If you’re looking for electrical safety tips, then chances are that you might be trying to save money by bypassing the professionals and fixing or installing an electrical component in your home yourself. On paper, this sounds like a great idea. After all, the internet is full of tutorials and step-by-step guides on how to do just about anything as a DIY project.
While DIY electrical work might sound like a smart way to save money in theory, the reality is that it can pose a serious threat to your well-being and that of your home. Here’s everything you need to know about the myth of DIY electrical work and why many of the tutorials available online might be misguiding you.
The Truth About Electrical Safety
There’s a reason that electricians have to go through education and receive certifications to do the work that they do. Aside from undergoing training to learn how to do electrical work correctly, electricians learn how to do this work safely. Unfortunately, there have been countless situations where an electrician was injured due to faulty wiring or improper safety protocols. If it can happen to professionals, it can happen to laypeople who attempt to do electrical work with no training.
What Can Go Wrong
There’s a lot that can go wrong when electrical tasks are done incorrectly. Here are some of the potential risks associated with electrical work.
Improper Wiring
When an electrical component is installed or repaired incorrectly, the wiring may be done improperly. At best, this can lead to an appliance being shorted or an unusable outlet. At worst, this can lead to electrical fires, especially if the wiring causes a surge in voltage or overheats. Aside from the potential damage to your home, an electrical fire poses a risk to the lives of everyone inside it.
Overloading a Circuit
An overloaded circuit is an electrical issue that might not make itself obvious as quickly as faulty wiring. Sometimes an overloaded circuit will function for weeks or months, but eventually there’s a massive risk of a power surge or serious overheating. Similar to improperly installed wiring, this can lead to an electrical fire. Even if it doesn’t cause a fire, the circuit will eventually blow out and become unusable.
Poor Installation
Even in a situation where the wiring work is done passably and there’s no risk of a fire or a shorted circuit, improper electric work can lead to flickering lights, devices that turn off randomly and appliances that begin to break down faster than they otherwise would have if they’d been installed correctly.
Electrocution
When working with live wires, electrocution is always a risk. The professionals understand this, which is why they follow a strict protocol. Unfortunately, many homeowners attempting to do electrical work are not familiar with these safety measures and may end up electrocuting themselves unintentionally while attempting a DIY installation or repair.
Sadly, electrocution can result in serious injury or death. While some DIY projects around your house might pose little risk to your safety if they go wrong, electrical work is not one of those tasks.
The Value of Professional Expertise
If you’re convinced that you can handle a DIY electrical repair on your own without hurting yourself or damaging your home, it’s still best to avoid it. Aside from the major safety risk, there are a few more reasons why you shouldn’t attempt to do electrical work on your own.
Code Violations
Electricians don’t just get their certifications and declare their professional education completed. In fact, most electricians have to undergo regular training in order to stay up-to-date with changes to local codes and ordinances. If your DIY electrical installation isn’t up to code, you could end up being fined by your local government. Typically, the fine you pay for a code violation is going to be far more significant than the price you pay for a professional electrical repair or installation.
Voided Warranty
It’s extremely common for the warranties on appliances and electrical devices to declare the warranty null and void if the appliance isn’t installed by a professional. This means if something goes wrong with that expensive new appliance you attempted to install yourself, you might not be able to enjoy the no- or low-cost replacement or repair offered by the manufacturer.
Insurance Violation
Similar to warranties, many insurance policies explicitly forbid homeowners from filing claims if a problem was caused by electrical work they did themselves. Should your DIY electrical project result in faulty wiring that leads to a house fire, your insurance claim could be denied if it comes to light that you did the work yourself. Of course, it goes without saying that this kind of catastrophic financial blow would cost you a lot more than just paying for the service of a professional in the first place.
Basic Electrical Safety Tips
While you need to avoid DIY installations and repairs, there are still a few basic electrical safety tips that every homeowner should know and follow.
Know How to Cut Power to Your Home in an Emergency
In the event of an emergency, you need to know where your main breaker is located. While knowing which switch connects to which area of your home is wonderful, the main thing you need to know is how to cut all power to your home in the event of an electrical emergency. This knowledge has saved lives.
Be Wary of Frayed Cords and Bad Plugs
Just because you can plug something in doesn’t mean you necessarily should. If a cord is frayed, or a plug looks eroded or warped, avoid plugging in the device. While it’s true that plugging it into a surge protector can reduce your risk of danger somewhat, the potential for electrocution or overheating is still there. It’s best to err on the side of caution and replace the cord or the device entirely.
Use Surge Protectors, But Don’t Overload Them
Surge protectors are a great and affordable way to practice electrical safety in your home. However, avoid overloading them. An important rule of thumb is to never plug a surge protector into another surge protector in an attempt to create more outlets. Instead, use only one surge protector per wall outlet.
Teach Your Kids the Basics of Electrical Safety
Most of us know to cover wall outlets when there are babies around, but many people don’t realize how important it is to have ongoing conversations with kids about electrical safety. Serious injuries and accidents can be easily avoided if you frequently remind your kids of the basics, such as the fact that electricity and water are definitely not friends with one another.
At Liberty Comfort Systems, we’re ready to help with any electrical installation or repair that you need. We also install, repair, and maintain HVAC systems and provide comprehensive plumbing services.
Call us today to schedule an appointment!
