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 should you call an electrician? The obvious reason is for non-functioning outlets or switches, but there are other signs your wiring system might need work. Dimming or flickering lights that aren't caused by old bulbs or tubes, odd smells, sparking from the fuse panel or hot outlets all indicate a significant problem. So can circuit breakers tripping frequently.
Another major sign is a marked rise in your electric bill that isn't in line with the amount of electricity that you're using - it usually means that there is a wiring issue or that you have out outdated appliance that must be replaced or repaired.
You additionally want to check and see if there are outlets that are GFC protected in the bathroom or kitchen - if there aren't any, these are going to need to be put in. They are currently required by many building codes, but there are houses that frequently slip in this respect.
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 should you call an electrician? The obvious reason is for non-functioning outlets or switches, but there are other signs your wiring system might need work. Dimming or flickering lights that aren't caused by old bulbs or tubes, odd smells, sparking from the fuse panel or hot outlets all indicate a significant problem. So can circuit breakers tripping frequently.
Another major sign is a marked rise in your electric bill that isn't in line with the amount of electricity that you're using - it usually means that there is a wiring issue or that you have out outdated appliance that must be replaced or repaired.
You additionally want to check and see if there are outlets that are GFC protected in the bathroom or kitchen - if there aren't any, these are going to need to be put in. They are currently required by many building codes, but there are houses that frequently slip in this respect.
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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