Why you should never DIY electrical work

Tempted to strap on the tool belt, open up the fuse box, and start messing around with wires?

If there’s only one thing you remember today, let it be this: never do your own electrical work!

Performing electrical work without the proper skills and safety precautions can be dangerously irresponsible.

Electrical systems are dangerous to handle without the knowledge required, and without the assistance of a certified electrician your safety as well as that of your family may be at risk. 

Additionally, it is important to remember that not all homes have up-to-date wiring. Therefore, many DIY electrical projects can do more harm than good if done incorrectly.

By trusting a local electrician in Melbourne, you are ensuring that your project is completed quickly, professionally and safely. It is always best practice to seek professional advice or assistance when dealing with electrical work in order to ensure that you, your family, and your property remain safe from harm.

Why you should hire a professional electrician

There are three major reasons why you should always rely on the skill and expertise of a licensed electrician.

Of course, your safety (as well as the safety of your home and family) is always the number one priority.

Additionally, DIY work can void any insurance you have in place to protect your property or possessions.

And finally, while you may think it will save you money, DIY electrical work is seldom a long-term solution. As such, you’ll likely end up wasting more money (and more time) getting something fixed by the professionals.

1) DIY electrical work compromises your safety

We Aussies love our DIY work. We love gardening and, when we put our mind to it, we can create a pretty mean cubby house. We love arts and crafts and painting a new room, and when we were young, we got our kicks from making kites with dad and helping mum decorate cupcakes.

When it comes to electrical work, however, DIY is a huge no-no.

There are a few reasons why, but number one has got to be safety. Safety of your home, your family, and you is the priority here. It’s not something we really like to think about, but the sad reality is that people think they can save a few dollars by doing it themselves, but it can be a recipe for disaster.

Electrical fires, for example, are some of the most common repercussions of poor, faulty, or defective electrical work – and they’re often a time bomb waiting to happen when you least expect it.

Oh, and you should also know that the standard voltage in Australia is much higher than in some other countries: in the USA, the standard voltage is 110-120 volts. Any guesses of Australian voltage?

Between 220 and 240 volts!

That’s roughly double! So you should now know that if you’re messing around with electricity, consequences could be more dire here than elsewhere, particularly North America.

 2) DIY electrical work can void your Insurance

If (touch wood) your house suffers damage (in terms of an electrical fire, for example), it’s unlikely your insurance will cover the damage. If they can determine that unlicensed electrical work was performed, any cover or payouts – like home and contents insurance – will essentially become void.

If your insurance company discovers that you attempted an electrical job, they may deny any claims that are associated with the project or consequential damage.

3) Is it worth saving a bit of time and money?

Attempting DIY electrical work can be a tempting option to cut costs, but more often than not the end result is not worth it.

Although it may seem like it will save you money and time in the short term, chances are that what you thought would be an easy fix will cost more to repair in the future due to incorrect installation or unforeseen complications.

Additionally, something so seemingly simple as a flickering light or tripping safety switch is still likely to be beyond your abilities, and the damage from unqualified electrical work can cost you more than you would have invested in the first place. 

This is why it’s best to hire a licensed electrician who is experienced in the craft and insured, so that any potential problems can be avoided.

By investing in expert advice, you’ll make sure your electrical project is completed safely and correctly. And most importantly, you’ll ensure you have a long-term, sustainable solution designed to last!

Are you allowed to do electrical work in your own home?

We’ll let the law speak for itself!

Now the law does vary from state-to-state, but do you know that even some of the most seemingly basic electrical work might be considered illegal in your state? Here’s the official word from a couple of Australian states:

Queensland

In Queensland, the rules are pretty black and white: doing your own electrical work is illegal.

And what, may you ask, is considered ‘electrical work’?

According to WorkSafe Queensland, electrical work includes “the manufacturing, constructing, installing, testing, maintaining, repairing, altering, removing, or replacing of electrical equipment”.

Kind of covers the lot, doesn’t it?

And the penalties are harsh, too: fines of up to $600,000 for individuals (and up to $3,000,000 for a corporation). Ouch.

Victoria

Energy Safe Victoria paints it pretty clearly: they state that it is “dangerous and illegal for unqualified people to perform electricity or gas work”, as well as advising all homeowners to check that their electrician is licensed.

New South Wales

NSW keeps it clear, too.

An electrical licence is required “before any electrical wiring work can be undertaken in NSW, regardless of the cost of the work and regardless of whether the work is residential, commercial or industrial.”

Individuals can receive fines of up to $82,500 while companies may face fines up to $825,000. Is it really worth it?

Call a domestic or commercial electrician in Melbourne

Even if you think you’ve done the job right, you still can’t be sure of any safety implications down the road. 

And you can bet your light bulb that in the case that something does go wrong, insurance won’t help you if there’s evidence of illegal electrical work (the same also goes for plumbers!)

When in doubt, call the professionals. DIY electrical work is not worth it! Only trust a licensed, qualified, experienced electrician.

If you’re searching for a domestic or commercial electrician in Melbourne, contact R.E.S today [link to contact]! Ask us for a quote or let’s set up an appointment.

Got an electrical emergency? Our team is available 24/7 so don’t hesitate to give us a call anytime.

R.E.S Total Electrical Services & Data Solutions is a family-owned business operating across Melbourne and Bayside. We offer all types of commercial, domestic, and emergency electrical services, any time of the day or night! Call us at 1300 300 222 today. Our local emergency electricians are available 24/7!