Why Hire a Professional Instead of Doing it Yourself?
Unlike common DIY projects, electrical work is not fun to many and quite challenging if you
don’t know what you are doing. Electricity is not something that you can mess around with as it
is very dangerous with a high risk for injury. On average, there are 30,000 non-fatal shock
injuries per year with most home injuries involving children and adolescents. Because of this,
there are electrical code requirements, permits, and inspections needed when wiring new
electrical systems or undertaking projects involving electricity in a home. The whole process can
be less headache inducing by hiring the right person to ensure a job done correctly.
There are so many intricacies to electrical codes and standards that there is an entire codebook
that is revised and updated every three years. This book is called the National Electric Code , or
NEC for short. The NEC is the backbone of electrical safety across the United States and around
the world, giving regulations for electrical wiring, over-current protection, grounding, installation
of equipment, and maintenance of equipment. There is such an expansive pool of information
regarding electrical standards and safety that mistakes may easily be made by someone who
doesn’t know exactly what they’re doing.
To give perspective into what regulations the average homeowner may or may not know, here
are a few examples of electrical codes that one might not be aware of:
Choosing the correct circuit breaker - There are three main types of circuit breakers , and
they’re all used for different situations. These are the standard circuit breaker, the ground
fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), and arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI).
Required amounts of wall outlets - The NEC states that there is to be no surface of wall
without an outlet being present every six feet. The reason for this being that it helps
reduce the use of extension cords in households and other frequently used settings.
Providing sufficient electrical bonding - Electrical wiring, such as phone lines and
coaxial cables, need to not only be grounded but bonded as well. This is when two
conductive systems are connected by a bonding wire or piece of metal. Bonding differs
from grounding in that it equalizes the voltage potential between two systems. What this
does is reduce the risk of someone taking an electric shock from something that should
otherwise be safe.
Hiring a residential electrician probably doesn’t seem too good for the wallet, however getting
the job done properly the first time can end up saving a large sum of money in the long run.
While they are professionals charging an average of $50-$100 an hour, as long as they are
bonded they are covered for any damages that they may cause to your home. If you decide to
take on an electrical DIY project, keep in mind that if you don’t do it to code the first time, you’ll
have to bite the bullet and hire a professional to redo it. Hiring a residential electrician is creating
a peace of mind for both the safety of your wallet and the safety of your family.