4 Times You Should Skip The DIY & Call An Electrician Instead
Thanks to YouTube, there is an abundance of online tutorials that can walk you through the process of doing electrical repair work. This means that many homeowners in the Coachella Valley will be tempted to use those online tutorials to complete DIY electrical work around the house and get out of paying an electrician.
Now, we at Hydes will always suggest you call an electrician instead of doing it yourself—not just because it’s good for business, but because doing electrical work when you haven’t been trained is extremely dangerous and we don’t want anyone in our community getting hurt!
That being said, there are a few electrical tasks you should never, ever attempt to DIY.
Electrical Tasks You Need To Call an Electrician to Complete
1. Installing Outlets
If you have a dead outlet, you may think replacing it is a simple proposition, but it can actually be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. For one thing, not all outlets are created equal, and if you purchase the wrong kind of outlet it can put your home at risk of electrical fires. For another, if you install the outlet incorrectly, the best-case scenario is an outlet that doesn’t work; the worst-case will find you getting painful shocks from the outlet and possibly even shorting out the appliances you plug into it.
2. Lighting Installation & Repair
This is another of those tasks that seem easy when you’re watching a video tutorial on YouTube but that can actually go wrong if an untrained person takes it on. Installing a light fixture without proper knowledge of building codes will leave you with a nonfunctional light at best and fried wiring at worst. Compact fluorescents, under cabinet lighting and LED strip lighting may seem easier but are still complex for the average DIY homeowner. Lighting repairs requires specialized electrical knowledge to avoid serious injury from electrical shocks. The only lighting repair you should ever take on without electrical training is changing a burnt-out bulb.
3. Adding Hardwired Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
If you want to buy a plug-in carbon monoxide detector or battery-operated fire alarm, we are all for it. They are less convenient than the hardwired versions, but just as effective. If, however, you want the hardwired versions of these safety devices, please call a qualified electrician to install them. Any code upgrades need to be done by a licensed contractor to make sure it meets local and national codes.
4. Electrical Panel Upgrades
It ought to be common sense that you should only have a licensed electrician work on your electrical panel, but the tutorials do exist on YouTube, which means someone is going to be tempted to DIY a panel expansion or circuit breaker replacement. Please don’t. This is the kind of work that must be done by a trained professional, because if you get a panel upgrade wrong, your house can burn down. And if your insurance company finds out you didn’t have an electrician do the work, they won’t honor your claim for the damages. Do not try to work on your electrical panel; call an electrician.
If your home needs any electrical service work done, Hydes is happy to do the work for you. Our licensed electricians will guarantee that your electrical projects are completed safely and correctly, so you can enjoy your home without worrying about shocks or fires.
Give us a call at (760) 360-2202 to schedule your electrical services today!
