DIY is something we all enjoy. We love the satisfaction of doing something we don’t know how to do and when it works out well. However, there are some tasks that even the most competent DIY-er should not attempt. When this happens, it is crucial to employ a qualified electrician.
Safety first
We all have heard about electricity and water not combining, as well as other bits of information. The truth is that working with electrical equipment in your home can pose dangers. A qualified electrician should be consulted. There are also legal requirements for homeowners to have a wide range of jobs done and maintained safe by an electrician near me.
Some jobs, such as wiring a new cooker or replacing a broken shower circuit, may seem easy but are dangerous. You should always seek professional advice for any job you feel uncertain about.
Killer mistakes
While the electricity that is used in our homes may appear innocuous, it can produce enough voltage to kill. This is because electricity is used to control organs such as our heartbeat and lungs. These signals can be interrupted or sent haywire by adding extra electricity, which can lead directly to death. Each year, more than 30 people die from electrical burns or electrocutions. 350,000 others sustain serious injuries. Every year, an average 46 children die from electricity.
Bad workmanship and the resulting electric fires are another cause of death from electricity. It is important that wiring adheres to building regulations. An electrician who is qualified will be able tell you the details and make sure that everything conforms. It is likely that you won’t be able to tell this information if the work is done by you. Worse, your insurance company may refuse to pay for any damages you caused by work you did.
Qualifications
How can you be sure that an electrician is qualified and in compliance with the laws? Part P qualified electricians have the ability to sign off their work on domestic properties. Anyone who isn’t Part-P qualified must have someone from the local authority come and inspect the work to confirm it is OK. If you are looking for an electrician to do the job, it is better to hire someone who is Part P qualified than one who doesn’t.
A company’s website should be viewed along with customer feedback. The work of good electricians and details about their projects will be displayed proudly. Good customer feedback combined with the right qualifications can make it easy to find the right electrician for the job.
Unless your house was built in the last few years, it is likely that the electrical system has been damaged or needs upgrading. Safety codes have been updated to make your home safer. It is vital that you keep up with these changes. The demand for power is growing at an alarming rate as technology advances at an ever-faster clip.
Older houses are more difficult to keep up with modern electrical demands. These symptoms are easily overlooked or forgotten.
Here’s how to find it:
“System Interruptus,” puts you in darkness. Circuits can draw more current that they can safely deliver if they trip frequently or fuse blows often. This could also indicate a dangerous fault with one or several circuits.
The lights flickering and waving. Is it possible for your hair dryer to give the vanity lamp a pause? Do your ceiling lights dim as the fridge or air conditioner turns on. Many motor-driven appliances draw a lot and should be wired on dedicated circuits. Smaller appliances can also pose problems so you might consider adding a 20amp line to service them.
There is an octopus in many outlets. Your electrical system is running out of capacity if you have plug-strips installed or multi-receptacle extensions. You may need to add circuits with dual receptacles in order to restore order and safety.
Rug bumps damage carpet. You need more outlets if your living room looks like it is a snake farm. If you have extension cords running under your furniture and wires all around the house, it is likely that your outlets are too far apart. Both signals indicate that extra outlets are required throughout your home.
The rule of three to two is not the best. Many older homes don’t allow three-prong grounded sockets. This is more than just a problem with the microwave oven not working. It could indicate that your electrical wiring system may not be fully grounded.
It doesn’t make sense to use the old standards. Is there any black rubber left behind when you take off an outlet or switch cover? Do you find the wires wrapped in cloth or plastic? If yes, your older home may have antiquated insulation that is dangerously low for today’s electrical needs.
All over, you feel warm and tingly. Are the surfaces of electrical-system outlets, switches, and other surfaces warm to your touch? Do you notice any blackening around the switchplate, wall, switch terminals and wire ends? Are you getting a slight shock from an outlet or switch? Problems could simply be due to too high demand on the circuit, but it may also indicate something more complex and dangerous. Your home may have aluminum wiring, if it was built during the period 1965-1975. You should have it checked on a regular basis if it does.
It is unsafe to walk near water. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters are required for all outlets that are in contact with wet areas (such as kitchens or baths), as well as ground areas (such as your garage or basement). Installing GFCIs retrofit will make your home code compliant and safe. If GFCIs were installed near sinks and dishwashers already, make sure to test the reset buttons to ensure they work properly.
Rust is slowly gaining ground. If you notice rusty or moist areas under your main service panel, this could be a sign of something wrong. If the panel is damaged, it could mean that your main wiring connections are at risk. This could also indicate problems elsewhere in your electrical system.
It’s not getting worse, just older. If your home has been in existence for more than 25-years and you haven’t upgraded your electrical system, it could be dangerous. To ensure safety and security for your family and yourself, an electrician should inspect the wiring and, if necessary bring it up to current codes.
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