Anyone who doesn’t think they need an electrical contractor will be shocked to find out what might happen without one. Here are some things to think about.
Some homeowners might think they don’t need an electrical contractor during a remodeling job. “How hard could it be?” they may ask. They may either try to do it all themselves like true DIY weekend warriors or they might try to cut costs by having the local handyman do the wiring jobs. Electricity is a component of a structure that cannot be compromised or severe consequences may occur.
Homeowners without the proper respect for electrical jobs might be shocked to learn what might transpire with a novice at the helm. Here are some things to think about.
- Nothing works: Wiring a house is sort of like putting up Christmas lights. If one bulb doesn’t work,
the whole string remains dark. To find the culprit bulb, the entire string of non-twinkly lights must be checked. And so it is with all the plugs, outlets and wires within a house. These parts are all part of a whole complex system. When one piece is wrong, it throws the entire system into darkness and may take hours or even days to puzzle out.
- Fried appliances: If the improper amount of voltage is sent through the outlets it can fry the internal mechanisms of appliances. This can amount to big bucks in replacement costs not to mention having to hire a professional to fix everything in the end anyway.
- Shocks: Loose uncapped or exposed wires can cause jolts and shocks to family members. This can be painful as well as downright dangerous.
- Fire: Improper wiring can indeed cause a fire. This can be destructive to property and dangerous to humans and pets that live in the home. Not only that, if wiring wasn’t done to code, the insurance company might refuse to pay for damages. That would mean no reimbursement for a burned down house. Ouch.
- Fines: If building inspectors or planning and zoning officials from the local municipalities find out that illegal electrics are installed in a home, they can fine the homeowner and force the work to be done again by a registered and licensed professional. The reason that building codes are in place are for safety
of the people who are living in the place as well as for all the surrounding neighbors. When a fire starts, it can burn down a whole town.
- Sale might not go through: When a real estate transaction takes place, a home inspection is often performed in order to make sure the residence is shipshape for the new owner. If shoddy DIY electrical work is discovered, the prospective buyer might freak out and withdraw his or her offer. No one wants to end up living in a fire trap.
When electricity is involved, a licensed electrical contractor must be called in to do the job. What seems like an expensive outlay initially will end up being worth its weight in gold in terms of safety, functionality, legality and resale. With electric jobs, being cheap can cost too much.
