Home renovations are exciting projects, and some homeowners love to go the DIY route when renovating their houses. Repainting a house or adding new structures is something you can do yourself. However, DIY rewiring work can have undesirable consequences.
You risk compromising your home's electrical system through DIY work, and if you are not careful, you may electrocute yourself. When it comes to electrical work, training and experience make all the difference. Here are six reasons to hire an electrician for your home renovations.
1. You Get a Chance to Update Old Wiring
If many years have gone by since you built your home, you may have outdated wiring. Today's homes are full of new electrical appliances, and your wiring may already not be able to accommodate all your electronics. Some signs that you need a wiring upgrade include:
- A messy panel
- Bussing sounds near outlets
- Frequent fuse blows
- Hot plugs, and
Putting a hole in your wall to replace wiring does not seem financially prudent when the old wiring works just fine. But if you are going to knock down a wall while renovating your home, why not have your electrician replace your old wiring?
2. You Avoid Fines From Electrical Code Violations
You need a permit to do some types of electrical work, and without one, you risk getting a fine. Simple electrical work like changing a light fixture may not require a permit. But you cannot do complex electrical work such as relocating an electrical panel without a permit.
Electrical codes vary from state to state, so before doing any DIY electrical work, research the codes in your state to ensure you comply with them. But if you want to avoid all that research and hassle, hire a licensed electrician who already knows the state requirements on electrical work.
3. You Make an Allowance for Future Renovations
If you renovate an area like your kitchen or living room where you may add more electronics, it is good to make an allowance for future changes. An electrician can install your wiring with the future in mind. That way, when doing future remodels, you will not have to reroute your electrical system to accommodate more upgrades.
4. You Maintain Your Home's Energy Efficiency
Some renovations may increase your home's electricity consumption, especially if they involve adding new electrical fixtures and connections. Even if you can add electrical fixtures and connections to your home yourself, you may not know how to optimize them to maintain energy efficiency. An electrician knows which additions an electrical system needs to maintain optimal efficiency. They will also give you tips on the best appliances to get.
5. You Avoid Electrical Hazards
Electrical fires are a common electrical hazard, as evidenced by the approximated 51,000 electrical fires reported by homeowners in the U.S. each year. Fiddling with your electric system when you are unsure of what you are doing exposes you to the risk of an electric fire.
You may encounter unexpected problems doing home renovations that involve electrical modifications. Without an experienced electrician nearby, you risk electrocution or damaging your electrical system. An electrician advises you on the safest way to modify your electrical system to accommodate renovations.
6. You Avoid Liability
If any electrical work you do yourself damages your home, you may have to pay for any expenses out of pocket. But when you work with an electrician with liability insurance on your remodeling projects, they are responsible for electrical damages during modifications. Your homeowners’ insurance may also not cover damages from electrical work done without a permit.
If your home improvement project involves electrical work, do not risk compromising your safety and the integrity of your work.
Reach out to us for professional electrical services for your home remodeling project.
