If you are a home owner, then eventually you will encounter an electrical repair where the expertise of an electrician is needed. Undeniably, the experience of an electrician is invaluable for those tougher fixes; however, not all jobs are complicated. Therefore, electricians know that there are some jobs which you will attempt to do yourself; thus, they feel that there are some important tips that you should be made aware of.
Here are a few tips to follow when dealing with electricity:
1. WARNING SIGNS CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE
Not all electrical problems are equal; thus, there are some warning signs that you should be watching for more than others. First, the circuits in your home sometimes malfunction and operate too hot; therefore, they introduce a risk of fire. Anytime extreme heat is present, it is an indication that something is seriously wrong. Next, when a breaker keeps turning off, that is absolute proof that there is a dangerous electrical short which needs taken care of immediately. Finally, if you smell electrical burning odors, then this is a huge red flag. All power entering your home should be turned off immediately at your electrical service panel.
2. THE COLOR CODING OF YOUR WIRING ISN’T ALWAYS ACCURATE
If you have ever felt confused because someone didn’t label something correctly, then you are in for a real shock when working with electrical wiring. If someone mislabeled which vegetable is in a container at the buffet table, then it isn’t really a big problem; however if you mistakenly trust that a white wire guarantees the wire will be neutral, a green wire will be ground, or a black wire will be hot, then you are at risk of performing inaccurate work or getting hurt. Therefore, you should always do a test to verify what the color is telling you.
3. MAKE SURE THERE IS A GROUND
If you have ever discovered that your plug has three prongs and your outlet only has two, then I’m sure that the thought crossed your mind to replace the outlet with the three prong style. This is a good idea; however, you should always make sure that your wiring includes a grounding wire first. If you leave the little hole portion of the outlet not grounded, then it can lead to serious damage of your item you are plugging in, and it can even result in dangerous electrical shocks.
4. USE TAMPER-PROOF OUTLETS
Tamper-resistant outlets are designed to help prevent small children and animals from making contact with dangerous electrical currents. Although they are not 100 percent child-proof, they do drastically reduce the risk of injury, so you should always use them. The work needed to install them isn’t any harder, and using them doesn’t add much cost to the project.
5. DON’T FORCE A CIRCUIT BREAKER
There has never been a bigger no-no when it comes to dealing with a repair than to tape a circuit breaker down to stop it from turning off. If your breaker is turning off, then it is doing it to protect you. Therefore, you should immediately find and fix the problem that is causing it.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, you don’t always need an electrician because there are many electrical repair problems that you can do yourself. These tips will help you do them more efficiently and safely. Whether you are replacing a simple light fixture or completely upgrading your electrical service, tips like these from knowledgeable professionals are always useful.
