So you’ve decided to upgrade your home with new light fixtures and some much-needed electrical outlets. But as the complex network of wires peers out from behind your walls, you suddenly feel a little overwhelmed. The excitement of your DIY home improvement project quickly turns into frustration and worry. What if you make a mistake? This is why it’s a good idea to hire a certified electrician for your home projects.

Safety concerns and electrical codes come into question — is saving a little money by tackling these projects yourself really worth the risk?

Studies from the Electrical Safety Foundation reveal that home electrical fires cause around 51,000 fires annually, resulting in nearly 500 fatalities and over 1,400 injuries. Maybe it’s time to call in a professional…

In this blog, we’ll explore 10 home improvement projects that demand a certified electrician to ensure your safety and compliance. You’ll learn why professional expertise is crucial and how Lee Company can help you achieve your home improvement goals with confidence!

Installing New Electrical Outlets

If you live in an older home, you likely have fewer outlets than you need for all your modern gadgets. This can lead to the inconvenience of constantly swapping out plugs or the dangerous overuse of extension cords.

Proper outlet installation is necessary to prevent potential hazards and guarantee that your home can safely meet your modern power needs.

A licensed electrician guarantees proper wiring and grounding in compliance with local building regulations. They can also provide guidance on the best placement and type of outlets for your specific needs.

Installing GFCI Outlets

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets are essential in areas where water and electricity mix, like bathrooms and kitchens. These outlets quickly cut off power to prevent shocks, reducing electrocutions by over 83% since 1971.

But just like standard outlets, DIY installation risks malfunctioning, overloading, and non-compliance. Making sure your home has GFCI outlets and that they’re installed correctly is crucial for maintaining electrical safety.

Upgrading Electrical Panels

Can your electrical panel handle the load of all your appliances? If breakers tripping, flickering lights, or burning smells are common occurrences in your home — it’s definitely time for an electrical panel upgrade.

A properly functioning electrical panel is the core of your home’s electrical infrastructure. It distributes electricity safely throughout your house. But an outdated or faulty panel? It’s a fire hazard waiting to happen.

Electrical panels should be updated to accommodate today’s many electronics and appliances, especially if your home is 20 years or older. Your home’s insurance company may even require an upgrade to maintain coverage.

A qualified electrician has the experience and knowledge to safely replace or upgrade your panel. And the cost of hiring a professional for this task is reduced when you factor in tax incentives from programs like the Inflation Reduction Act.

Adding or Upgrading Electrical Circuits

An electrical circuit is a conduit that allows electricity to flow from your panel to outlets, lights, and appliances. Each circuit can handle a specific load, and adding or upgrading circuits gives you the power to safely use more appliances and electronics in your home.

Overloaded circuits occur when too many devices draw more power than the circuit can handle. This can cause the wiring to overheat, creating a fire hazard. You’ll recognize this by frequent tripping of breakers, dimming or flickering lights, warm outlets, or burning smells.

Thinking about adding a new circuit without a certified electrician? This task demands a comprehensive understanding of your home’s electrical system, adherence to building regulations, and a thorough grasp of safety measures, such as selecting the correct wire gauge for the electrical load and ensuring proper grounding. So, it’s best to leave this electrical project to the experts.

Installing Light Fixtures or Ceiling Fans

Ready to brighten up your living room with a stylish new light fixture or finally install that ceiling fan to combat the Southern summer heat? Safety first! After all, mounting light fixtures or ceiling fans involves more than just aesthetics and connecting a few wires…

With that heavy fan spinning above your head or that fragile light fixture dangling from the ceiling, proper installation is vital. Improper installation can result in falls or injuries from lifting heavy objects and working on ladders, unbalanced ceiling fan blades causing wobbling, noise, or even falling, and electrical issues like flickering lights, power outages, and fire risks due to incorrect wiring.

Wiring for Appliances

Some appliances, like refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers, require a dedicated circuit for safe usage. These outlets have a higher voltage and amperage demand, so they need special wiring to prevent overloading.

Improper wiring not only puts you at risk but can also affect the performance of your appliances.

When you spend a few thousand dollars on a new refrigerator or washer-dryer set, you want it to function properly and last as long as possible.

A certified electrician will assess your home’s electrical capacity and ensure the necessary wiring is installed correctly. This means hassle-free appliance installation and a more efficient, safer home.

Check out our appliance safety guide to learn how to protect and care for these essential household items.

Outdoor Lighting Installation

A beautiful outdoor space really comes together at night with the right landscape lighting. Illuminating walkways, steps, and entrances can also help with security and safety. But outdoor lighting installation isn’t as simple as sticking some lights in the ground.

Outdoor lighting requires proper wiring underground, weather-resistant fixtures that withstand rain and moisture, and correct placement to avoid damaging landscaping or creating light pollution for neighbors.

An electrician can help design and install a custom outdoor lighting system that enhances your outdoor space’s beauty, safety, and functionality. Having dealt with countless other outdoor lighting projects, they can also make suggestions so that your property’s lighting is unique and well-designed. For example, adding timers or motion sensors can help save energy and prevent light pollution.

Whole-House Rewiring

If your home is 25 years or older, you might have outdated wiring that needs to be updated to current safety standards. Over time, wires can become frayed, corroded, and damaged — leaving your home vulnerable to electrical fires.

Rewiring your whole house is a big investment. Still, it’s an opportunity to enhance your home’s value, energy efficiency, and safety. A certified electrician can help you figure out if rewiring is even necessary. If it is, they can provide you with a detailed plan and estimate for the project.

If your home still uses knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring, we highly recommend a whole-house rewire to ensure the integrity of your electrical system.

Installing a Home Generator

With brownouts and blackouts becoming more common, a whole-house generator is a fantastic investment for homeowners. It provides a backup power source for essential appliances and electronics, keeping you comfortable and safe when the power goes out.

However, installing a home generator involves connecting it directly to your electrical panel. This is a complex and dangerous task that, if not done correctly, can damage your home’s electrical system.

Improper installation commonly results in “back feeding,” a hazardous electric current that can cause a severe arc flash and arc blast at the service equipment, critically injuring people and damaging utility equipment and personal property.

This is just one of the many reasons why the installation of any generator size should be handled by a certified electrician. A professional will make sure your generator is sized correctly to meet your specific needs and installed with the correct transfer switch for safe operation.

Pool and Hot Tub Wiring

Thinking of installing a relaxing hot tub or a cool pool in your backyard? Along with the fun, you’ll need proper wiring and grounding to keep you safe.

Water and electricity are a dangerous combination, so these areas typically require dedicated circuits, GFCI outlets, proper grounding, and bonding to prevent electrical shocks.

If you already have a pool or hot tub, we recommend regular safety inspections and electrical maintenance to keep everything up to code and functioning correctly. This will help you prevent potential hazards and prolong the life of your pool or hot tub.

Risks of DIY Electrical Upgrades

With all the information available online, taking on DIY electrical upgrades yourself can be tempting. But without proper training and experience, you may end up causing more harm than good.

Every home and electrical system is unique. So, what you see on YouTube might not apply to your situation. You could end up making costly mistakes or creating safety hazards like:

• Serious Injury or Property Damage: Handling high-voltage electricity without proper training can cause severe injuries, fires, and even death.
• Non-Compliance: Failure to meet electrical standards and codes can result in unsafe installations, potential legal consequences, and fines from local authorities.
• Electrical Damage: Incorrect installation can cause appliances and electronics to short-circuit, leading to costly replacements.
• Failed Inspections: Improper installations will fail electrical inspections, delaying your home improvement project and costing you more money.
• Insurance Issues: DIY electrical work can void your homeowners’ insurance policy, leaving you responsible for any damages or accidents.

With 7% of residential fires caused by electrical malfunctions, it’s best to leave any electrical upgrades or repairs to a certified electrician.

We should note that becoming a professional electrician is no walk in the park. To earn a journeyman electrician license or its equivalent, one typically needs to accumulate about 8,000 hours, which equates to roughly four years of full-time work experience. Basically, it’s like earning a four-year degree.

Watching or reading a few tutorials just does not compare to a trained electrician’s extensive knowledge and experience. Plus, they have specialized tools and equipment, making the job much more efficient and safe.

Upgrade Your Home Safely with Lee Company’s Certified Electricians

Why roll the dice with DIY electrical work when you can have the peace of mind of having a professional handle it for you? One wrong move with a wire cutter could leave you in the dark — or worse.

At Lee Company, we understand the gut-wrenching feeling of DIY projects gone wrong. That’s why we offer a hand and a whole lot of expertise!

From upgrading your electrical panel to adding circuits or installing new light fixtures, our certified electricians have the expertise and experience to handle all your electrical needs with precision and care. Plus, with our financing options and Home Maintenance Plan, keeping your home safe and efficient has never been easier or more affordable.

Contact Lee Company today to schedule your electrical home improvement project and experience the reliability, safety, and quality service that has made us a trusted name in the Southeast since 1944.