While remodeling your home, you may be taking the opportunity to place lighting fixtures where you always wished you had a little extra light. After looking over the installation instructions, you may believe that you should be able to handle the task yourself. However, there are a couple of reasons why you should not consider installing the new fixtures yourself and instead leave the job to an electrician.
1. They Can Determine Whether Your Home's Wiring Can Handle the Heat from the Bulbs
One reason why you should have a professional install your new light fixtures instead of attempting to do it yourself is that they can check out the condition of the old wiring before the installation takes place. Especially if your home is more than a few years old, the insulation around the wires may be thinner or may have frayed.
The reason why this is important is that the heat from the bulbs will give off heat. Depending on the type and number of bulbs, the heat may radiate enough to affect the wiring.
If the insulation is old, thin, or damaged, the heat from incandescent or multiple bulbs could melt it, leaving the wires exposed and vulnerable to electrical arcs. If a professional sees this during installation, they will know to replace the wires with ones that can handle the extra heat.
2. They Can Ensure the Proper Connections Are Made Between the House and Fixture Wires
Another reason why the installation of your lighting fixtures should be left to a professional is that the connections between the house and fixture wires must be precise. If not, the current in the wires could arc, posing a fire hazard.
When the connections are made, wire nuts are used, which are then wrapped with electrical tape. Since there are different size nuts meant for different gauges of wire, you need to know which one will fit both the old and new wires. An electrician will have the knowledge and experience to make the proper selection.
Installing a new light in your home takes more than simply attaching a few wires and turning on the switch. You also need to make sure that the wires are properly connected and can handle the heat from the bulbs. Instead of attempting to do the job yourself, contact an electrician who offers services like residential lighting installation to discuss having them do the work for you.