Thinking of DIYing an electrical job at home? Here’s why DIY electrical projects are best left to the professionals. Learn all about the safety hazards here.
If you own your house long enough, you’re bound to encounter electrical problems. You may think to yourself that you can fix the issue. DIY electrical work can’t be that hard?
But think again before you DIY electrical projects. Depending on your location, you may need a permit, and doing the work yourself could take longer.
Keep reading to learn more about why you shouldn’t DIY electrical work.
More Efficient
While a DIY electrical project can be more affordable, it’s less time-efficient. Unless you’re an electrician, you’ll have to spend time figuring out how to do the repair or project.
But a licensed electrician can complete most repairs and replacements quickly. They don’t have to reference any instruction manuals or guides.
And if your repair is relatively common, the electrician has probably done it before. That means they know the right steps to take, and you won’t have to spend time questioning yourself.
Some electricians can finish projects in a day or two, while others may take longer. But any project a professional does will take less time than if you did it yourself.
Also, you can work on other tasks around your house while the electrician is there. That way, you don’t have to feel like you’re just sitting around.
Legal Permit
Aside from efficiency, you should consider the legality of DIY electrical projects. Licensed electricians have to take a long test to ensure they understand electrical codes.
While you probably won’t have to take the full exam, you may need to take a shorter version. That way, you can prove you know the basics, and you can get a temporary electrical permit.
But you can only use the permit to work on your primary residence. In many places, you can’t DIY electrical work on a business location or for another house. Check with your city and state for specifics on what you can and can’t do.
If you don’t want to deal with getting a permit, hiring an electrician is an easy option. You won’t have to worry about studying for a test or getting a permit.
Lower Risk
Some projects, like those involving wiring, can be pretty risky. Even if you take it slowly, you may accidentally plug something into the wrong place.
You could use the wrong wire or power when building a DIY electric motor. While some minor errors can be fine, others can lead to injury.
If you DIY electrical work, you’ll have to be okay with taking that risk. So if you aren’t comfortable with that, DIY isn’t the way to go.
Yes, any electrician you hire will have risks. But their experience and knowledge lower the chances of an injury or any other bad outcome. Hiring an electrician can keep you and your family safe.
More Convenient
Sometimes, paying for a service is well worth it for the convenience. If you hire an electrician, you don’t have to spend the time on the electrical project.
You can call a local electrical company and schedule an appointment. But if you decided to do the work yourself, you may need to spend time studying electrical codes and getting a permit.
All of that time adds up, and it might be worth it. However, the time isn’t always worth it. If you have an electrical emergency, you won’t want to wait to get a permit.
You can call an electrician and ask if they have time for an emergency repair. Then, you can feel more comfortable living in your home.
Better Value
Efficiency, maintenance, and appearance can all help increase your home’s value. Because professionals can complete electrical work quickly and efficiently, that can help you sell your house for more money.
Whether you plan on selling soon or not, you should think of your house as an investment. The money you spend on an electrician now could pay off even more when you sell your house.
You may not be able to increase the value a ton with one project. But it all adds up over time. If you own your home for decades, you have time to do multiple upgrades.
All of those upgrades increase the value of your home. That can help you get a better offer when you decide to move.
Insurance Claims
Depending on your homeowner’s insurance, you will have some limitations on what you can report to insurance. Some insurance companies won’t cover damage due to negligence.
That means if you DIY electrical work unsuccessfully, your insurance company can deny covering the cost of fixing it. Homeowner’s insurance is essential, but your policy doesn’t have to cover everything.
Even if you’re careful, something could stop working in your home. Then, you’ll have to call an electrician to fix it, and you’ll have to pay full price.
In some cases, the cost of the repair could be way more than if you hired an electrician in the first place. So consider what could go wrong with a DIY electrical project and if you have the money to cover repairs.
Inspections
Another thing to consider when doing DIY electrical work is inspections. First, you should hire an electrical inspector to make sure your work follows local electrical codes.
The inspector will review your work, and they can determine if you did things correctly. If there are issues, you’ll need to fix them and have the inspector view your changes.
That can take a lot of time, even for small errors. But an electrical inspector isn’t the only thing to think about.
Whenever you decide to sell your house, you’ll have to have a buyer inspection. Some inspectors may notice your DIY electrical repair.
While electrical upgrades can increase your home sale price, DIY work won’t raise the value as much as professional changes. So a potential buyer may not want to pay the full sale price on your home.
Should You DIY Electrical Work?
In most cases, hiring an electrician is a better option than DIY electrical work. You don’t have to worry about getting a permit or making a mistake.
Electricians have to go through training and take an extensive test. They have the knowledge and skills to repair or replace something more efficiently.
Do you need to hire an electrician? Check out our specials today!