This article is for you if you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Surely just a little DIY electrical repair can’t be that bad?” Dealing with electricity is always fraught with danger, so it’s always preferable to follow the rules and put your faith in the pros.
Let’s look at four compelling reasons to employ a certified electrician rather than attempting to fix it yourself.
What exactly do we mean by “electrical work”?
Electrical work is defined in the Australian Electrical Safety Act 2002 as “the manufacturing, constructing, installing, testing, maintaining, repairing, changing, removing, or replacing of electrical equipment.”
This means that any electrical task requiring the proper tools, abilities, and certifications would come under this category.
What are the dangers of DIY electrical work?
1. Electric shock or electrocution
Of course, one of the biggest concerns when dealing with electricity is a potential electric shock. If you try your DIY electrical work, you risk minor or major injuries or, even worse, your life.
Fatalities occur because of household wiring accidents performed by DIY unlicensed workers every year. This is often a result of touching the wrong wires together or forgetting to turn the power off. Unfortunately, it’s enough to neglect one step, leading to deadly consequences.
Because electricity is a powerful force, it’s critical to know precisely what you’re doing when you’re dealing with it. That’s why domestic electricians go through years of training to learn how to work around it safely. Plus, a professional always follow a particular set of guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety.
2. Potential fire hazards at your home or business
Electricity, when mishandled, can cause fires. When you do your own DIY electrical work, you may miss a crucial step during the installation process, which can cause a range of safety hazards like short circuits, faulty wiring, and all sorts of other issues. Once again, these are all risks you don’t want to take with your safety and that of your family.
On top of that, you may also cause a fire unintentionally by adding electrical work to an already faulty circuit. Then there’s the risk of an overcurrent, which results from an electrical current that’s higher than normal. Overcurrents can easily cause a fire, and that’s why it’s essential always to know the electrical system of your home or business.
3. DIY electrical work compromises insurance coverage
If you’re caught doing your electrical work without a licence and your home or business catches fire, you may find that your insurance won’t cover the damage. This is because insurance companies often consider unlicensed electrical work a risk not worth taking.
This is why you should use a qualified professional, such as an electrician, at all times. Doing so raises the chances that your insurance will cover the costs if something were to go wrong.
4. Failing an electrical safety inspection will result in heavy fines
Finally, all electrical components at home or work must be electrically safe. You risk incurring hefty fines if they fail to satisfy the standards.
Homeowners sometimes wrongly believe that they can conceal DIY fixes from these electrical inspections. Unfortunately, they may face more significant issues in the future. You can be confident that any electrical repair will pass inspection if you use a skilled electrician.
Unlicensed unlawful DIY electrical work is dangerous, but it also carries fines of up to $40,000.
According to Workplace Health and Safety, a breach that exposes an individual to a danger of death or serious harm carries a maximum penalty of $600,000 for an individual or five years in jail.
Conclusion
Doing your own electrical projects is never worth the risk, and only an experienced household electrician can be trusted to do the job right.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so leave the electrical work to the pros.
If you need a licensed electrician in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast or Bribie Island, Blue Electrical will be glad to serve you. We service both commercial and residential areas, ensuring that your electrical system is safe and your needs are met. Contact us today and book an appointment.