When it comes to rewiring your home, hiring a licensed electrical contractor is always the safest and smartest choice. While the idea behind DIY projects is to save money, tackling electrical work on your own is risky. Any mistakes made during rewiring can lead to a fire or create shock hazards for household members. Rewiring should never be a gamble; here are five reasons why trusting a professional is always the best option.
1. Potential Safety Hazards
The biggest and most obvious reason you should never attempt to rewire anything in your home yourself or do any other type of DIY electrical work is that it can be extremely dangerous. Shutting off the breaker that controls the circuit you’re working on or switching off your main breaker will eliminate the immediate risk of electrocution. However, if you’re trying to replace a light switch or rewire anything, you could get shocked or electrocuted once the power is back on if everything isn’t done properly.
The greater risk with faulty or improperly installed electrical wiring and fixtures is the potential for fires. A loose wire or connection can cause electrical arcing, where the current jumps from the live wire to the ground wire. This arcing can produce sparks, which may cause an outlet, switch, or fixture to overheat and start smoking, increasing the risk of a fire. Additionally, arcing can lead to a power surge, potentially causing the wiring to overheat, melt, or ignite. These dangers highlight why it’s crucial to hire a licensed electrician for rewiring or any other electrical work. The cost of professional service is minimal compared to the potential damage and expense of an electrical fire caused by incorrect installation.
2. Damage Prevention
Improper electrical work also has the potential to cause major damage even if it doesn’t result in a fire. If you have any issues that end up causing an arc fault or short circuit, it can lead to a spike in the voltage flowing through that circuit. Although a working circuit breaker should almost instantly trip if a power surge occurs, you can still end up with major damage to the circuit’s wiring or anything connected to it. Even a fairly minor power surge can be enough to fry the control board and other sensitive components in a TV, computer, stereo system, or an appliance such as a microwave. Even if you have your sensitive electronics plugged into a surge-protector strip, the voltage could end up spiking to the point where it overwhelms the strip and causes it to fail. Lower-quality surge strips also only activate if there is an extreme spike in voltage, which means they may not prevent damage that can still occur with a minor surge.
3. Fines and Code Violations
In most cities, towns, and counties across the U.S., an electrical permit is required for significant changes to your system. While minor tasks like replacing a light fixture may not require a permit, more complex projects such as rewiring circuits, installing new outlets, or adding lights usually do. Failing to obtain a permit could result in steep fines. Additionally, many jurisdictions, including in Texas, require that a licensed contractor perform certain electrical work. This ensures your system meets local building and electrical codes, which are designed to protect you from potential hazards like electrical fires or shocks.
In addition, homeowners performing DIY work may be unaware of specific local codes they must follow. For instance, in Texas, the National Electrical Code (NEC) serves as the standard for electrical safety. One example is the requirement for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) in bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor areas, which protect against electrical shocks related to water. Another important regulation is using Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) in bedrooms, designed to prevent electrical fires caused by faulty wiring or devices. Homeowners often overlook these types of regulations, but they are crucial for ensuring compliance. Ultimately, attempting DIY electrical work without knowledge of these codes or a permit could lead to costly fines or even void your homeowner’s insurance if a problem arises. It’s always best to consult a licensed electrician to ensure everything is up to code and safely installed.
Hiring an electrician for your rewiring project or whatever else you need to have done also ensures that all of the work will fully conform to industry standards. If you were to do the work yourself and it doesn’t comply with these standards, it could lead to major headaches in the future, especially when you decide to list your house for sale. Home inspections often reveal non-compliant electrical work, and buyers may either request costly repairs or lower their offers due to safety concerns. Worse yet, the issues might delay or even prevent the sale from going through. By working with a licensed electrician, you ensure that your electrical system will hold up to scrutiny during the selling process.
4. Minimize the Mess
Rewiring even one circuit is a fairly major undertaking that involves more work than you may realize. If you hire a licensed electrician, they will have the knowledge, experience, and tools to do the work in the least invasive way possible. When rewiring any part of an electrical system, electricians can usually pull most of the wiring through walls, ceilings or the attic so that there is no need to cut out large sections of drywall and flooring. Trying to pull all of the new wiring on your own is always going to be time-consuming and will almost certainly result in much of a mess than you’d have to deal with if you hire an electrician. You’ll also have much more to fix and redo once the work is done, such as patching the holes in your sheetrock and repainting.
5. Save Time and Minimize Disruptions
Hiring a professional team of electricians can significantly reduce the time and inconvenience involved in rewiring your home. For smaller tasks, like rewiring a single circuit, two or three electricians can complete the job in just a few hours. Even for more extensive projects, such as rewiring your entire home, a skilled crew can typically finish within a few days.
Attempting to tackle the work yourself will almost certainly take much longer. Rewiring a single circuit could easily take more than a day, leaving part of your home without power until the job is complete. If you’re dealing with a larger project, you’re likely looking at major disruptions to your daily life for several days or even weeks. Hiring professionals ensures that the work is done quickly, with minimal downtime for your household.
Contact Your Local Pros
If you’re searching for a reliable, experienced home service company in Rockwall or the surrounding areas, Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric is here to help. We offer expert electrical services, including rewiring, installation, and electrical panel repairs. You can also count on us for your cooling, heating, indoor air quality, and plumbing needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced team members.
