A web article or online video suddenly gives people the information they need to tackle electrical work themselves. However, the article or video does not tell viewers or readers every detail. You get a false sense of confidence and empowerment that may backfire. Electrical work is not a DIY project. Here are eight reasons contacting an electrician is much safer to do than DIY repair.
1. A Fire Risk
Tampering with electrical wires without proper training is a fire hazard. An electrical fire can cause injury to loved ones and damage to your home and nearby homes. Using water to diffuse electrical fires escalates the situation and harms anyone wet. You may not have the tools to distinguish electrical fires.
An electrical fire develops from a frayed or damaged wire where a spark is visible. It also originates from an overloaded circuit, faulty connections, crossed wires, and using the wrong wire. A novice will attach incompatible wiring and install them incorrectly, hence the fire risk. The fire can develop after repairs when an outlet or light switch is on. That may be days or weeks after completing the project.
2. Electrical Shock or Electrocution
A novice who connects the wrong electrical wires may be electrocuted or shocked. This can cause headaches, burns, fainting, nerve damage, heart attacks, and much more. There are long-term effects like insomnia, memory loss, and muscle spasms that last years beyond the incident as well. You can touch a live wire or the wrong one at the wrong time and get the same result. It’s worse if you suffer from electrical shock or electrocution on a ladder.
Unfortunately, you don’t need to feel the jolt to have this happen to you. Depending on the voltage, the shock ranges from painless to painful. In addition, the people trying to help you are at risk of electrocution themselves, especially seniors, children, and pets. They can get hurt if they touch you or the affected electrical area.
3. Costly Repairs
Many people opt to do electrical jobs themselves to save money. However, this way of thinking will backfire. Incorrect installation can cause a power outage, a malfunction, an overload, or a short circuit in the house. The few hundred dollars you expect to save doing the job yourself will turn into thousands of dollars for an electrician to correct your mistakes. Hiring an electrician from the beginning saves more money than DIY repair. Contact Finch Home Solutions in Shakopee to repair or install your electrical wires.
4. Incorrect Installation
You can go step-by-step through online tutorials to install electrical fixtures, and it may still end up poorly done. Incorrectly installing fixtures has dangerous consequences. In a ceiling fan installation, the fan can fall from the ceiling and injure the person, child, or pet below it. Indoor wall outlets and light switches could have moving wires that arc, cross, or overheat. Installing outdoor wall outlets can cause malfunctions and electrocution if installed near water.
5. Building Code Violations
Novices using DIY repairs don’t know the latest local building codes. They don’t have the permits or city approval to alter electrical wiring. The city will not hand them out to an inexperienced person. Without the proper paperwork, you are tampering with electrical wires illegally. You may not understand the consequences until you have to sell or rent your house.
In a home sale, the city inspector will examine electrical wiring and other projects that were performed without a permit. If there are violations, the consequences are fines and penalties. The city will also force you to hire an electrician to fix the wiring before you list the property for sale with a real estate company. If you go the “for sale by owner” route, interested buyers will discover this violation through a home inspection. They can’t purchase the home because the electrical work doesn’t meet city regulations. A sale with this violation is illegal.
The city will also inspect the wiring if you use the property as rental income. Before tenants move in, rental properties must pass local building codes. DIY electrical wiring will not pass inspection. You will have the same consequences as the home sale. The home will be a sitting duck until the wires are up to code.
6. Loss of Insurance and Warranty Coverage
Your home insurance and warranty providers will not cover electrical fires or injuries caused by DIY repairs. You must pay damages out of pocket without home insurance and warranty contribution. Claims are successful when you are not negligent.
Insurance providers will want to know who repaired the wiring and prefer an electrician to fix anything electrical for safety and legal reasons. Your insurance agent will contact the electrical company for proof of repairs, replacement, and maintenance. Also, a representative will inspect the scene to survey the damaged area or individual. The insurance or warranty provider will decide whether the fire or injury originated from DIY repairs or another cause.
7. Jeopardizes Hidden Components
You don’t know your home’s electrical makeup like an electrician would because you don’t have access to the home’s blueprints. Some parts are behind the walls or out of sight. You may find some in the attic or basement as well. Not knowing their location can result in an accidental shock.
Sometimes, electrical wires are in the same wall as the water and gas lines. When you try to hammer or drill said wall to install something, you could hit a gas or water line instead. A leaky water pipe or gas line causes significant problems that need plumbing repair immediately. It also weakens the affected wall and the home structure.
8. Damage to Home Electrical System
Proper installation is crucial for your home’s intricate electrical components to function correctly. Without that background knowledge to guide you, you risk damaging the home’s electrical system. Should that occur, it will be irreversible. You must call an electrician to rewire the entire house if that happens. That will be more extensive and complex than the DIY project. Between that incident and the new installation, there will be days when your home doesn’t have power.
Other issues with DIY electrical projects are:
- Installing incompatible wiring, switches, and outlets
- Using improper tools
- Lacking an educational background, hands-on experience, and certification
- Taking hours or days to solve the issue with no guarantee of success
- Missing essential steps like insulation or grounding
Don’t risk your health and safety to save a few hundred dollars when you can call us instead. At Finch Home Solutions, we don’t multitask or bundle electrical needs with unrelated services. We are home service specialists in electricity, and our electricians have the expertise to keep you and your family safe. Besides traditional repair and installation, we handle panels, lighting, EV charging, fixtures, outlets, and smoke alarms. We have 24/7 emergency service, financing, a maintenance agreement, and coupon specials.
Contact Finch Home Solutions in Shakopee for more information on our electrical services or to schedule an appointment.
