We all love DIY. It gives us satisfaction to do things that we have never done before and it turns out well. There are certain jobs that even the most skilled DIY-er shouldn’t attempt around the house. One of those is the supply of electricity. It is important to hire a qualified electrician for this job.
Safety first
We are all familiar with electricity, water not mixing, and many other bits of information about this aspect of nature. But this is only a small part of the story. Working with electrics in your house can be dangerous. This is why it’s important to hire a qualified electrician. Another reason is that homeowners must have several jobs completed by electricians to ensure that they are safe and properly done.
Although it may seem simple, wiring in a cooker or installing a shower circuit can pose a danger and require an electrician. It is best to hire a professional for any job that you are unsure if you should do.
Killer mistakes
Although it may seem like electricity is not dangerous, there is enough voltage to cause serious injury or death. Our bodies use electricity to control the functions of our organs. This allows us to keep our hearts beating and our lungs functioning. The addition of electricity can cause these signals to be disrupted or go haywire, which can lead to death. More than 30 people die each year from electrocutions or electrical burns, while another 350,000 suffer serious injuries. Each year, 46 children are killed by electricity.
Faulty or poorly executed wiring can also lead to fatalities. A qualified electrician will be able to tell you what building regulations are and make sure everything is in compliance. This is unlikely to be the case if you are doing the work yourself. Even worse, your insurance company might not pay for damages if you cause an accident through work that you did yourself.
Qualifications
How do you determine if someone is an electrician who has met all the requirements of the law? Part P certified electricians are able to sign off on their own work on domestic properties. An electrician who isn’t Part P certified will need someone from the local authority to inspect the work and give their approval. A Part P-qualified electrician could be more efficient than an unqualified one when searching for one.
You should also check the website of the company and the customer feedback. A good electrician near me will be proud to display their work and the details of the projects for which they are qualified. It is possible to find the ideal electrician by combining customer feedback and the right qualifications.
If your home wasn’t built very recently, the electrical system may already need some repair or upgrades. The new electrical codes make homes safer and it is important to keep up with them. Technology is changing at an ever faster pace and power needs are growing every day.
Older homes have a harder time keeping up with the electrical demands of today. Although the symptoms are obvious, they are often ignored or overlooked.
Here are some things to watch out for:
“System Interruptus” puts you in the dark. Your circuits may be drawing more current than they are capable of safely providing. This can happen if your electrical circuit-breakers trip frequently or fuses blow often. This could also be a sign of a dangerous fault in one or more circuits.
The lights flicker and wail. Is your hair dryer giving the vanity lamp a moment to breathe? Do the ceiling lights dim when the refrigerator or air conditioner turns on? Motor-driven appliances can draw a lot of current so they should be wired to dedicated circuits. Consider adding a 20-amp service line for smaller appliances that may also be causing problems.
An octopus is found at many outlets. Your electrical system may be overloaded if plug-strips or multi-receptacle accessories are strangling outlets. To restore safety and order, additional circuits with duplex outlets are required.
Rug bumps can cause carpet damage. Your living room may look like a snake farm, with wires running underneath the furniture and rugs. This is a dangerous situation and you will need to add outlets. Extension cords can be found under the rugs and furniture, so make sure your outlets are not too far apart. These signs indicate that you need additional outlets throughout your house.
It won’t work if you put three into two. Older homes may not accept three-prong grounded outlets. This could be more serious than the inability to plug in your microwave oven. It could also indicate that your electrical wiring is not properly grounded.
No more old standards. Do you see bits of rubber inside the switch or outlet cover that you have removed? Do the wires have cloth covers instead of plastic? If the answer is yes, then your insulation may be outdated and not up-to-date for today’s electrical requirements.
It’s warm and tingly all over. Do outlets, switches and other electrical-system surfaces feel warm? Is there any blackening on the switchplate, wall, terminals, or wire ends? Is there a slight shock when you turn on a switch or outlet? It could be that the circuit is too demanding or that there is something more dangerous and complicated. Aluminum wiring may be present if your home was wired or built in the time period 1965-1975. It should be checked for any aluminum wiring regularly.
It is not safe to be near water. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are required for outlets in wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and utility rooms. Retrofitting your home code will make it safe and compliant. To ensure that GFCIs are working correctly, check if they have been installed near dishwashers or sinks.
Rust is gradually taking over. It’s possible to see rust and moisture under the main service panel of your home. The panel’s condition can cause damage to the wiring and lead to other problems in your electrical system.
It isn’t getting worse-it just keeps getting older. If you live in a home older than 25 years and have never updated your electrical service, it is possible that your wiring system is unsafe and inadequate. An electrician can inspect your wiring system and bring it up-to-date if necessary.
