Can you do your own electrical wiring? Depends. Should you?
The best answer is usually now. It is actually illegal in many Pennsylvania townships to do electrical work on your own. Even when it isn't, DIY electrical installations and repairs can be more harmful than good - and it often winds up causing more costly issues and may even result in fire. More importantly, your insurer might not cover these damages.
So, even if there is an exception to the licensed electrician requirement for homeowners, you should probably not try anything other than the most basic work yourself. Of course, hiring a Philadelphia electrician costs - which means it is very important to find an electrician who keeps their prices reasonable and does not do unnecessary work.
When is a good time to contact an electrician? You definitely want to reach out to one of these professionals when switches and outlets stop working, but there are additional signs of a damaged or faulty electrical system. Lights that dim or flicker even when the tubes and bulbs are new, suspicious smells, sparks erupting from fuse panels and outlets that are overheated usually mean trouble. You should also be mindful of circuit breakers that regularly trip.
Another warning sign is an increase in your electricity bill that you can't match to a corresponding increase in usage - this can indicate a wiring problem or it can indicate that an older appliance may need to be repaired or replaced.
You should also check to see that your bathroom and kitchen have GFC protected outlets - if they don't, then you should have these installed. These are currently required by a lot of building codes, however, there are some homes that constantly slip through.
Whatever the case, it is often too risky to try and fix it yourself. Instead, call a qualified electrician who can help you work out what the problem is and find the best - and easiest and cheapest - solution.
The best answer is usually now. It is actually illegal in many Pennsylvania townships to do electrical work on your own. Even when it isn't, DIY electrical installations and repairs can be more harmful than good - and it often winds up causing more costly issues and may even result in fire. More importantly, your insurer might not cover these damages.
So, even if there is an exception to the licensed electrician requirement for homeowners, you should probably not try anything other than the most basic work yourself. Of course, hiring a Philadelphia electrician costs - which means it is very important to find an electrician who keeps their prices reasonable and does not do unnecessary work.
When is a good time to contact an electrician? You definitely want to reach out to one of these professionals when switches and outlets stop working, but there are additional signs of a damaged or faulty electrical system. Lights that dim or flicker even when the tubes and bulbs are new, suspicious smells, sparks erupting from fuse panels and outlets that are overheated usually mean trouble. You should also be mindful of circuit breakers that regularly trip.
Another warning sign is an increase in your electricity bill that you can't match to a corresponding increase in usage - this can indicate a wiring problem or it can indicate that an older appliance may need to be repaired or replaced.
You should also check to see that your bathroom and kitchen have GFC protected outlets - if they don't, then you should have these installed. These are currently required by a lot of building codes, however, there are some homes that constantly slip through.
Whatever the case, it is often too risky to try and fix it yourself. Instead, call a qualified electrician who can help you work out what the problem is and find the best - and easiest and cheapest - solution.
About the Author:
Finding a fully qualified Philadelphia electrician is now easier than before thanks to the convenience of the Web. Log on to this page and read the reviews on http://www.barryfisher-electric.com/.
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