With all the Do-It-Yourself books, shows and websites out there, you may consider completing needed electrical repairs yourself instead of hiring a professional electrician. Sure, attempting to make the repairs can save you money. However, saving money doesn’t compare to making costly electrical repair mistakes that could endanger you and/ or your family’s or employees’ safety. Even if you have a handyman or friend complete the repair, you still risk having major damage done to your property.
Examples of Costly Mistakes
Completing any electrical repair requires detailed knowledge. For instance, you may encounter a breaker that continuously trips after you reset or replace it. You decide to replace the breaker yourself. Most people think a breaker replacement is an easy job. If the breaker keeps tripping then it means it’s time for a larger breaker that can handle the workload, right?
No. Replacing a breaker is a common do-it-yourself mistake with potentially damaging consequences. A larger breaker can overheat the wire and cause a fire. Besides, the reason why the breaker is tripping is due to a problem with the circuit wiring.
Another costly electrical repair mistake involves not respecting the age of your property. You may read home improvement books or watch television shows, but you can’t ask questions. For instance, older properties have ground wires at the outlet locations and switches. While repairing an electrical problem, you may replace an outdated two prong outlet with a grounded outlet receptacle. It’s a big, big mistake to do that. Your cover plate, if a short circuit occurs, could become energized and have deadly consequences.
Hidden Mistakes
Electricity is invisible, so, when something is wrong, you may not know it until it’s too late. For example, after you repair the problem, electricity could flow just like it would if an electrician completed the job. However, behind the walls, a fire could be smoldering. Other dangers of hidden problems involve shock hazards or shorting circuits.
The Biggest Repair Danger
Many novice electricians often use the wrong wire size for their electrical repair. Electrical wire is sold in different thicknesses and gauges. If you use the wrong sized wire for your circuit, it can overheat and stop working before your circuit breaker has a chance to trip and indicate something is wrong. Since the circuit breaker and/ or fuses protect wires, you may damage your property so bad that you spend more money to fix the problem.
Breaking the Law
There are electrical codes you must follow. Some of these codes prohibit property owners from completing an electrical repair job unless they are licensed. Even if you successfully completed the needed repair, you’re still breaking laws and could face serious trouble. If you don’t think the city or insurance company may not find out, reconsider:
- If you sell your business or home, it won’t pass code requirements once it’s inspected.
- If a fire or other damage happens at your home or business, your insurance company may refuse to pay for the damage.
- If you or someone is injured or hurt during or because of the electrical repair you completed, your insurance company may refuse to pay.
Consider getting the electrical repair completed by Real Estate Repairs.
- You’ll know the work is done right
- We have insurance to cover any accidents or injury
- Correct equipment, tools and materials were used
Completing an electrical repair job isn’t akin to painting a wall or changing a faucet. Working with electricity requires extensive electrical knowledge. The person completing repairs must be licensed. Contact us now at 843-971-6772 or through our site by clicking here.