Top DIY Electrical Repair Mistakes You Need to Avoid

Wiley homeowners are always looking for ways to make repairs, make improvements, and generally increase real estate values without costing an arm and a leg. The most common method seems to be doing the work yourself instead of hiring a professional. A whole market sector is in place to feed this trend, with several chains of DIY supply stores giving consumers options. A host of Youtubers provide instructional videos to give homeowning DIYers the know-how to complete various projects.

However, one area of home improvement that should be left to professional technicians is electrical repairs and home improvements. Working with electricity poses more danger than painting, repairing drywall, or even replacing a bathroom vanity.

• Contacting a live wire will produce a shock, resulting in pain and tissue damage. Both the brain/nervous system and the heart/circulatory system use electricity to send messages. Shock can disrupt these impulses and lead to permanent damage or death.
• Improper installation can create a short circuit or overloaded wires. Short circuits can create sparks, while overloaded wires generate enough heat to start a fire. Either of these mistakes is likely to be covered, so the damage can be extensive before it is discovered.
• Improper installation often leads to poor performance; flickering lights and frequent breaker tripping are common problems.

Common DIY electrical Repair Mistakes Include:

• Installing wiring that is inadequate (too small) to handle the load. A homeowner may stare at an entire aisle display with various sizes and types of wiring, trying to determine the right coil.
• Installing improper components can be a problem. Again, the homeowner is making a selection from dozens of types of switches, outlets, or breakers, hoping to make the correct choice.
• Cutting or stripping wires to the improper length. Cutting them too short puts pressure on the connection. Cutting them too long makes it just as hard to properly make connections. Stripping too little insulation prevents good contact and stripping too much insulation increases the chances of a short circuit.
• Trying to force too much current through a wire creates resistance and the result is heat. If the heat causes the insulation to melt it exposes bare wires to the home’s framing. A fire can start and spread inside the walls, making it hard to detect until it causes extensive damage.

Do-it-yourself electricians often approach projects with makeshift or improper tools. Few will have testing or safety equipment available to professional electricians.

Instructional videos cannot pinpoint building codes and regulations in a specific location.

Homeowners receive insufficient training, including on-the-job training, for residential electrical work.

What types of DIY electrical Repair projects require professional electricians to complete?

Wiring or rewiring projects. That includes:

• Whole house wiring or rewiring and replacing outdated wiring, such as knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring.
• Any project that requires fishing wire through enclosed walls.
• Any project that includes adding a junction box.
• Installing a major appliance that requires direct wiring.
• Adding circuits to relieve overloading. Homes often have too few circuits to handle the additional electronics we commonly use. Any project that adds a circuit breaker.
• Replacing or upgrading the electric service panel.
• Any project that requires a building inspector or electrical inspector.

AirPro Houston Electrical Repair Experts

DIY electrical repairs can be tempting, but they often lead to costly mistakes and safety hazards.

With our four decades of experience in electrical repair, AirPro Houston provides you with the knowledge of DIY Electrical Repair safety in your home.

Call our team of Electricians at  281-880-8805 and let us partner with you for all of your Electrical Repairs, Home Electrical Safety, whole home generator installation, and electrical installation needs.