DIY Safety

While there are many electrical jobs that you should have an electrical contractor for, there are some things that fall in the category of do it yourself. It can seem like a daunting and dangerous task, but simple electrical tasks, with the appropriate precautions, are entirely do-able. Electrical work, unlike many sorts of home renovation work, is very logical and clean. If something doesn’t work, usually some quick research can reveal why it’s not working. However, if you’re not very confident with your abilities or are very nervous about doing the work, it’s probably best to let a professional do it. If you’re at a difficult stretch of a particular wiring job, DO NOT push yourself to finish it; this is when mistakes are much more likely.

The first thing that you will need to do before you start work on ANY wiring project is make sure the power to the circuit you will be working on is off. Do this by turning off the breaker or pulling the correct fuse from the circuit breaker box. Then, test the circuit you’ll be working on with a circuit tester to confirm that it is off. It’s a good idea to post a sign on the circuit breaker box to make sure nobody restores power to the circuit you are working on. You should be wearing shoes with non-conductive soles and using tools that have rubber handles. Also, make sure you are not standing in or around water as this is a major risk factor for electric shock.

It is advisable to draw a diagram and label it before disconnecting and unhooking any wires; this will ensure that you know how to reconnect the wires, which will mean one less thing to worry about while you’re doing the work.  For some electrical wiring projects, you may need specific building permits and consequent inspections. You will be responsible for securing these if they are required, so before any project, it is a good idea to confirm that you don’t need permits or inspections or, in the case that you do, take the necessary steps before buying your materials and doing the work. Though major projects are best left to professionals, simple wiring work can be done by anyone with the right tools, precautions, and confidence.