When something goes wrong with your body, you call a doctor. When something goes wrong with your light switch, who do you call? You should call an electrician. These professionals are basically doctors for your electrical system. They can fix faulty wiring, address issues with light switches, run new wires, and address problems with circuit breakers. You should not attempt to fix electrical issues yourself, as doing so can be dangerous. Instead, rely on these trained pros.
Read more about electricians and their work on this website. If you spend an hour or two reading, you will emerge feeling better-acquainted with the electrical systems in your home.
In an attempt to save some money and time, many homeowners dive into improvement projects with a hammer and a prayer. This may work if you're patching drywall or retiling your bathroom, but in other cases, mistakes can cause damage or even physical danger.
In this article, you'll discover why you should skip the DIY when it comes to electrical installation.
Fire Safety
Faulty electrical wiring can cause fire safety hazards. Electricians receive years of schooling and apprenticeships to understand how to safely and effectively install electrical systems. Many receive state and local government certifications to legally conduct business. What they know that you don't, is when breakers can take extra power and when extra wiring will cause sparks and even fires.
They also understand which kind of wires to use in the proper situations, and how far they must be from baseboards and water sources.
Dangerous Wiring Tangles
A common situation homeowners get into trouble with is the breaker box. All those labels make it seem relatively easy to jump in and reorganize. But cut the wrong one and you won't be able to tell if it was the refrigerator or the hall light. This also creates a dangerous situation because many homeowners don't have the proper equipment to tell if the wires are still active.
It's very possible to believe you've turned off the power to an area just to discover a small shock when you got to work on the wire. Some wires can still remain active and cause a life-threatening situation.
Unpleasant Living Environment
Aside from the physical danger DIYing presents, doing-it-yourself rarely yields professional quality results. You'll be in a living situation where the lighting is too bright or too dim or a switch doesn't work when it's supposed to. Poor wiring can cause dips in power, electrical surges that damage your electronics, and higher electricity bills. By the time you finally realize you've made an electrical mistake, the bill for hiring an electrician to correct your handy work will be much higher.
Avoid these situations where you put your family's safety at risk. If you have an electrical installation project on your list of to-dos, hire a professional. The right person for the job will be a certified electrician with proven experience in your area of need. They'll show professionalism in discussing the situation and expenses with you upfront and listen to your concerns without judgment.