The DIY electrical messes in my neighborhood are getting out of hand

I've been an electrician for a long time, and the DIY jobs around here are scary. Last month, I had to fix a bathroom outlet where someone used lamp cord instead of proper wire. It was melted and could have started a fire. Another time, a friend's house had their panel wired wrong, tripping breakers every day. People watch a video online and think they can do it, but they miss the basics. I notice this stuff all the time, and it keeps me up at night. When will folks learn that electricity is not something to play with? It's just not worth the risk to save a few bucks.

3 comments

3 Comments

wells.morgan15d ago

Seriously, what's the worst hidden danger you've found?

alice_reed472d ago

Found a live wire behind drywall once, @wells.morgan. It's the stuff you can't see that really gets you.

paul_nguyen15d ago

Watching a video online is often enough for simple jobs, @wells.morgan, and real dangers are pretty rare.