When it comes to getting electrical work done around the house or getting the power back on after an electrical outage, most homeowners would rather call a professional electrician than attempt the job themselves.
But what about when it comes to DIY electrical work? Are there any pros or cons of doing this type of work yourself instead of hiring a professional electrician?
If you’re looking for answers, this guide is for you! Today, we’ll walk you through some basic pros and cons of hiring an electrician vs DIY-ing your latest project.
Pros of Hiring a Professional Electrician
Professional Experience
This is one of the main reasons people choose to work with professional electricians. These individuals have accumulated years and years worth of experience in their field, which means they will be able to complete your project quickly and efficiently without having to worry about making mistakes that could potentially put lives at risk.
They can also correctly identify whether or not something can be done safely in your house, and if something can’t be done safely, they’ll explain why.
Warranties on Parts & Labor
Not only do you get the benefit of professional experience, but you also get the added peace of mind that comes with having a project under the protection of a warranty. If anything goes wrong on a project due to the carelessness of the professional, they will fix that broken electrical generator at no cost to you.
Licenses & Bonds
Most professional electricians have licenses and/or bonds to help ensure their clientele is always covered in the event of an accident. Licensed professionals also carry insurance policies that can protect your family from electrical accidents on their watch.
Safety of Everyone in the Household
A major downside of attempting DIY electrical work is the risk associated with not knowing exactly what you’re doing. There’s a reason that electricians are specially trained.
If you attempt to handle an electrical repair or interior/exterior light installation and you don’t really know how to do it, it could potentially cause harm to you, your loved ones, or your property.
On the other hand, professionals know what they’re doing and can minimize the risk of any damage.
Quality Workmanship
There’s always a chance that something can go wrong when attempting DIY electrical work, even if you do have all the proper tools and know-how for the job.
In fact, it’s more likely to happen than if you hired a professional to do the job. Imagine how much more it would cost to fix a major mistake you made when you attempted to do the job, as opposed to hiring an electrician who can (in most cases) do the job right the first time.
Pros of DIY Electrician Work
Cheaper
The cost of hiring a professional electrician is pretty steep. Depending on the job in question, you can sometimes expect to pay as much as $50/hour for their services.
While there are benefits to having a licensed professional working on your project, it may not be worth paying so much money for the services.
If you do decide that DIY electrical work is right for you, all the tools you need can be bought at your local hardware store for a fraction of the price and with more individualized instructions on how to use them.
Faster Turnaround Time
While you can always call in a professional electrician to do work in your home, this process takes time. You have to find a qualified electrician, schedule a service appointment, meet with them during the appointment to discuss your needs and get a quote, then wait for them to return later to handle the job.
If you want to do the project yourself, however, you can get the job done as soon as possible.
Getting a Quote
It’s hard to know how much something will cost before you even put out an order for the parts and labor. How do you know if the project is worth your while?
Hiring someone with years of experience is one way to ensure quality workmanship, but there are other benefits associated with DIY electrical work that can make the process less expensive than hiring someone.
For example, if you were to purchase the necessary parts and get to work on the project yourself, you can have multiple estimates done and compare them all at once.
Being Active in Your Home’s Maintenance
If you are someone who enjoys working on things yourself, then doing DIY electrical work is a great way to get involved with your home’s upkeep in a hands-on way.
Additionally, it gives you the opportunity to add features and touches to your home that most other homeowners might not have thought of.
While there is always a risk of making mistakes when doing DIY electrical work, those with experience may have better success than those who have never attempted it before.