6 Electrical Projects You Think You Can DIY (But Never Should)

As a homeowner, you feel confident in your DIY home repair skills. However, when it comes to electrical projects, those should be left to the professionals

It's always tempting to do some DIY work around your house to save a few extra bucks, but some things are too dangerous to do yourself. There are more than 300 deaths and 4,000 injuries annually from electrical hazards - and that's just in the workplace! Putting your life on the line simply isn't worth saving a few dollars.

If you've been looking into some electrical projects, we're here to help. Here are six of the most dangerous DIY electrical projects you can tackle. To be clear, we strongly suggest you do not do these projects and leave them to a professional.

1. Replacing or Installing Switches

Replacing switches seems like it would be an easy task. If we're talking about the plate over a switch, that's perfectly fine as a DIY task. But for the switch itself, the wiring is much more complex than one would think before opening it up.

Even among electricians, switches are a tough task to tackle. Electricians undergo special training to check for hot wires and to complete the task safely. They also come with every tool they need to complete the job, some of which you won't be able to find at a hardware store.

In fact, more complex switches can be outright impossible to DIY even if you're okay with the danger. Leaving this job to a professional isn't just safer and more efficient - it may also be your only option.

2. Rewire Parts of Electrical Systems

There are plenty of tasks and installments you could make that would require a rewiring of your electrical system. Remodeling an area, installing a new outlet, and other such tasks will lead to opening up a wall and rewiring the electrical systems.

Needless to say, this is exceedingly dangerous. Not only do you risk a fatal execution but you also could cause a massive fire risk. There are also safety codes that states and cities will put in place that you may accidentally break, such as workplace safety requirements that OSHA requires.

For a job at this level, make sure that you're hiring a professional electrician. They're knowledgeable on all of the needed permits and codes that remodeling will need to follow. Additionally, they can safely complete these rewirings without risking your life and safety.

3. Service Head Maintenance

The service head - or the Weatherhead, as some refer to it - is a weatherproof entry point where power enters your home. These pieces have a massive amount of electrical amps running through them. 

Any mistakes made with the service head can cause extreme consequences. A mistake could cause irreparable damage that ruins the electrical power supply to your home. Needless to say, you also are at a high risk of electrocution, severe injury, and death.

An electrician in the Tampa Bay area will have the necessary training to safely work on the service head. Home wiring of this level absolutely must be left in the hands of residential electrical professionals and trained specialists.

4. Repairing or Replacing Circuit Breakers

Circuit breakers may seem somewhat simple. You're likely familiar with the electrical panel and might have done some troubleshooting during a power outage. Still, familiar or not, doing any maintenance on the circuit breaker is extremely dangerous. 

As with the service head, mistakes here run the risk of destroying electrical power to much of your home. Ruining a circuit breaker can stop the flow of electricity, or prevent it from flowing safely as well. You can create a fire hazard, injure yourself, or be lucky enough to escape with only a power outage.

Leave working on circuit breakers to the professionals. There are special tools and training that electricians have that are well above the skillset of a DIY job.

5. Reinstalling Burnt and Broken Outlets

There are a number of ways that an outlet may become unusable. During power surges or from a critical failure, an outlet may catch on fire. Outlets can break in many other ways, such as the wiring behind fraying and becoming faulty.

When this happens, it may feel like it'd be simple to open up the outlet and replace the wiring. This task is much more complex than it seems and needs a professional electrician's attention. 

Even if it's a relatively "simple" fix like recoating wires, leave it to a professional. Deceptively-simple tasks like this can lead to a much more severe issue if an incorrect fix is put in place.

6. Servicing HVAC Systems

One of the most common areas in a household for a DIY fix is the HVAC system. Our air conditioning systems are vital for keeping things comfortable. During more severe weather, like winter storms, it can be the difference between life and death.

Because of this, it's understandable why a DIY professional may take some of the wiring into their own hands. Still, doing so is extremely dangerous and something that someone without training should avoid.

Simple tasks like replacing filters, clearing blockages out of hoses, and the like are perfectly fine to do on your own. This requires no special training on the average case and you may find an easy guide to do so online.

But when it comes to any sort of wiring, you run the usual risks of injury, death, and fire hazards. You also can end up ruining your entire system and being without air conditioning. Leave HVAC systems to professionals providing residential electrical services or to technicians from the system's company.

Professional Electrical Projects

Taking on DIY electrical projects is tempting, but can lead to property damage, injury, and even death. The risk simply isn't worth the allure of saving a few dollars. Look into residential electrical professionals to find an electrician in the Tampa Bay area, Buell Electric, Inc. can complete your task for you.

If you have further questions about DIY projects and electrical wiring, feel free to contact us. You can also browse our in-depth website for more information.