Keeping your electrical system in great shape is non-negotiable for your safety. Your system is vast, spreading indoors and outside your home through an intricate array of wiring. Things will eventually go wrong, and homeowners are left wondering whether it’s better to take care of the problem themselves or call in a licensed electrician. Learning the pros and cons of each can help you make an educated decision that’s in the best interest of you, your home, and your electrical system.
Cost
Doing it yourself is typically cheaper (initially) because you don’t have to pay for labor. However, added costs are involved, such as buying the right tools to do the job properly. Unfortunately, it also often gets to a point where a homeowner has to call in a professional to fix the original issue and any additional damage done during the attempted repair.
Many homeowners start off strong with a repair attempt but quickly realize it’s more than they bargained for, and the situation is extremely complex. They may have also worsened the problem by that time, which now requires a more extensive fix. Contacting us instead can help prevent this situation and save you money.
Time
Homeowners who try DIY electrical repairs or installations don’t have to worry about scheduling an appointment for a specific time. They can do the task whenever their schedule allows, even in the middle of the night. However, they should allocate much more time for the repair than what a professional electrician would spend on the same task.
We know how to do the job efficiently and effectively, from diagnosing the issue to the final inspection. This is particularly beneficial in the middle of summer or winter if the situation involves keeping the HVAC system off until the project is complete. The less time the job takes, the quicker you can resume daily operations.
Safety
Homeowners can take many steps to protect their safety while trying to DIY an electrical repair or installation, like using rubber-soled shoes and rubber-handled tools. However, there are still plenty of risks involved. Electricians, especially those in the industry for years, have had more injuries and mishaps than you can imagine, even after taking significant safety precautions. Don’t put yourself in a position to find out the hard way how much injuries like an electrical shock or burn hurt and how detrimental they can be to your safety.
There’s also the risk to your home. Electrical work that goes wrong could quickly result in a fire emergency. A fire might break out when you use a particular electrical item. This such as if you plug your coffee maker into a newly self-installed outlet, in the middle of the night when everyone is sleeping. Or it can be during the day when no one is home but your beloved pets.
Don’t put your well-being, your home, and the safety of the other residents at risk. Our professionals can do the electrical task for you and put your mind at ease that all the work was completed to the highest safety standards.
Knowledge
Professional electricians have built up an extensive amount of electrical knowledge over the years. This makes it easy for them to spot a potential problem during the appointment, even if it wasn’t part of the original call. This experience, skill, and knowledge are beneficial for performing installations, doing maintenance, and diagnosing and fixing problems efficiently and safely. It’s also ideal for noticing additional issues you may not yet notice are in the works, such as a frayed wire, which can prevent electrical problems from becoming more costly or dangerous.
Tools
Along with a wealth of electrical knowledge, electricians have also built up an extensive collection of necessary tools of the trade, and in many cases, multiples of each. Our pros are equipped with the best tools on the market so they can effectively help our clients without delay. They’re also trained in how to use them properly and safely. Homeowners may have some of the tools needed, but chances are they don’t have most of them.
Warranties
One thing many homeowners may not consider before starting an electrical DIY project is that it could void one or more warranties. Most manufacturer warranties have fine print that says tampering with or modifying the equipment, even during a DIY installation or repair, can void the warranty.
For example, if you try to fix an issue with the breaker panel instead of calling a professional electrician, its warranty could be voided. Any problems that happen with it in the future may require you to pay for the repairs out of pocket. Calling a professional electrician ensures the job is done perfectly, and you won’t be putting your warranties at risk.
Peace of Mind
Opting for professional work from high-quality electricians could give you significant peace of mind that the project was done accurately and safely rather than wondering if something will go wrong at any moment. Nothing beats knowing you have a safe electrical system working for you.
Stress and Frustration Levels
Chances are you have more than enough stress and frustrations to deal with on a regular basis to add more to the pile. Our electricians love their jobs, have a passion for them, and find them rewarding and challenging. However, they’ll also likely tell you there are many days when the stress and frustrations about certain electrical tasks and projects are present in full force. This is especially the case because our team is highly committed to doing a fantastic job for all our clients and doing work that exceeds their expectations.
Our job isn’t just to do electrical repairs, maintenance, and installations. It’s also to help reduce our clients’ stress levels and frustrations so they can go about their normal routine with an electrical system and devices that work perfectly.
Long-Term Reliability
One of the biggest issues with attempting electrical work yourself is that the issue may initially seem resolved but eventually take a turn. For instance, say you installed a new lighted ceiling fan, which spins correctly and illuminates the room beautifully. Unfortunately, within days, the fan may start rocking back and forth hard enough that when it’s on, it looks like it could fall at any minute. You may also smell a burning odor wafting through the air.
When you hire our highly skilled electricians, you can trust that any completed electrical project will hold up in the short term and remain consistently reliable in the long term. You won’t have to wonder whether, any time you flip on a light switch or use any other electrical device in your home, they will work how they’re supposed to.
Professional vs. DIY
So is it better to hire a professional electrician for your electrical needs or do it yourself? Although there are a few benefits of going the DIY route, hiring a pro will win every time when it comes to efficiency, safety, time, and various other aspects. Yes, it will require a monetary investment, but the peace of mind you’ll have after is well worth it.
Get your electrical work done right every time. Contact Pioneer Valley Environmental in Ware, MA for high-quality electrical services, including repairs, installations, and maintenance. We also offer 24/7 emergency assistance. Schedule an appointment today through our website or by calling one of our friendly team members.
