airbnb Experience somehow? 
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