You Should Not DIY Electricity Because You Watched Schoolhouse Rock (Electricity, Electricity)

If you were born after 1989, you probably have no idea what I’m talking about, but some of us learned everything we needed to know from “Schoolhouse Rock.” Well, almost everything. Just because you know the song, and have watched a few YouTube videos since then, doesn’t mean that you and your power tools are ready to DIY electricity. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, if you have an electrical problem at your house, you need to call an electrician. If changing a lightbulb, unplugging it and plugging it back in again, or flipping a breaker doesn’t fix it, you should probably get on the phone.

When people without a license try to mess with electricity, they often get hurt or set up dangerous situations where someone could get hurt down the line. Here are some examples of bad electrical situations from the field:

The “Quick Fix” Electrical DIY Job

We’ve all been there. That, “Gee, I wish there was an outlet right here,” moment. What you do is, you call an electrician. You don’t start cutting holes in walls, rigging plugs and extension cords, and then plug in your toaster.

“Neutral” Isn’t the Same As “Safe”

This is why people who aren’t licensed electricians shouldn’t do wiring. The white wires are neutral, but just because they are “neutral,” doesn’t mean you can bundle them all up on one lug like this, like they don’t have a purpose or like no electricity ever runs through them. Even double-lugged neutral wires can get overheated if both neutrals get energized. And with excess heat, the wires can expand and create gaps, allowing arcing and overheating, which could start a fire or worse.

Mismatched Parts Is a No-No

In the first place, Challenger electrical panels are no longer made and are known to have problems, so if you have this brand of panel, you’d already want to consult an electrician about safety. Regarding the mismatched parts — think of it this way, it might be ok to use Chevy parts on a Ford truck, but you’d want to check with a mechanic first. Certain parts are manufactured specifically to work with their brand counterparts and may malfunction if paired with a random replacement.

“When you’re in the dark, and you want to see, you need, Electricity, EEEE-lectricity…” And when you need to do anything besides turn it on or plug it in, you need, an Electrician, EEEE-lectrician. Don’t DIY Electricity! If you need a recommendation for a great electrician, ask your realtor or home inspector. We work with them all the time, and will have a trustworthy professional to recommend.