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Why Hire A Licensed Electrician instead of a Handyman for simple electrical repairs?

2/18/2019

68 Comments

 
We recently received a 
Last week our office received a call requesting an exposed wire ran to a ceiling fan be repaired. A local handyman with little knowledge of the electrical code had originally installed the fan and ran power to it. The fan and light did not work and we noted multiple code violations.
​
We often get asked why it is important to hire a licensed and insured electrician instead of a "handyman". After all, aren't handymen usually less expensive than electricians?

​In this instance, the handyman had run non-metallic cable (often referred to as "Romex" which is  a brand name, not a wire description) on the surface of the wall where it was exposed and subject to damage. The wire was pinched into place on the wall using common deck screws.

The handyman had then made a "ceiling medallion" out of plywood to cover the hole in the ceiling. A pancake box which was not fan-rated was attached to the medallion with deck screws, allowing no strain relief for the wire. The wire was not protected from the metal edge or from movement and the wire was ran underneath the box, pinching the wire between the board and the metal box.


Our electrician cut the power to the circuit and removed the pancake box and medallion. The junction box used in the joist space had been cut in half which is not allowable by code. Boxes offer fire protection by containing arcing.

As our electrician worked at diagnosing why the fan/light was not working, he received an electrical shock. How was this possible as he had turned off the circuit and it was not "hot"? Electrical shocks as little as 10 milliamps can cause cardiac arrests.

The electrician was able to use a tool to take a picture inside the ceiling to discover why he was receiving a shock from a dead circuit. The picture revealed that the spreader bar attached to the remodel box inserted into the hole by the handyman had made contact with old, uninsulated knob and tube wire in the joist space, energizing the box.

CWC Electric, LLC replaced all the incorrect boxes and ran the wire in wiremold so it was protected. The circuit had been mis-wired in addition to being incorrectly installed.

While it is tempting to use unlicensed and uninsured handymen to save money, we encourage you to think of the consequences to your family's safety and to the safety of other workers. The most dangerous situations our electricians have encountered have been the result of other people's poor work.

Need a qualified, licensed & insured electrician whose prices won't shock you? Call CWC Electric, LLC at 785-215-8775.


68 Comments
Electrician Homestead link
4/6/2019 06:55:09 am

Yes replacing the faulty wiring boxes is really very essential because it can damage other wires also. So don't make it major if it's to be corrected by a little replacement.

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Electrician Miami link
4/25/2019 07:10:59 am

Whenever you face any kind of electric emergency, call electrician for immediate help. They can help in fixing the issue in minutes.

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Electrician Coral Gables  link
5/22/2019 04:44:35 am

The task mentioned that took 5-10 minutes is only done by professional experts otherwise new beginners take 30-40 minutes to complete that task.

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Sam Li link
6/24/2019 03:05:29 pm

I like what you said about diagnosing light problems. Electrical repairs should only be handled by professionals. My friend's electricity has been bugging out, so I'll help him find the best electrician in the community.

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Christchurch Electrician link
8/27/2019 05:39:54 am

Thank you for this article because it’s really informative, I love reading your article and I hope that I will read some more about this stuff, it’s really informative and very entertaining. Thanks a lot and have a great day.

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Mindy Jollie link
10/1/2019 10:59:16 am

That's crazy that even really small electrical shocks can cause cardiac arrest. I imagine that's why it's so important to have an electrician do any electrical work in your house. I'll have to remember that the next time we have a circuit breaker malfunction or a light stop working.

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Randy Chorvack link
10/9/2019 01:43:19 pm

I love how you said to think of the consequences on your family's safety if you hire a handyman over an electrician. Having a licensed professional help you out with your electricity is much more likely to yield better results. I'll make sure I'm careful with who I hire to help me with my lights.

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Luke Smith link
11/26/2019 11:16:50 am

I appreciate the reminder about choosing a licensed electrician instead of a trusty handyman because of the probable consequences to our family's safety. We have this lightbulb that got busted a week ago, and we didn't bother removing it because it sparked a big fire that stirred panic inside our house. I'll make sure to contact a reliable and licensed electrician as soon as possible because he or she has the right tools for the removal and replacement of the bulb.

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Owen Ellison link
12/18/2019 07:10:20 am

Excellent post. I want to thank you for this informative read; I really appreciate sharing this great post. I am very thankful for this post because it's had some good tips on need electrician. Keep up your work.

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Tori Raddison link
1/6/2020 02:10:04 pm

It's interesting that an electrical as small as 10 milliamps can cause cardiac arrest because I thought it would take a huge amount. I can definitely see why you'd want to hire a professional now. It's much better to be safe than sorry.

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Ron Booker link
1/29/2020 02:23:09 pm

I’m needing electrical and internet wiring done in my house. It’s good to know that I should leave it to the professionals since they have the experience that I don’t have, in order to get the job done properly the first time. I’ll be sure to find someone soon to come out and repair everything.

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Taylor Anderson link
2/4/2020 02:59:29 pm

I like how you mentioned that a licensed electrician will have the proper training. My house is really old and needs to be rewired. Thanks so much for pointing out why one should hire an electrician over a handyman.

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Mike Sanders link
4/21/2020 10:03:45 am

I like what you said about hiring a professional electrician to help you diagnose why your fans and lights aren't working. My sister has been telling me about how her basement lights have been flickering recently. I'll share this information with her so that she can look into her options for professionals who can help her with this.

Reply
Plumber Whangaparaoa link
5/1/2020 08:26:35 pm

It is a nice article about why hire a licensed electrician instead of a handyman for simple electrical repairs. I agree with all your points that you have stated here, love this blog. Keep sharing such informative articles in future, will be appreciated. If possible visit this website flowfix.co.nz to gain more idea or tips on the same.

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Electrician Calgary link
5/12/2020 03:48:39 am

Never hire a handyman for your electrical works, They may be cheaper in the short term, but if something bad happens, it will cost you, to redo the whole electrical installation.

Reply
Vacuum Packer Repairs NZ link
6/8/2020 12:18:37 am

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Franklin White link
7/21/2020 10:13:00 am

Thanks for the advice to hire a licensed electrician because of how dangerous electrical work can be for an unlicensed handyman. I think a lot of people just want to save as much money as possible when it comes to repairs. But electrical work is not something you should skip out on, people should pay for a licensed electrician so they can stay safe.

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Sophia Carter link
8/31/2020 01:18:02 am

Nice post , well explained.Thanks for sharing this post,

Reply
Electricians Kapiti link
9/16/2020 04:17:08 am

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Wellington Heating and Cooling link
9/17/2020 06:57:49 am

Oh My God!!! This is a great blog, I am happy that I have come across this one. It’s an amazing blog to read, so many things about electric llc blog why hire a licensed electrician instead of a handyman for simple electrical repairs. Thanks for this wonderful content.

Reply
Chris Pederson link
9/28/2020 01:13:26 pm

Thanks for sharing how there are a lot of consequences for hiring a handyman, like for one, it puts everyone in the home at risk. I would rather keep everybody safe by hiring a professional electrician. In this case, the cheaper option is not better.

Reply
electrical safety certificate uk link
10/10/2020 03:11:46 am

In this article you will get to know about why to hire a licensed electrician instead of an handyman for simple electrical repairing. I loved this article. They are must read for many. This article is a good one to look at. I like how you have researched and presented these exact points so clearly.

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Electric Company link
11/30/2020 01:26:58 am

I like that you reminded us to make sure the person you hire is certified and licensed so that you can be assured that they can legally work. It's important to hire an insured electrician instead of a handyman. Hiring the right electrician for maintaining electrical safety at home or workplace is very important to ignore fire accidents. Many thanks for your tips to look for an electrician that do the whole job.

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Stephen G. Crespo link
12/22/2020 04:10:48 am

Thanks for sharing the valuable article, It was really nice and long article, I can appreciate the efforts that you put into this article

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Eli Richardson link
2/8/2021 12:56:28 pm

I'm glad you talked about how important it is to hire a licensed and insured service over one that's not. If I were to look for electrical service for my construction project, I'd definitely chose to work with a company that offered me safety and quality. I believe it's better to have a good job done than to choose a cheap one that you'll have to repair in the future. I think you did a great job explaining why it's better to hire a licensed professional.

Reply
Moisture Master link
2/13/2021 08:52:38 am

Thank you for sharing this information about why hire a licensed electrician instead of a handyman for simple electrical repairs . It was useful and interesting. You indeed have written it in a layman way so that anyone can understand and work accordingly. You have done a great job... Great post!!

Reply
Braden Bills link
3/8/2021 08:51:45 am

I've been having issues with the power going out in some of my rooms. It makes sense that I would want to get a good electrician to help me out with this! I'll be sure to get someone who has lots of experience with this kind of thing.

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North Vancouver Commercial Electrician link
3/16/2021 03:58:59 am

Thank you so much for sharing this information about why hire a licensed electrician instead of-a handyman for simple electrical repairs . This is very nice and inspiring!! Thanks for sharing and look for more in future!! I hope you keep update us with such great tips and information in future too. This is a great post; I will share as much as I can.

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Larry Weaver link
3/26/2021 03:44:31 pm

Thanks for the info about hiring a lawyer. My office is experiencing electrical problems. I'll make sure to hire an electrician to fix the problem.

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Chris Pederson link
4/9/2021 02:59:11 pm

The fact that your electrician had a tool to take pictures of your ceiling tells me that I can't do any electrical work on my own. It is not worth risking my house or my life. I'll just hire a professional who has all the right tools to do it.

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Fairfield Electrician link
4/20/2021 03:58:59 am

Hiring a qualified and licensed electrician from Expert Electric will give you peace of mind that your home improvement project will be completed on time and will live up to your standards. All of the work done on your home will be in accordance with local electric codes and will carry a guarantee on all labor and parts.

Reply
Adam Golightly link
4/29/2021 06:48:14 pm

My brother has been having a lot of problems with his outlets not working. Making sure that he can get them repaired by a professional could be really useful. I liked what you said about how they can have the right tools to replace parts, and be safer.

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Chris Pederson link
5/4/2021 06:55:56 pm

I had no idea that electricians have a tool to take pictures inside of a ceiling, That could help me figure out what is wrong with my ceiling fan. I have taken it off a thousand times but I can't find out what is wrong with it.

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Cedrick Sherman link
6/4/2021 04:34:17 am

Yes, I agreed with you. last month I repair my TV from an unlicensed electrician. But unfortunately, I am facing some problems with the TV. So after reading your article, now I am searching for a licensed electrician to repair my TV again. Thanks for your advice.

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our team link
6/28/2021 01:30:29 am

Being a property holder can be very requesting with regards to reviews. It tends to be interesting to realize where to look, and when you see something that looks off, it very well may be hard to figure out what it may mean. Employing an authorized circuit repairman will remove the mystery of self examination and give you an unmistakable thought of what's new with your home. John Moore's circuit testers offer fixes and overhauls, yet they likewise offer security reviews. Intensive and precise examinations are essential to stay in consistence with Houston's codes and will guarantee your wiring, electrical boards, and lighting both inside and outside are satisfactory with prerequisites.

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call today link
6/30/2021 03:40:01 am

Say that a handyman accomplishes your electrical work, and it prompts an electrical fire. While it is destroying, conditions like an electrical fire is the reason you pay for property holder's protection, isn't that so? All things considered, you may have your case denied. Insurance agencies will frequently put forth a valiant effort to discover ways not to pay out claims. In the event that the agent verifies that employing a jack of all trades—who can't legitimately perform electrical work in Utah—is your shortcoming, your protection guarantee can be denied, and you are left on the snare for all substitutions and fixes.

Reply
Tez link
7/20/2021 07:15:10 pm

I like what you said about diagnosing fan issues when they aren't running. My fans aren't working in the house and it is getting super hot. I'll have to hire an electrician to check out the wiring.

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Mia Evans link
8/4/2021 10:14:36 pm

I like that you talked about how electricians would be able to use the right tools to check what is the cause of the lighting issue. I would definitely look for a licensed electrician that to ensure that I will be getting the best help for my lighting issue. It's for the living room's light switch that has been giving out very small electric shocks that concerns me.

Reply
Karen R Rymer link
8/15/2021 10:45:04 pm

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Millie Hue link
8/16/2021 09:29:07 pm

Thanks for pointing out that an electrician will be able to pinpoint the root cause of the issue regarding electrical shocks. I guess I need to find a professional for electrical system repair services. It's because I got electrical shocks from the switch in the basement last night.

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Hailey Miller link
8/17/2021 10:23:43 pm

Thanks for pointing out that an electrician can use high-quality tools to fix our electrical problems. I would imagine that any business owner would want to prevent incidents that can affect their operations. I think they should look for a reliable commercial electrician who can ensure everything is up to code to prevent issues in the future.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
11/10/2021 10:09:01 pm

I appreciate that this post highlighted that it is important to hire an experienced electrician to help with our wiring needs as they are experienced and qualified. My wife mentioned we need to have new plug points installed. I will definitely encourage her to look for a licensed electrician to help her with her endeavor.

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switchboard repair link
11/16/2021 08:00:38 am

The qualifications of the electricians should be checked beforehand. Is the organization willing to give you with information about its technicians' qualifications? A trustworthy electrician should be able to show documentation of training, licenses, and certifications. The best businesses belong to national and international trade associations.

Reply
Hot Water Heater Companies Near Me link
11/29/2021 04:57:51 pm

Some problems will need a professional, while others can be addressed by anyone with a screwdriver and some attention to detail.

Reply
John Carston link
12/9/2021 08:03:28 pm

I like how you mentioned that it is important to hire professionals to avoid unwanted events. My uncle mentioned to me last night that they have dead outlets and asked if I have any idea what is the best option to do. Thanks to this informative article and I'll be sure to tell him that they can consult well-known residential electrical repair services as they can answer all their inquiries and will provide good-quality service.

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Braden Bills link
1/4/2022 09:33:23 am

The lights in my home have been flickering a lot lately, and I'm not sure what to do about it. It makes sense that getting the electrical work done would be beneficial! That seems like a good way to ensure that I handle things correctly.

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Learn more link
1/4/2022 01:51:23 pm

The wire was not protected from the metal edge or from movement and the wire was ran underneath the box, pinching the wire between the board and the metal box. I’m so thankful for your helpful post!

Reply
Residential Roof Repairs link
1/5/2022 04:36:53 pm

The wire was not protected from the metal edge or from movement and the wire was ran underneath the box, pinching the wire between the board and the metal box. Thank you for sharing your great post!

Reply
Our site link
1/5/2022 04:56:39 pm

A local handyman with little knowledge of the electrical code had originally installed the fan and ran power to it. Thank you for taking the time to write a great post!

Reply
Hot Water Heater Companies Near Me Independence link
1/13/2022 12:15:26 pm

The wire was not protected from the metal edge or from movement and the wire was ran underneath the box, Thank you for taking the time to write a great post!

Reply
Tex Hooper link
1/25/2022 04:17:04 pm

You make a great point about how ceiling work should be diagnosed by a professional. My lights keep flickering. I'll have to consider getting a professional with certification to fix the wires.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
2/3/2022 11:40:24 pm

You made an excellent point that one of the many benefits of hiring a commercial electrician is that they can help ensure that all our electrical needs are met. My dad mentioned he needed help with his wiring. I will mention to him about hiring the right people.

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Matt Derry link
2/10/2022 02:08:44 pm

You make a good point that homeowners need to know the difference between what a handyman can do and what a qualified electrician should do. Great article.

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John Carston link
3/16/2022 08:54:04 pm

I love that you talked about the importance of noticing breakers to prevent problems and accidents. I have a brother who is a business owner who mentioned to me that they are planning to transfer electrical switches in their business workplace and asked if I have any idea what is the best option to do. You did a great job of explaining how consulting a trusted electrician can help them with their concerns and I'll be sure to share this with him.

Reply
Jenny Jenkins
3/25/2022 02:15:48 pm

Thank you for this post. I found it helpful. I will check back later for more great content. I also found some good information here https://conservationconstructionofdallas.com/dallas-home-windows/ Anyway, keep up the good work and I'll check back later to read more amazing material.

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Jenny Jenkins
3/25/2022 02:16:18 pm

Thank you for this post. I found it helpful. I will check back later for more great content. I also found some good information here https://conservationconstructionofdallas.com/dallas-home-windows/ Anyway, keep up the good work and I'll check back later to read more amazing material.

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Victoria Addington link
5/23/2022 09:24:38 pm

It made sense when you mentioned that hiring a licensed and insured electrician allows you to guarantee the safety of your family and workers. Our house needs electrical repair since some wiring got damaged. I'll make sure to hire an electrician that is licensed and insured to fix our problem.

Reply
Tex Hooper link
5/26/2022 08:13:27 pm

I like your electrician tips. I need to fix my basement wiring. I'll have to hire a contractor.

Reply
Brisbane electrical swtichboard maintenance link
10/6/2022 02:02:38 am

One of the best reasons to use a professional electrician is that they are licensed, insured, and can guarantee their work.

Reply
Engineering design link
10/16/2022 10:36:10 pm

Flooding impacts more people globally than any other natural hazard and causes significant damage to property

Reply
Marie Clark link
10/20/2022 02:43:52 am

Safety is always a priority and major concern.

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Professional Electrical Services link
10/20/2022 07:33:43 am

When you have a problem with your electrical system, you might think that hiring a handyman would be the best choice. But choosing a licensed electrician is more beneficial as they have the skills, knowledge, and equipment to fix an electrical problem correctly the first time. So, always make a wise decision when choosing an electrician for your needs.

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Jessie Holloway link
11/4/2022 10:44:22 am

I love that you demonstrate how an electrician has the expertise and knowledge to handle electrical problems. We have a few lights in our house that won't turn on even after we changed the lightbulbs. We're not sure why but it's inconvenient so we've been thinking about hiring an electrician to help use fix the issue.

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Tex Hooper link
12/2/2022 08:32:03 pm

I'm glad you mentioned the fans not working. My AC has been working off and on for months now. I'll have to take my car in for an inspection.

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https://reddeerelectrician.ca link
12/6/2022 05:06:16 am

Glad to see you agree that safety is as important as we do.

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Petter link
12/13/2022 02:59:46 am

Fantastic site. Plenty of useful information here. I'm sending it to a few friends and also sharing in Facebook. And certainly, thanks for your sweat!

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Iris Smith link
12/21/2022 12:36:34 am

Thank you for pointing out that electrical shocks as low as 10 milliamps can cause cardiac arrest. My sister said that the junction box in her home was damaged. To prevent cardiac arrests, I'll advise her not to touch the box, and I'll dial residential electrical repair services.

Reply
Bianco Electric link
1/6/2023 11:14:24 am

Thanks for sharing this piece, really informative and helpful. I'd be using this for my upcoming post in biancoelectric.com. I really like the fact that you share the value and importance of our role as electrician helping every household be safe.

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    Natalie Hogan, Office Manager and Co-Owner, CWC Electric, LLC

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