Reasons To Hire A Certified Electrician For Light Fixture Installations
Part 1
According to reports, more than 364,000 residential fires were reported in 2016 in the United States. Approximately 24,000 (or 6.5%) of the reported cases were as a result of electrical malfunctions. Most of these cases would have been avoided had the homeowners hired an expert electrician to handle all installations. Although simple installations, such as changing the wall outlet covers or replacing bulbs, can be done in a simple DIY, hiring an electrician to help install a new light fixture would be the wiser move. One of the reasons is that certified electricians do this for a living and are more knowledgeable about electrical codes. Attempting to do the installations yourself is dangerous and increases the risk of fires, among only costly mistakes. Outlined below are some of the benefits and reasons you should hire a certified electrician.
1. One Should Be Licensed To Carry Out Any Electrical Work
Only a certified electrician is allowed to carry out all new electrical installations and changes in Texas. This includes the installation of light fixtures. One of the reasons is that you would need to tap into existing connections or add new wiring to the system to work. Unless you have the necessary training and technical know-how of adding a new line from the switch box, you should consider calling an electrician. The switch box alone can have more than six color-coded wires, which can be confusing to the untrained eye.
A licensed electrician is also knowledgeable of the different types of wires, such as ground, hot, and neutral wires. The only way your light fixture would work is if it is correctly connected to the correct wires, A simple mistake in the wiring, such as mixing up the wires, can result in flickering lights (if you are lucky) or, worse, electrical fires. Electrical fires can be quite costly and a risk you don’t want to take.
2. Wall Or Ceiling Support
All light fixtures aren’t made/designed the same. They come in varying sizes, shapes, and weights, factors that have to be considered during installation. Chandeliers, for example, can be weighty, thus need to be anchored properly on the ceiling. One also needs to identify the best place to install the fixture, especially if it is one of the heavy options. The point of installation ought to be strong enough to handle its weight comfortably.
Installing a light fixture (say chandelier) on a weak point in the ceiling or wall can cause it to bulge outward or even collapse after some time. With most of these fixtures installed overhead, this can be a safety hazard in the house and lead to expensive repairs. A licensed and experienced electrician knows this too well and will have the expertise and equipment needed to ensure the installations are done correctly. Most electricians invest heavily in their tools of work, which makes their job much safer and easier.
3. Need For Special Hardware
Special electrical boxes may be required for fixtures that weigh more than 15 pounds. When installed correctly, these particular boxes can hold lighting and support fixtures of up to 150 pounds. Only an experienced electrician would know if such a box will be required or not.
If you need help with your lighting system, don’t hesitate to contact us or call us today! Visit our blog for more related articles. Click here for the second issue of this article.