Why Hire an Electrician? Top Reasons to Consider

We've all seen overly confident movie characters take on DIY home electrical work. They pull out the pliers, attach a few wires, hold their breath, and flip a breaker switch. Alas, it rarely goes well. As a gentle reminder—most electrical work is better left to the professionals. Yes, that goes for small wiring jobs that may seem straightforward. 

Here's a guide to help you spot electrical problems, so you know when it’s best to call an electrician.

1. Electrical Project Is Too Complicated

If you don’t know anything about your electrical system (homes don’t exactly come with a manual) and don’t have any experience with wiring, don’t hesitate to call a professional electrician for electrical projects. 

While it’s possible to DIY basic projects like replacing an outlet or a doorbell, it can be potentially dangerous or damaging to attempt wiring tasks that are out of your league. Hire an electrician for any electrical jobs that require working with your home’s wiring to stay on the safe side.

2. Your Project Has Electrical Building Code Requirements

Every city has electrical codes for construction, and those requirements can vary from place to place. These codes mandate what kind of wiring to use, safety features for electrical systems, and plenty of other important information.

If you’re completing a home remodel or other work that involves significant additions or changes to your home’s electrical system, hire an electrician who knows the latest local codes and can ensure your system meets all requirements. Licensed and certified electricians must keep up with the newest codes, so they’re a reliable source for staying compliant and safe. 

3. You Can’t Narrow Down the Cause of an Electrical Problem

Sometimes electrical issues can be difficult to identify, but they can still cause plenty of trouble. For example, constantly flipping breakers could hint at old wiring or intermittent shorts that could be a hazard and lead to an eventual electrical fire. 

Since problems like these can stay hidden inside your walls, it’s difficult for homeowners to find them or recognize the severity of them. If you’re struggling to find the source of an electrical problem, call in the pros to inspect your system. Electricians know where to look and what to test to find out the cause of the issue before it worsens.

4. You’re Worried About Electrical Safety and Shocks

Decades of electrical improvements have made home electrical systems safer than ever. However, there is still some risk of getting shocked, especially when working with wiring or large appliances. And if there’s damage to the wiring that could cause a short, that risk increases.

If you’re worried about health hazards from working around wiring or believe that there’s a considerable risk of shock due to system damage, shut down the circuit using your breaker box and hire an electrician to handle the problem for you. Electricians have the protective clothing and equipment necessary to deal with electrical hazards on the job.

5. You’re Replacing a Breaker or Transfer Switch

Certain remodels will require the work of a professional electrician because of the components involved and the impact they have on your electrical system. For example, breaker replacements or upgrades require a trained electrician to inspect your current breakers and choose the replacements that have the necessary amperage and compatibility with your setup.

A transfer switch for a whole-house generator is another situation where the size and importance of the project means a professional should handle it. A transfer switch can move entire circuits in a home to or back from generator power, a complex task that requires careful installation from an experienced electrician.

6. You’re Replacing Old Wiring

Old wiring is less likely to be up to current codes and more likely to short and cause electrical fires. If you’re living in an older house, you may find large parts of the wiring need to be replaced entirely. That’s a sign to call in an electrician. Understanding what wiring needs to be replaced and routing new wiring through walls is not a DIY job. 

You also need to budget for it: Rewiring a house can cost between $4,000 and $8,000. In some cases, you may only need to rewire from the meter to the breaker box as part of an upgrade. This project should be handled by an electrician, but it’s a much more affordable project, usually between $200 and $500.

7. You Don’t Have the Tools to Inspect Wiring

Every electrician’s tool kit has a voltmeter, multimeter, or a similar tool to help them measure electricity. These vital tools and their probes allow users to safely test which wires are live and the strength and stability of the current. 

If you don’t have a voltmeter or alternative tool, it’s much harder to complete electrical tasks around the house. Hire an electrician with the proper tools for testing and inspecting your electrical system.

8. You Need Professional Advice on a Large Project

Some electrical decisions are too big to make on your own without an expert. For example, major projects like planning a home expansion, updating the entire wiring system, and adding solar panels require a professional electrician consultation.

In other cases, especially large remodels, you may want to call in an electrician for an inspection and consultation on how to save money. The right wiring choices in the right rooms can not only save time on the remodel but may be able to lower the price, too.