DIY Electrical Mistakes to Avoid
Without a doubt, there are small electrical things in your home you can do yourself. For example, we trust you to change your own light bulbs when they burn out. However, some tasks are a bit more challenging and are better left to the experts. Make sure you are wary of these do-it-yourself mistakes homeowners often make.
Wire Size
Be careful of wire size! We don’t just mean the physical size; we mean pay attention to the amp rating. If your wire is only rated for 15 amps and the breaker is rated for 20, this is going to cause a safety problem. Don’t try to “eyeball” a wire and guess if it fits.
Fuse Replacement
If your fuse blows often, your instinct may be to replace the fuse or breaker with a bigger one. Please do not do this! Your breakers and fuses are made to protect the devices that connect to them. If the fuse or breaker conducts more than it should, it can overheat the wire. This oftentimes leads to fires. If your fuse continues to blow, this means the circuit wiring has an issue. Call us, your local electricians, to take a look and find the problem.
Light Bulbs
Okay, we lied. We don’t really trust you to change your own light bulb if you don’t follow the limitations! If your light base requires a 60-watt bulb, do not use a 100-watt bulb–even if it fits. This discrepancy in wattage can heat up the bulb and the base, which can lead to a fire. Always use the wattage suggested.
When in doubt, call your Marin County local electrician: Divine Electric Nocal. We can take care of the issues safely and efficiently!
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Divine Electric made our day. Our electrical issue at home was quickly and accurately diagnosed, and immediate repairs made things right again. Nathan was on time, friendly, and knowledgeable. He made everything easy to understand, and followed up to be sure all was well at the end of the day! We couldn’t be happier.
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