So, you've got some electrical work that needs doing around your home. It could be anything - from installing new lighting, to fixing an electric heater. Whatever the project is, should you attempt it yourself? Or should you hire a Colorado Springs licensed electrician?
There are pros and cons to taking both routes. However, when it comes to electrical work, it's always better to be safe than sorry. It may seem appealing to attempt DIY work around your home, but is it worth the risk? If you aren't a fully trained electrician, you could end up causing damage or hurting yourself.
There are five very good reasons why you should hire a Colorado Springs licensed electrician. Before you decide to attempt anything yourself, read our article. We'll take you through these reasons so that you can make an informed decision.
One of the most tempting reasons for carrying out electrical work yourself is the cost. Many people like the idea of saving money by doing it themselves. After all, purchasing the materials and tools often work out cheaper than hiring a professional.
However, electrical work is not like regular DIY work, such as building bookshelves. If you aren't a trained, qualified professional, you may not know how to spot a problem when you see one. It might be hard to tell if you've fitted something incorrectly. If you do something wrong, it'll come at a cost. You could risk causing serious damage to your home, or even starting a fire. The amount you'll spend on fixing the damage may end up being far more than what you'd have paid for a professional.
A Colorado Springs licensed electrician will complete the job to a high standard. Although you may pay more than doing it yourself, it's well worth it.
Working with electricity is extremely dangerous. Everybody knows of the danger of electrical shocks and fire. However, would you know what to look for? A layperson - someone who isn't a qualified electrician - may not be familiar with important electrical safety regulations. It's not just a case of not mixing electricity with water, and covering plug sockets if there are toddlers in the house. There's so much more to it than that.
For instance, many people don't know that a loose wire inside a switch could potentially cause a fire. How do you know if you've tightened everything enough? And are you familiar with the proper protective equipment to wear when working with electric?
Licensed electricians are fully qualified to carry out electrical work. They've taken qualifications in electrical safety, and are familiar with all aspects of safe electrical maintenance. You can be sure that if you hire a Colorado Springs licensed electrician, you and your family will be safe.
The third reason to hire a licensed electrician is that it saves you time. An unqualified layperson may take a lot longer to carry out electrical work than a professional.
It's easy to imagine that something "simple" like installing a new light switch will be a quick job. But if you aren't sure exactly what you're doing, you may be surprised. Electrical work can be tiring, difficult and frustrating (even for the professionals, sometimes). If you do something wrong, the electrics can't tell you why they're not working. Sometimes, a job that seems like it'll take half an hour can take a layperson days to get right.
Hiring a licensed electrician means you're free to carry on with your life. While they work, you can spend quality time with your family. Run errands, look after children, or get on with another job around the home. Although you might spend less money doing it yourself, your time is worth more. A professional electrician will get the job done faster than someone inexperienced. This will give you more time to continue with the rest of your home renovations.
Now to get on to the less obvious reasons. Have you thought about how attempting electrical work by yourself might affect your home insurance?
Working with electrics is not like working with wood, or laying a carpet. If you're not a qualified professional, you may invalidate your home insurance by attempting it yourself. Many insurance companies will only cover you if all electrical work in your home is carried out by a licensed electrician.
Even if you do a great job, electrical appliances and wiring can develop spontaneous faults. If a fire starts in your home, your insurance company will want to know why. When they find out it was caused by an electrical fault, they'll want to know who carried out the work.
A Colorado Springs licensed electrician will provide you with proper records of the work. So if anything does happen, you can prove the work was carried out by a licensed professional.
Finally, it's time to consider the law. In the United States, you can't just carry out electrical work in your home at you please. What you can and can't do by yourself varies from state to state. The state of Colorado requires homeowners to apply for permits for some types of electrical work.
If you carry out electrical work without seeking the proper permit, you might be breaking the law. When you come to sell your home, you'll bear the brunt of this mistake. The buyer will want to proof that all electrical work was carried out by licensed electricians with the proper permits.
Hiring a licensed electrician will take all of this off your shoulders. They'll obtain any required permits before they start the work, and provide you with a paper trail should you need to prove this.
If you need any electrical work doing in your home, contact Wire Works today. We'd be happy to chat with you about your requirements and give you a personalized quote. Our team of licensed electricians will be happy to work with you to the highest standard. You can be sure you'll get the quality that you pay for.
