In my last post, I talked about some of the potential problems of attempting electrical work without the proper training. In this article, I will talk about some of the regulatory problems which can cause an overzealous DIYer to end up in hot water. While you may believe that your work will get the job done, failing to go through the proper channels when looking to renovate or install electrical additions might just leave you in a regulatory struggle. Here are three different ways that improperly installed or permitted work could come back to bite you.
If you install an addition to your property, one of the most important parts is getting the electrical work done properly. If your addition is not completely permitted, using an amateur electrician or doing it yourself might be appealing. However, not only could this mean the work is not reliable, this could come to light years later when selling your house. If a potential buyer notices that you have unpermitted square footage, you might be forced to pay for an inspector to come out and observe the work. This could involve knocking through walls and removing drywall. Additionally, if the work isn’t up to scratch, it will have to be redone, costing you even more. So if you sell your house, the electrical work will need to be done well.
Additionally, if your house is ever damaged, you will need to submit an insurance claim. If the insurance company discovers that electrical work has been done without a licensed electrician, it could be grounds for them to void your coverage and deny your claim. Make sure that you understand your policies well. The last thing that you want is to end up out the cost of a house because of an unlicensed electrician. So, make sure that when doing this type of advanced electrical work, you hire an experienced electrician who will be able to ensure that your structure meets all building codes, and that all work done is properly reported when necessary. In the United States, there are often rules governing many of the minute details of electrical work, such as the type of wire used, the mode for connecting and insulating different circuits, and the types of materials to be used when doing so. If you are unfamiliar with your local regulations, you are setting yourself up for fines, danger, and an expensive repair.
