Know Your DIY Limits’ and 5 Other Things an Electrician Wishes You Knew about Electrical Work

Do you consider yourself a DIY person? Interested in tackling a home improvement project involving electrical work? Well, while it’s certainly possible to take a DIY approach to electrical, it’s not always the smartest choice. A few wrong moves could cost you big, and even potentially get you injured. To pull off an electrical project, you need to know everything about electrical, including how an electrician would approach the project. This can help you save time and money, and make sure you handle your electrical in the safest way possible.

6 Things An Electrician Would Want You to Know About Electrical Work

Want to know the best ways to approach your electrical project?

Here are 6 things any good electrician would tell you about home electrical work.

Code Requirements are Incredibly Important

Safety is the most important issue of any electrical project. And many homeowners fail to study up on code requirements for safety issues before embarking on your project. Certified electricians learn everything about code requirements in advance, as well as requirements for any specific area. So, if you’re handling your own electrical project, figure out what those safety code requirements are. If you’ve done electrical work before, double check to ensure the codes haven’t changed recently. This will help you keep safety at the forefront of your project.

You Should Never Overload Your Circuits

If you’re not too familiar with electrical work, you may think can plug a bunch of plugs into a single circuit. But it’s never smart to install too many switches and plugs into one. Your circuit can only handle so much, so if you overload your circuit you could end up blowing it or starting a fire.

Cutting Corners is Never Worth It

If you’re the thrifty type, you may try to do whatever you can to cut back on your renovation costs. You may even try to tackle DIY projects you’re not truly trained for or capable of doing. And while you can cut corners if you do these things correctly, you can quickly blow out your budget by messing up.If you lack the proper skills, you’ll easily mess up things like a paint job or Sheetrock installation. And if you mess up the electrical system, you could injure yourself.

Electrical Work Takes Training

Just because you can do electrical work in theory, doesn’t mean you’re truly the best person for the job. Professional electricians are certified and licensed, and they often have four years of educational experience as well as on the job training as an apprentice. They have a level of expertise and insight that the average DIYer could never have, which makes them the ideal choice for most electrical projects.

Keep in Mind Fluctuating Costs

As a DIYer, you’re probably used to creating a budget before you start a project. But it’s important to keep in mind that the cost of an electrical project can fluctuate. This is especially true if you end up making mistakes only a professional electrician can correct.

You Should Always Do Your Homework

If you have a very specific electrical project, you should consider hiring someone who specializes in that kind of work. Renovation projects can differ greatly depending on if they’re residential or commercial, or new work or repairs. In some instances, one electrician may be better suited for a job than another.

Need a Hand?

As you can see, you can do electrical work yourself, but we don’t recommend it.

Approaching your electrical project can cost you big and put you at risk. By hiring an electrician, you can rest easy knowing your project will be completed in the most effective way possible. Do you need assistance with your electrical project? Contact us to see how we can help you!