When you’re footing the bill for a commercial building, it’s understandable that you want to save money. Here’s why DIY electrical work isn’t the way to go.
From 2014-2016, about 100,000 fires broke out in non-residential buildings in the United States. How can you prevent fires from happening in your business?
Poor electrical work is one way these fires can break out. Below we’ll explore issues that can arise from trying to do electrical work yourself.
Electrical Fire Outbreak
Installing the wrong wires or connecting them improperly could lead to a fire. You may not even realize there is a problem at first, as it can take months or years before a fire breaks out.
If a fire breaks out, it could cost thousands of dollars to repair the damage, if repair is even possible. One fire outbreak can cost your company around $33,000. Electrical malfunctions account for about 8% of non-residential building fires.
Potential Electrical Shock
Electricians go through years of training to ensure that they’re safe when working with electricity. You’re putting yourself at risk of injury or even death by doing your electrical work, especially if you’re working in wet conditions.
Electrical shock can occur from simple mistakes, like leaving the power on or turning off the wrong breaker. It’s never a good idea to work on electrical issues without training and experience.
If You Don’t Have the Proper Codes and Permits
You have to pass inspection after installing electrical components. Without an inspection, you won’t know if everything was installed properly, and you could face heavy fines from your city and state governments.
Electricians know all the current codes and regulations. They can tell you what standards you’re supposed to meet and have the training and certification to handle any electrical issues.
Moreover, professional electricians have insurance if they get injured. Worker’s compensation will cover them should anything happen. Make sure that any electrician you hire has insurance, or you could end up paying for medical bills.
Check your state’s commercial building or electrical permit guidelines. This will tell you what type of work requires a permit and what you can get away with doing without one. How much you get fined for not having a permit will depend on what state you live in.
Shoddy Electrical Work Leading to Higher Costs and Bigger Problems
If you try to do electrical repairs yourself and don’t do them correctly, it can lead to more repairs. You can make the problem even worse, forcing you to pay more than you need to.
An electrician will know exactly what the problem is and how to fix it. Trying to solve it on your own can lead to power failure, fried circuits/outlets, and fires. On top of that, you may need to buy more replacement parts than you would have originally needed.
If you injure yourself, others in the building, or the building itself, it can cost you even more money and time. You’ll have to deal with insurance and hospital bills as well.
Make Sure Your Electrical Work Is Getting Done Properly and Safely
Now that you know what can happen when electrical work isn’t done correctly, it’s time to hire an electrician.
Nowadays, people like to watch videos and fix the problems themselves, but there are some problems they can’t and shouldn’t try to fix. Sometimes, you need is someone with a little experience to help you out.
Instead of trying to fix those problems on your own, reach out to us today for the help you need.
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