Don’t Shock Yourself – Electrical Stuff You Should DIY And Stuff You Shouldn’t

Keeping all the electrical fixtures and appliances in good working order is extremely important. Sometimes malfunctions can occur which need to be fixed – electrical problems should be fixed as quickly as possible to ensure that homeowners are kept safe and comfortable.

As everyone knows, electric shocks can potentially be fatal. Some repairs can be attempted by homeowners, and other repairs should be left to Thornbury Electrics because they require a professional. This helpful guide will explain which repairs are safe for homeowners, and which could potentially cause problems. Read on in order to find out more.

Which Repairs Are Unsafe For Homeowners To Attempt?

Rewiring The Entire House

Rewiring an entire house requires specialist training and should only be attempted by a professional. Being exposed to live wires could cause homeowners to give themselves an electric shock. If the lights are constantly flickering or appliances don’t seem to be working properly it could be a sign that there is a fundamental problem with the wiring of the house. Contact Thornbury electrical services in Perth for rewiring services.

Electrical Repairs In The Bathroom

Electricians receive special training about how to repair damaged bathroom light fixtures. Water and electricity is a lethal combination, so homeowners shouldn’t attempt to make these repairs under any circumstances.

Repairing A Damaged Fuse Box

Old or damaged fuse boxes can potentially be unsafe, so any repairs should be carried out by a professional.

Which Repairs Are Safe For Homeowners To Attempt?

Changing A Lightbulb

Light bulbs which blow their fuses need to be replaced so that people are not left sitting in the dark. This is one of the common electrical problems, and this can be safely fixed by a responsible adult or a teenager. Remember to turn the light switch to the ‘off’ position before fitting the light with a new bulb, because otherwise, this could cause an electric shock. Bulbs should not be reused once they have been replaced.

Rewiring A Plug

Rewiring a plug which has blown a fuse is another task which can be carried out by homeowners. There are several simple steps to follow: Unscrew the plug cover by removing one clamp screw and loosening the other. Remove the fuse after taking out the terminal screws. This can be achieved by using a screwdriver with a plastic handle for leverage. Afterwards, cut the wires to an appropriate length and match them up to the correct terminal. The green/yellow wire goes with Earth, the blue wire goes with neutral and the brown wire goes with Live. Check that there are no loose strands of wire before tightening the terminal screws and putting the cover back on.

Correcting A Blown Fuse

If the lights trip out after a fuse is blown, this can be corrected by clicking the appropriate switch on the fuse box. The blown fuse will be easy to spot because the switch will have gone to the ‘off’ position.

Use this guide to decide which DIY electrical jobs are safe to attempt.

Photo: Tony Alter

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