DIY vs. Professional: When to Call an Electrician for Home Renovations

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Home renovations can be such a good DIY project, if you are handy, love craft, and have an enthusiasm to make big changes in your home with your own two arms. But, when is it time to call a professional?

Well, when it comes to electrical work, in some cases it is really smart not to play smart and call a licensed electrician. Even if you think that it is going to be cheaper to do it yourself, don’t fool yourself because poorly done electrical work is going to cost you even more time and money, and the most important thing to know is that there are many potential hazards you should avoid.

To clarify when it is better to call a professional, and what you can DIY, here is a simple guide with all the information you need.

When DIY Electrical Work is Safe

There are some small and simple tasks that you can do on your own if you have basic knowledge and if you are taking all necessary precautionary measures.

Here’s the list of manageable electrical tasks for homeowners:

Replacing Light Fixtures and Switches
Installing Ceiling Fans
Upgrading Outlets
Changing a Circuit Breaker.

When to Call an Electrician

For some people, even those simple tasks are risky if they have no knowledge or experience in doing electrical work. So, if you can do the tasks counter above, you are more than good.

But, here are a couple of tasks where you really shouldn’t be playing electrician and you should call a professional to get the job done:

Rewiring or Adding New Circuits – As soon as you realize that the work involves new wiring, you should call an expert.
Electrical Panel Upgrades – This is work for a professional because he will make sure that the system meets current electrical codes.
Installing Outdoor or Underground Wiring – This kind of work needs to be done with strict codes to prevent hazards.
Dealing with Aluminum Wiring – Aluminum wiring can pose fire risks if not handled properly.
Home Additions or Major Renovations – If you are remodeling a kitchen or building a new room, it is wise to call an electrician to see if the system can handle the new load.
Troubleshooting Electrical Problems – For deeper electrical issues you need a professional diagnosis.

Why Licensing Matters for Electrical Work

Becoming a licensed electrician is not an easy task because every electrician must prepare himself for the licensing exam and, of course, pass it. Licensing is important for many reasons, from electrical work regulations, and licensing requirements that are different from state to state, to proving that you are a skilled professional to your employer.

Depending on the state you live in, license types for electricians may vary, as well as the requirements:

Tennessee: In the state of Tennessee, there are two types of licenses, Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) and Electrical Contractor License. Both license types require you to pass an examination. This means that, in Tennessee, it’ll be in your interest to leverage resources such as a Tennessee electrical contractor license test prep to ensure you have all the necessary knowledge to pass the licensing exam on the first try.

Texas: In this state, you have three license types for electricians (apprentice, journeyman, and master electrician). Journeyman and Master require 8,000 and 12,000 hours of practical work respectively, plus an exam. The apprentice electrician license holds no experience-related requirements nor do you need to pass an exam.

Florida: Electricians in Florida will require a Journeyman Electrician or an Electrical Contractor license. To become an Electrical Contractor in Florida you must pass a state certification exam. Also, proof of liability and insurance is required.

Each U.S. state has its own licensing framework, and you need to check that before you decide on any electricity-related project – to ensure you’re compliant with the law. Kentucky, for example, with their state-specific requirements like, for example, maintaining uniform safety measures.

The most important thing about getting a license is getting proper knowledge because unlicensed work can lead to dangerous installations or code violations.

Common Electrical Mistakes DIYers Make

There Is never too much caution when it comes to electrical tasks because even some minor problems can end in serious hazards. Here are some common mistakes that happen when you DIY:

Overloading Circuits
Incorrect Wire Sizing
Improperly Connecting Wires
Skipping Permits and Inspections
Ignoring Grounding Requirements.

Electrical DIY vs. Professional Projects

Electrical Project	Safe for DIY?	Requires a Professional?
Replacing light switches	Yes	No
Installing new circuits	No	Yes
Adding an outdoor outlet	No	Yes
Changing a ceiling fan	Yes	No (if wiring is good)
Upgrading an electrical panel	No	Yes
Installing a new light fixture	Yes	No
Wiring a home addition	No	Yes
Troubleshooting electrical issues	No	Yes
Fixing flickering lights	No	Yes
Running new wires inside walls	No	Yes

Conclusion

The main thing about making a decision on which project you are going to DIY and when you are going to call a professional is knowing your limits. Don’t get into thinking that you are going to figure it out along the way because you will put yourself and maybe even your loved ones at risk of hazards.

Also, thinking that everything you DIY is cheaper than calling a skilled professional is not true. Simply, because if you don’t do it properly, you already lost money and time on something in vain, and again in the end, you need to pay for an electrician to do it for you. It’s a lose-lose situation that we want to avoid at all costs.

DIY projects will be rewarding and cost-effective if you keep them limited to simple tasks.