Safety Tips for Doing Electrical Work | Teems Electric

Teems makes it easy to work with a professional, expert partner for every type of electrical issue around the home. We even offer free quotes for any job.

Still, we know plenty of people opt to do some electrical work around their homes themselves. While most of those projects come out fine, trust us when we say there are a lot more risks to taking matters into your own hands than most people realize.

From risks for personal injury or even death to the possibility of causing structure fires, electricity is one of those things that’s best left to the professionals, and we aren’t just saying that because that’s us.

However, if you decide to take on some projects yourself, here are just a few of the safety measures you should take to protect yourself and your home.

Staying Safe While Doing Electrical Projects

  1. Turn off the flow of power to the area you’re working in. This is absolutely the crucial first step for any electrical job. Shut off power to wired fixtures at the breaker box and unplug appliances that draw power from a wall outlet.

  2. Test for power in the lines you’re working on or near. Even when you interrupt the circuit at the main, it’s important to test wires for power flow in the area where you’re working. This ensures there isn’t an issue such as mislabeled breakers or errant wires that could present serious danger.

  3. Use a multimeter to test amperage. Everything that runs on electrical power pulls a certain amperage from that supply and every circuit is rated to provide a given amp load. To ensure your system will be able to provide the required amperage to run what you’re asking it to, use a multimeter to test the power flow through the system. Overloading a circuit can cause significant and ongoing problems.

  4. Match the right wires. Installing a light fixture or ceiling fan is the type of project many homeowners feel equipped to take on, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy job. Follow instructions that come with the fixture to ensure a safe connection. If you can’t figure out what you’re supposed to do or the wire colors indicated in the paperwork don’t match what you have, that’s when it’s time to give Teems a call.

There’s no shame in taking the easier and safer route by working with a trusted partner. The experts at Teems Electric are ready to help you with every project, big or small.