Electrical issues are not unusual mishaps in every home—in fact, we’re bound to have a few lighting or appliances now and then. There are minor inconveniences like the light switch or outlet not functioning properly, which can easily be fixed via DIY by some, which begs the question: how do you know if your electrical problems need to be fixed by a professional electrician? But what exactly do they do? Today’s article will briefly discuss who they are as well as list down a few telltale signs that you may need to call professional services for your problems.
What are licensed electricians, and what do they do?
Electricians are skilled professionals tasked with the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems in buildings and projects. However, not all electricians are of the same caliber in the profession; there are registered electricians and professional licensed electricians. If you want to qualify for the latter and sign electrical plans for projects, an individual has to be a licensed electrician, with their skills, knowledge, and expertise acknowledged by the government and governing organization.
What major electrical concerns require a professional electrician?
Here are a few instances when you need to call in your local Melbourne electricians:
Wiring of your new home. Newly built homes or other structures must be wired by a qualified electrician. This activity requires accurate measurements and the right calculations of electrical load to make sure that it doesn’t overload the circuits. This highlights the importance of licensed electricians since the electrical plans and load computation are already done by them prior to construction.
Rewiring an older home. Consequently, rewiring older homes also requires the handiwork of a professional electrician. Older homes tend to have wiring and electrical systems that are outdated, which can be dangerous if mishandled. If you’re unsure if the electrical wiring to your home is up to date, it’s best to call your residential electrician to inspect and check first.
Upgrading your panels. Electrical panels are crucial parts of the electrical system since they carry the electricity to the outlet and other appliances in your home. There are certain appliances that need a panel of their own, such as washing machines and air conditioning units. Usually, it has a spare one should you need to connect a new appliance or equipment, but if it needs upgrading, then you must call in a professional electrician to do so.
Installing a new electrical circuit. Similar to panels, installing a new electrical circuit must not be DIY-ed; if you want to add one to your shop, it’s best to tap into the services of a commercial electrician.
Apart from the above mentioned, you also shouldn’t attempt to fix the following concerns by yourself since these are beyond DIY capabilities:
Faulty outlets and switches. If you’ve had your switch and outlets fixed multiple times over a short period to address loose connections or flickering lights, it’s high time you should call your local electrician.
Water damages electrical systems. One of the most dangerous situations you can find your house in is if water has damaged your electrical panel and appliances. Do not compromise your safety further by attempting to fix it; call your electrician immediately so they can assess the extent of damage. Furthermore, they can also determine if your appliance or other equipment is salvageable or not.
Electrical shock hazards. Loose live wiring needs the intervention of professional electricians ASAP. In addition to that, any circumstance that involves an electrical shock, minor or not, warrants the help of professional electricians.
On the flip side, here’s a list of minor electrical repairs you can do by yourself:
How do I know it’s time to call the professional electricians?
With electrical issues, sometimes they happen out of the blue while others give off a few warning signs of trouble. Here are the instances wherein you need to call a professional electrician for safety concerns:
Flickering or dimming lights. A dimming light bulb usually denotes that you need to switch it out with a new one. However, there are some instances wherein the constant dimming and flickering are actually caused by certain electrical problems, like possible overloading circuits or faulty wiring.
A burning odor. Smelling a burning odor from your appliances or switches is never a good sign; it’s best to shut the appliance off or the actual panel off, and then proceed to call the electrician.
Sparks. Seeing sparks or arcing from outlets is a clear indicator of an ongoing electrical problem that carries big risks; hence, it needs to be addressed ASAP.
