The Dangers of DIY: The Importance of Good Practice

With the current rise in the cost of living across the UK and Scotland more and more landlords and homeowners may be tempted to save a quick penny by doing DIY electrical works as part of their home maintenance, but did you know you may have legal obligations to ensure certain works are done by a qualified electrician? Giving into the DIY temptation could potentially cost you much more in the long run so we have compiled some reasons why you should get in the professionals when conducting electrical maintenance.

Tools and Knowledge

Fully qualified electricians will have adequate experience to turn up fully prepared. Firstly, you may not be able to effectively identify the problem which can lead to you using the incorrect tools or testing equipment to allow you to safely isolate the electrical supply before doing your DIY electrical works. All our electricians must have a minimum of 4 years on site experience as well as attend college prior to sitting our final integrated exam to be fully qualified. Using the wrong tools or safety equipment increases the risk of making a mistake or causing yourself an injury. A professional will have the right tools for the job and know the issue from a quick assessment. At Keith Gunn we also use testing equipment after we have carried out installations to ensure that the installed wiring is safe for use and there are no faults apparent. If you don’t test your work, then you could be leaving a potentially dangerous installation. A multi-function tester, which we use daily and is an essential part of our kit, costs £500+.

Cost

Taking steps to save a quick buck now may seem like a good idea on the surface but it could cost you on safety and quality. Bringing in an electrician will save you time, money, and potential difficulties. The phrase ‘you get what you pay for’ is valid in this case as the benefits of paying a professional are worth it. They will do the job right the first time and save you the extra costs to fix the potential mistakes you may make if you attempt the job yourself.

If cost is still a concern, talk to us at Keith Gunn. You may qualify for finance options on your work to help spread the cost and make it more manageable.

Legal

In Scotland, you are required by law to provide certification for certain scenarios when it comes to electrical works. In effect from 1st June 2020, Electrical installations must be inspected and assessed at least every 5 years by qualified persons. Landlords must provide a copy of the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) to tenants and must ensure properties are electrically safe according to the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government. Additionally, if you are obtaining a building warrant then you need to make sure any electrical work carried out is certified by a qualified electrician before your building warrant can be signed off. Equally, if you are selling your home, you may be asked to provide certification for any electrical work that you have completed whilst you occupied the property. You may also be required to provide electrical certification for insurance purposes, either at the point of insurance renewal or in the event of making a claim.

All Keith Gunn electricians are covered by insurance and workers’ compensation meaning if anything goes wrong, you will not have to cover any damages done to your property whilst the work is ongoing. If you choose to do the work yourself, you could be breaking the law and incurring an expensive charge for damages. Keith Gunn will keep you right from PAT testing to a full home rewire.

All Keith Gunn Electricians are NICEIC qualified meaning our electricians are fully insured and regularly assessed to ensure they are the best to conduct your electrical work and can provide you with EICR Certificates to help put your tenants at ease.

Peace of Mind

The ‘so far, so good’ mentality can get you in deep water quickly when it comes to DIY electrical works. Jobs done incorrectly can be a risk to your investment in the building. Maintenance is cheaper than repair so why not remove the anxiety of doing your own? One of the key benefits to hiring the professionals is that you can leave them to it and know you’re getting reliable and lasting work that you won’t have to worry about.

Safety

Electricity is dangerous and can cause fires, explosions, major injuries or even death. According to Liverpool Victoria Insurance, 29% of British people conduct DIY on their electrics. That is over 18 million people, who are potentially putting themselves, their families, and their property at risk. Of these, almost a quarter will go wrong. That is quite a staggering amount of risk being taken by people all over the country. The risk to you, and those in your building is simply not worth it.

There are plenty of home maintenance jobs that can be achieved on your own requiring various levels of skills however electricity is not an area for amateurs. Enjoy a sense of safety, security, and peace of mind by hiring experienced and reliable electricians.

You can see the services we offer here or go straight to our booking form for a live quote here.