Doing Your Own Electrical Work – Pros & Cons

With the abundance of home improvement tv shows available these days, people have become obsessed with DIY projects – which is all well and good, until you try doing your own electrical work. Usually, completing a home improvement project will save you money and you will have finished a satisfying day’s work, but electrical work is much more risky than painting walls or fitting cupboards. You can easily cause an electrical fire or electrocute yourself, and if your patchy DIY job creates an electrical hazard in the building you could even be fined. Luckily, the expert electrical contractors at Prime Time Electricians have put together a guide so you can figure out what work is safe to complete on your own, and when it’s time to call a professional.

Pros & Cons of DIY Electrical Work:

Pros:

• Satisfaction: 
• If you successfully complete some electrical repairs in your home you’re sure to feel satisfied with yourself, and proud of your skills. 

• Cost:
• If the electrical work is not too complex, and you can do it properly yourself, then you’re sure to save money. The only risk is that if the job is not completed in the right way, then it may cause larger problems which then cost more money down the track. 

• Connection with your home:
• When you carry out work on your house, it can make you feel like you have contributed to the end product, and you might develop more of a connection with the house. 

Cons:

• Electrical fires:
• While carrying out a DIY job, you can easily cause an electrical fire because of faulty wiring – simply placing one wire in the wrong spot can create a dangerous hazard. Other ways you could accidentally cause a fire is with an overloaded circuit, by using the wrong type of wires, or with faulty connections. Electrical fires are difficult to stop, and they spread quickly, so it’s best to try and avoid them in the first place by calling a professional electrician.

• Electrocution:
• It’s extremely common to get electrocuted when you’re doing your own electrical work. The electric shock can be caused by forgetting to turn the power off, letting the wrong wires touch, or a variety of other missteps that can occur when you’re an unlicensed worker. Electric shocks can actually be fatal, so it’s important to avoid the situation by calling an expert to deal with any electrical issues. 

• Make the problem worse:
• Even if you believe that you have enough knowledge to fix the electrical issue, chances are you might make a mistake which actually creates a larger problem that will cost you much more in the long run. 

• Most DIY electrical works are illegal:
• If you’re caught carrying out illegal electrical work, you could be fined tens of thousands of dollars, and it could be more if you have created a dangerous electrical hazard. You can even be imprisoned for up to five years for putting people at risk, especially if someone is actually hurt by your negligence. Although it’s tempting when you need to get something done ASAP, always remember it’s important to call an emergency electrician if an issue pops up. 

What Electrical Work Is Safe for DIY? 

DIY work is incredibly useful, and if you’re confident and skilled enough you can often save yourself a lot of money by completing home projects on your own – but electrical work is different. Most of the time, you will be preserving your safety and avoiding costly fines by calling a professional electrician instead. There are a few jobs that are okay to complete on your own, as long as you’re knowledgeable about doing your own electrical work – these include:

1. Fitting new light bulbs
2. Rewiring old fuses
3. Fitting an electric wall oven (but not connecting it)
4. Replacing the drive belt in your washing machine
5. Cutting an opening for an air conditioner (but not connecting it)
6. Installing battery-operated fire alarms
7. Fitting low-voltage garden lighting or pond pumps
8. Replacing LED downlights

When Should You Call a Professional?

Australia is a lot stricter than some other countries when it comes to doing your own electrical work, and most repair or replacement jobs that you think will be fine are actually illegal. You may be wondering what the chances are of being caught, and thinking it’s worth the risk, but what if things don’t go to plan? If anyone gets injured you could be facing an enormous fine or even jail time. Perhaps you’re basing this on the fact that the local electrical supplies store – such as Bunnings – is fully stocked with everything you need to complete any electrical repair job, but this doesn’t mean you’re qualified to use the products yourself. 

The DIY electrical repairs that are illegal in Australia include:

1. Installing a new power point
2. Creating your own extension cord
3. Replacing a light switch or fitting
4. Fixing an electrical appliance
5. Fitting a new plug to the end of a lead
6. Replacing the lead on an appliance
7. Installing a ceiling fan

There are also multiple dangers when you’re carrying out electrical repairs without knowing what you’re doing, you could electrocute yourself, cause an electrical fire, or make an electrical hazard that may hurt one of your family members. So basically, if the job you want to complete is not on our list of safe DIY electrical work, you probably shouldn’t try to fix it on your own – unless you’re a licensed professional.

Why You Should Just Call a Reliable Electrician

Sometimes it’s best to just call a reliable, qualified electrical contractor, so you can avoid all the hassle and stress of figuring out whether or not the electrical work is safe to carry out on your own. You will be ensuring the safety of you, your family, or your employees, and probably avoiding larger costs down the track. Licensed electricians are expertly trained and can guarantee the reliability and quality of their electrical work. You can be sure your work has been completed to a high standard by checking that you will receive an Electrical Safety Certificate within 28 days of the work. 

When you’re choosing your qualified electrician in Perth, you don’t need to look further than Prime Time Electricians. We can complete expert electrical safety inspections to ensure your house is safe, and our licensed and experienced team will fix any electrical issues that may have occurred. To learn more about our services, contact our friendly team today.