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Electrical Wiring

Electricity can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be.  You can spend a lot of money to hire a licensed electrician, but, where regulations allow, most home wiring projects can be tackled by an average do-it-yourselfer armed with a couple of inexpensive tools and some basic knowledge.

I choose not to dispense that basic knowledge on this website.  There are other resources that can do that more competently than I can.

What makes electrical work so intimidating is the low threshold for error.  The best piece of advice for anyone contemplating doing their own electrical work is this:  Don't guess about how to do something.  There are many books and Internet resources available that clearly explain the basics of electrical wiring so a do-it-yourselfer can handle most household projects successfully.  


Codes, Permits and Inspections

Virtually all jurisdictions require permits and inspections for any electrical work.  You may change existing fixtures or plugs, but as soon as you so much as add a plug, you are required to have it inspected.  This may seem like a hassle and for this reason, many homeowners will go ahead and do the work "under the table" to avoid any expense or inconvenience.  However, understand that these requirements are in place for your protection.   Improper electrical work can be dangerous.  Electricity can kill, and faulty wiring can cause fires.  Most insurance companies will not pay your claim for fire damage if the cause is determined to the fault of illegal wiring.

Please note that some jurisdictions require any electrical work to only be performed by licensed electricians so DIY may not even be an option in your area.

Scary Stuff

I have seen first-hand some pretty dubious electrical work.  In my first house, the refrigerator in the kitchen was plugged into an extension cord which was plugged into the same outlet as the washing machine in the basement laundry room. The previous home owner lived with this set-up for a decade, not realizing that he was flirting with disaster.  Both these appliances require dedicated circuits and extension cords are for temporary use only.  I keep the original receptacle, which is scorched, in my tool box to remind me just how dangerous improper electrical work can be.

In our current house, there were several overloaded circuits.  One circuit fed 17 fixtures, including the kitchen fridge and microwave.  Another circuit fed 14 fixtures.  Our electrical code allows a maximum of 12 fixtures on a circuit and anything with a motor (i.e. fridge) should be on its own.  The scary thing about this situation is that the previous homeowner was an electrician.  His professional work was probably fine where it was being inspected, but it boggles the mind why he would put his family at risk by cutting corners in his own house.

In other areas of our house, a number of junction boxes were inaccessible. Some wires were not run through the studs, but around them. The drywall was notched out, and the wire was concealed with compound. Yikes!  During a major renovation, we uncovered a number of wires that were spliced together with no junction box of any kind.  In these cases the wires were concealed behind trim or moldings and in on case, a nail had gone through the wire sheathing, narrowly missing the wires inside.

Improper junction box.

Live plug was buried behind wall of built-in pantry.

To the left is an uncovered junction box that was in the basement with connections made both inside and outside of the box. The circuit that appears to be original to the house. Someone used that junction point to branch off to new plugs and lights (including a fridge and a large A/C chiller unit in the basement).

To the right is a hiddden plug that was still live. A diaagonal wall was built in front of it. To make matters worse, it was on the same overloaded circuit as the junction box on the left and was discovered during the demolition of a built-in pantry.

The bottom line

First and foremost, consult with the electrical code and your local building department to determine what work, if any, you can do yourself. If you have any doubts as to your abilities, hire a licensed electrician. Pay attention to how he does his work.  Ask questions.  Check with your local college to see if they offer any basic courses in residential electricity.   Electrical work should never be done by "winging it."  Do the research. Don't be afraid to work with electricity but give it the respect it deserves.  Do the job according to code and have your work inspected.  Peace of mind and the safety of you and your loved ones are worth the hassle.