There are so many home improvement jobs you can tackle around your home to help you keep it in good condition. These can range from minor tasks to bigger renovations or upgrades.
However, when it comes to electrical work, there are more things that shouldn’t be on the list than on it. Electrical work can have massive consequences if carried out incorrectly, and poor electrical work can lead to house fires and result in serious injury.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at some things you absolutely need to call an electrician for.
Electrical Panel Upgrades
Your electrical panel is the heart of your home’s electrical system. It distributes power to every circuit in the house and is the first line of defense against overloads and faults. When it needs upgrading or replacing, either due to it being outdated or not suitable for your household’s needs, you need to call in a licensed electrician.
Older panels, especially, have well-known documented safety issues — Federal Pacific and Zinsco, for example, are known to have such issues and should be assessed and replaced by a professional. Beyond the safety concerns, panel work includes direct contact with the main service line coming into your home, which cannot be de-energized by simply switching off the breaker. This isn’t a YouTube tutorial kind of job.
Wiring and Rewiring
Whether it’s adding wiring for a home addition, replacing outdated wiring throughout the house, or dealing with damaged cable, wiring work needs to be done correctly and to code.
If you make mistakes here, there’s going to be consequences, and they might not always be immediate. Faulty connections can generate heat inside walls and create fire risks that go undetected until significant damage has already occurred.
If you have an older home that needs special handling, as it’s more likely you’ll have knob and tube or aluminum wiring, and this needs specific knowledge to handle repair or replacement.
Installing New Circuits
While adding a new outlet in a convenient location or running a dedicated circuit for a home office or workshop sounds straightforward, it’s not always in practice. The task involves working inside the electrical panel, running cable through walls, and ensuring the new circuit is correctly sized and protected. And all of this requires working knowledge of electrical codes that most homeowners simply do not have.
Overloaded circuits are one of the most common causes of electrical fires. This makes installing it yourself even more dangerous. All it takes is for you to make one small mistake, and you’re putting your home and life at risk.
EV Charger Installation
As electric vehicles become increasingly common, home EV charger installations are increasing in popularity. A Level 2 charger, which is the standard home charging option, requires a dedicated 240-volt circuit, which is a significant electrical installation that needs to be handled professionally.
The charger itself needs to be correctly matched to your panel’s capacity, the wiring needs to be rated for the load, and the installation needs to meet local code requirements. Some utility companies also require permits and inspections before home chargers can be connected, so it’s worth bearing this in mind if you want to add one to your home.
