Solving an Electrical Problem

Do it yourself (DIY) home repairs and maintenance can save you money or cost you dearly. This is especially true with electrical repairs, where a small mistake can cause damage, legal problems, or injury. That is why it's good to know when to attempt a repair and when to call an electrical technician right away. Here are three examples of electrical problems that should be left to the professionals:

Electrical Fault in a Wet Area

Anytime there is an electrical fault in a wet area, don't try to fix the damage on your own. Water conducts electricity, which means if it is already in contact with an exposed conductor, it can give you a nasty electrical shock. Besides, there may also be other hidden electrical malfunctions that may cause further damage.

Consider an example where an electrical socket in a flooded basement is producing sparks. In such a situation, getting into the basement to rectify the problem can result in an electrical shock. You may also think that the problem is confined to the sparking outlet, but what if the water has already damaged another electrical installation in the basement? It's best to leave such issues to professionals.

Electrical Fault At The Point Where Electricity Enters The House

When power lines get torn from your house, either you or the power company could be responsible for the damage. In most cases, the power company is responsible for fixing any damage on the line up to the casing on top of the roof. The homeowner is responsible for replacing or fixing other equipment actually connected to the house. For example, if the power pole mast was ripped off the house, you will bear the cost of fixing it.

Don't make a mistake, however, of trying to cut costs by fixing up such damage on your own. For one, the power company may refuse to restore power to your house if the repair isn't properly done. In addition to that, this line powers your whole house, which means any fault here can damage your entire house's electrical equipment.

Work That Requires a Licensee

Legally, some electrical works are specifically to be performed by a licensed electrical contractor. In most jurisdictions, homeowners aren't allowed to make significant modifications or installations of electrical wiring; they can only maintain or replace the existing installations. For example, you may be allowed to replace a damaged electrical junction box, but not to install new electrical wiring in the basement if it didn't have electricity before.