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VC Electrical Contractors Ltd
15 Muirfield Station 
Gullane
EH31 2HY

15 Muirfield Station
Gullane, EH31
United Kingdom

01620 843 804

Five tips for carrying out electrical DIY in the home

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Read our range of topical monthly blogs providing you with top tips and best practice from our professional and experienced electrical team.

Five tips for carrying out electrical DIY in the home

Website Editor

Are you someone who likes to do all the DIY at home, takes on all of the little jobs that need doing? That’s great, but do you stick to the little jobs and call in our electricians in Edinburgh when there’s a bigger more complex electrical job to be done? You should, because statistically there are enough people who’ve been hurt or suffered worse when carrying out electrical DIY. Our advice on this is quite simple – don’t attempt any domestic electrical job you’re not sure about – because over-confidence could cost you your life.

Electric shocks and fires can kill as well as cause permanent injury

If you don’t know what you’re doing with domestic electricals, then you could interfere with wiring that you simply don’t understand. Cutting the wrong wires could prove fatal. As well as this, common accidents include, cutting through a lead by mistake, mistakenly drilling into wiring, and accidentally forgetting to switch the power off before attempting to repair electrical items. Aside from the dangers from suffering an electric shock and causing an electrical fire - which could also prove fatal - you’re also potentially looking at a really expensive repair job.

If you’re still confident about carrying out your own electrical DIY repairs read on to find out what can you do to avoid a dangerous accident? Here are VC Electrical’s five top tips:

  • Make sure you have a Residual Current Device (RCD), it could save your life. What it does is cut the power off if there’s any fault, such as a fuse blowing, or if you make an error, such as cutting the wrong wire. The RCD cut offs the entire electric circuit until you’ve found the problem and repaired it. That way you don’t get an electric shock. There should be one fitted in all modern fuse boxes. If you don’t have one, then you should get one before you start carrying out any electrical repairs

  • Whether or not you have an RCD, you should always shut your electrical power off before you start any electrical work. Try to use tools which are battery powered rather than an electrical appliance. Always check to see whether or not the electrics have been switched off just before you start work

  • If you use electrical tools to carry out repairs that are not electrical, for example you’re repairing a bookcase or hinges in the door, make sure that the power tools you do use are safe. Are the wires frayed? Can you identify any signs of damage, is the socket maybe loose?

  • Use a cable detector to find out whether there are any hidden cables in the wall before you start anything, especially if you’re going to be drilling into that wall. If there are hidden cables, you could easily drill into a live one and cause an injury to yourself or someone else.

  • Seek the advice of a registered electrician if you’re ever unsure about anything. Also, if there’s a job that is too big for you and you’re unsure of yourself, and it involves electrics, it could be that your fuse box needs repairing, a fuse has blown or it’s something bigger and more serious – then always consult a qualified and registered electrician.

We can help with big jobs such as a complete or partial electric rewiring. We can also handle fuse board replacements, and if you’re making alterations to your kitchen for instance, you may need some electrical installation undertaken.

VC Electrical – professional electricians in Edinburgh.

If you’re looking for advice on DIY or any electrical repairs please don’t hesitate to call us. We always have full consultations with clients at every stage when we carry out a job, so you’re never without information about what’s going on. There’s no job that’s too big or too small, we place a large emphasis on customer service, because we love to provide customer satisfaction. We often rely on word-of-mouth referrals, so doing a good job is in our best interests.

Call us and one of our team will be more than happy to discuss your electrical needs and how we can help you.