There was a significant increase in home DIYs and home maintenance this past year. Whether you are simply repainting a wall or remodelling a whole room, DIYing is something that takes time to learn if you want to increase, not decrease, your property's value while keeping yourself safe.
Certain aspects of DIYs will inevitably involve electrical appliances, so you must educate yourself on the risks before undertaking them. Keep in mind that in Queensland, it is illegal to do any domestic wiring or rewiring yourself unless you are a qualified electrician.
Below are the electrical issues that we recommend looking out for when doing home DIYs.
Unclean Workspaces
A clean workspace is one way of reducing the risk of accidents occuring. This is especially true if you are planning on using any electrical equipment. By limiting the debris, water spillage and any electrical cords, you safeguard yourself against potential electrocution, electrical fires and injuries from misstepping or slipping.
Electrical Fire Hazard
As mentioned above, electrical fires are a significant concern for home DIYs. Something important to remember is that you cannot use water to extinguish an electrical fire because it will conduct electricity. Anyone who gets wet can get electrocuted, so practising caution is crucial. Simple jobs, such as changing a light bulb or updating an outlet or switch, are often the ones that can be the most overlooked and cause the most damage.
Faulty Tools
If you aren’t a frequent user of electrical tools, it can be hard to identify which ones are unusable or not working as they should. Using faulty tools inevitably will result in injury. Keeping your tools appropriately stored, in good condition and discarding the tools that are no longer safe is the best way to avoid a trip to the emergency department.
Hidden Electrical Damages
Most of the electrical components of your home are hidden behind the walls and in the roofing, so it is easy not to be aware of any hidden electrical damages you may be facing at the beginning of a project. If you are a homeowner, referring back to your house plans for the whereabouts of your electrical wiring system is a great way to avoid potential hazards and decrease the chances of receiving an electrical shock.
Please remember, a qualified electrician should always perform all electrical work. You’re lucky because we happen to know a few!
Contact the Ehlerth Electrical team today if you have any home DIY plans that need an electrician’s assistance.
