Having electrical work done in your home or other space can be expensive, time consuming, and dangerous. That being said, doing electrical work yourself if you are not a licensed or experienced electrician can be tricky, hazardous, and deadly in some situations. Though it might be tempting to try and follow a tutorial that you found online to rewire that light switch, it is always best to get the help of a professional and we want to tell you why. Here are some DIY and electrical repair risks to watch out for.
Risk of Electrocution and Injury
Perhaps the most obvious risk that you take with doing your own electrical work is electrocution or any serious injury. The full electrocution can send you to the hospital or worse, and small shocks that can be unpleasant and off-putting. It is very dangerous, and you should be taking extreme care to watch out for and make sure you are safeguarding against it.
Another injury that you might come up against are burns. Electricity is very hot and when your skin comes in contact with piping hot things, the water in your skin heats up as well, thus causing burns. These burns can be painful, they can be lasting, and they can be damaging to you and your overall health. This is one of the most serious electrical repair dangers to watch out for.
Fire Hazards
Another hazard you may end up dealing with is fire. Not necessarily at the time that you are working but rather at the risk of fire later on. When wires are not fully sealed off or properly grounded they can cause sparks. Your electrical wiring hidden inside a wall can spark and cause a fire inside the walls of your home before you even realize there is an issue.
One badly wired light switch or one larger mistake that you might not be aware of could burn down your home from one missed wire. Having a professional do your electrical work is always going to be safer. They know how to prevent fire and safely wire a home so that fire is not an issue.
Inspection Problems
Still another issue to consider at home electrical work is that your work may not pass inspections. If you are not planning to move from your home, not trying to adjust your insurance coverage or not trying to sell, you might not need to worry about failing an inspection. If there is a chance that your home may need to be inspected at any point, however, and you have done a great deal of work on your own, you may very well end up with a failed inspection.
So what happens if you fail your inspection, even if the work was good? You will need a professional electrician to come out and look at the work and put their seal on it to let the inspector know that it is safe and that it has been checked out. This will take time and money and is above all else, a hassle that you might not want to deal with.
Hidden Electrical Dangers
Unless you are a professional electrician, there can be all sorts of things that you may have done wrong. You may not have wired something correctly, and it can lead to constantly tripped breakers. It can lead to damaged appliances and lights if they are not hooked up correctly. You also increase the risk of getting a shock when using things like your electrical outlets.
It is best to hire a professional that knows what they are doing and should be doing to protect everyone while working with something as potentially dangerous and powerful as electricity. One simple misstep can lead to an entire home burning down. Also, one misstep can lead to electrocution and shocks that are painful and cause lasting damage. It is better to have an experienced professional on hand that knows what needs to be done in order to be as safe as possible.
If you are a professional electrician, you may be more qualified than some to work on electrical things around the home. If you are dealing with a business or any area that is going to be in frequent use it is always better to take precautions on the side of caution and have a professional come in. It may cost a little more, but it is certainly going to be worth it in terms of safety and making sure the job is done right the first time.
Salter Electric has highly trained in-house electricians for all kinds of electrical projects. All electricians are insured, licensed, and ready to handle any challenge. Contact us for an expert electrician.
