In today’s modern society, we interact with electricity at virtually every moment of our day. From the phones in our pockets, to the lights we turn on in the morning and the kettle we use to heat our water. Electricity is so commonplace, that we can easily forget exactly how volatile and dangerous it is by its very nature.
This overconfidence with electricity can quickly result in dangerous situations when we try to embark on DIY electrical projects. Even trying to replace a lightbulb can go awry if you aren’t careful. So, how can you avoid electrical damage from DIY electrical repairs? Let’s take a look:
How to Avoid DIY Electrical Damage
The simple truth is, most of the electrical repairs around your home will absolutely require the help of a professional. This isn’t so much about one’s lack of capability, but more about the housing laws of the United Kingdom. It is required that most electrical work, especially in the kitchen and bathrooms or outside, be done by a certified and insured professional electrician. However, you can do some repairs yourself, such as:
- Changing light switch, socket, or ceiling light locations.
- Replacing or repairing old or damaged wiring (small scale).
The rest needs to be done by a licensed professional. However, if you do decide to tackle these minor electrical repairs yourself, you should follow these best practices to avoid damaging your property or yourself.
Isolate The Power
The first thing you should always do is isolate the power in the area you are working. This means manually ensuring you have switched off the circuit in the circuit breaker to ensure no current is being directed to the area you are working.
Use The Correct Tools
The worst thing you can do is try to force an improper tool to do a job it wasn’t made to do. Stripping wire casing with a knife is a bad idea, for example. You should always ensure that you have the proper tools on hand to deal with the task you are trying to do. If you don’t, then set about acquiring them–you will thank yourself later! Some tools that are a must include:
- VDE 1,000v screwdriver to protect against any shocks.
- VDE cable strippers and cable cutters.
- Cable detector to search for buried cables in the wall.
- Voltage detector to ensure the wiring is no longer ‘hot’.
Consult A Professional Electrician
You may be determined to do the work on your own, but that doesn’t mean you can’t consult a professional, for example, TRS Electrical in Huddersfield. Ideally, you would hire someone licensed to do the work for you. But consulting a professional, at the very least, can help prevent some boneheaded oversights. Professionals can help give you basic tips and best practices to avoid damages that may cause bodily or property harm.
Final Thoughts
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times: A professional is the only way you can guarantee that you won’t be harming yourself when trying to manage electrical work. Our team at TRS Electrical provides the people of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with our team of fully licensed and insured residential electrician services. With TRS Electrical, you don’t have to risk anything to get the electrical repairs or reworking you need. Contact us today to learn more!