Rewiring A House: Why You Should Never DIY

Like most electrical jobs, a rewiring project, such as rewiring a house, is best left to the professionals.

While the DIY culture is at an all-time high, only a handful of such projects are successful. And by now, it’s time we established that online tutorials do not show the actual difficulty of such tasks.

Similarly, when it comes to rewiring a house, other than the technical difficulty, there are many factors that you must consider. To name a few, you must take proper safety precautions, be well-versed with the building codes of your locality, and more.

Thus, rewiring a house is not an undertaking you should attempt as a DIY project. But if you’re still not convinced, here’s what you should know!

Rewiring A House: Why You Should Never DIY

1. Safety

A professional electrician or technician has the theoretical and practical knowledge to manage complex electrical wiring and fix appliances. They’ve spent significant time and effort honing their skills and ensuring they follow all required safety protocols.

During their apprenticeship and training, they learn the intricacies of managing copper wiring, understanding electrical circuits, reading blueprints, and more. So, you cannot expect yourself to become as adept as them after watching a few YouTube tutorials!

Not to forget that working with electrical wires is always a risky affair. Unlike a craft project, there’s no way you can wing it. DIY-ing could be dangerous for you and the other residents in the case of more significant tasks like rewiring a house.

Only a trained electrician will know the root cause of specific electrical issues, considering the interconnectedness of electrical components, and guesswork will not suffice. For instance, we first switch off when we face a hitch on an appliance or devices like our phones or laptops.

However, merely turning off power from the electrical outlets will not help when the situation calls for an electrical repair; it may indeed exacerbate the issues. Professional electricians will know how to fix the issue, and wiring is required to prevent further glitches.

2. Risk

If you attempt to intervene with the electrical system or rewire the house without proper expertise, you place the entire property and its inhabitants at risk. It could even result in hazards such as electrical fires, electrocution, etc.

Another note is that faulty wiring does not always show immediate consequences. Faulty wires can go undetected for several years, resulting in a fire later.

So, getting the job done by a professional is the only way to avoid such electrical risks. However, if you DIY some minor repairs, we recommend contacting the repaired part inspected by a licensed professional.

3. Insurance Concerns

As mentioned earlier, faulty wiring can cause an electrical fire. An insurance company can deny your claims in such a case as you caused the accident due to negligence.

If you call a qualified electrician to perform the repair own electrical work, ensure they are licensed to do it. Anyone who performs faulty DIY electrical work will also be held responsible. After all, your home is your responsibility.

While you might initially question the cost to rewire by a professional, it is certainly more economical than having an insurance claim denied due to faulty work later.

4. Legality

One may require several permits to complete DIY electrical repairs at home. These permits uphold the safety protocols and local building codes; thus, every professional must obtain them.

Those who perform and get paid for DIY electrical work without a license can be detained with fines or jail time.

On the other hand, allowable repairs include fixing light fixtures, replacing switches and wires, etc., at your residence. But you must check with the local laws to avoid getting into trouble.

Getting a licensed electrical inspector is the best option in all other cases. They can connect the wires to the electric supply, ensure it adheres to the local code, and issue a Certificate of Compliance.

Another advantage of hiring a licensed professional is the workman’s compensation and insurance. It simply means that they are responsible for their electrical work, and they will cover any discrepancies later.

Additionally, a licensed electrician service/company takes the liability for its workers. So, if a worker gets injured while working in your residence, they cannot sue you.

5. Failed Inspections

Inspecting any electrical repair by a licensed electrical technician is necessary to ensure the DIY electrical work is up to code. In case of uninspected maintenance, you could end up with heavy fines.

For instance, when selling your house, the buyers will inquire about the electrical fixtures and DIY repairs can be detected during a sale inspection. While the inspector may not directly act against you, they will inform the prospective buyers, who may look at other safer options.

If the buyer hires a licensed electrician to check for unpermitted DIY repairs, you must pay for faulty electrical work. This can occur when the sale is under contract and after selling the house.

Always Speak To A Licensed Professional

As a result of the legal formalities and the risk involved, electrical repairs should be left to the professionals.

However, simply calling an electrician for new wiring isn’t enough. Ensure you do your research and hire only a licensed professional. Only they follow the law by keeping the required permits and having insurance.

The team at Bright Force Electrical can assist you with faulty wiring in Sydney. We will diagnose, identify, and fix the problem quickly and safely, so you can return to normal! In an electrical emergency, we are available 24/7, so please do not hesitate to call.

We hope you found this guide helpful. Stay tuned because we’ll be back with another informative piece soon.