You may be really handy, but if there's one thing that you should never attempt without proper training is electrical repairs. In the wrong hands, electricity is dangerous stuff. It can kill or injure people just like any other weapon on the planet. Electricians are trained professionals who are the only ones certified to deal with electricity. It should be left in their hands to deal with.

An electrical contractor has spent their whole life learning how to best work around electricity so they can fix problems quickly and safely for homeowners and businesses alike. That's why it's important to call them if your lights go out instead of trying your luck at DIY electrical repair. Here's why:

1. You're Not Trained in Handling Electrical Shocks

Most electricians receive hundreds of hours of training on how to handle electricity properly. They learn what safety gear is needed to prevent fire and injury, including rubber-soled shoes, cotton work clothes, rubber gloves, and insulated tools. They are also taught what actions should be taken when coming into contact with an electrical current. Most people don't know that getting shocked by a live wire can cause cardiac arrest or even death. When you lose muscle control, it becomes impossible to move away from the shock source and that is what can cause your heart to ultimately stop.

2. You May Damage Something More Expensive

It's always good to have a backup plan, but electrical engineers did not get into their trade because they were looking for something easy. That means when a local electrician is called out to fix electrical problems, they will always follow the most direct path between two points. They know that cutting corners with junctions and wires can lead to power surges down the road, which could end up frying another sensitive piece of equipment in your home or office.

3. You're Risking a Fire

As powerful as it is, electricity travels through conductors such as copper wire and water pipes rather than gas or air. It is also a good conductor of heat. When you try and replace just a small section of electrical wire yourself while leaving everything else untouched, you're asking for trouble. Your new wire won't be properly insulated or protected from potentially damaging electrical circuits, so you risk it being hot enough to start a fire when the current travels through it. Remember, 10% of home fires in America are electrical fires.

4. You Could Damage Your Home's Structure

When you're hired as an electrician by a homeowner or company, you know exactly where every single electrical cable and junction box is located in that building. That saves time and money because they don't have to rip up walls and floors while trying to trace down circuit breakers or damaged wiring. When you try to replace something yourself, there's no way of telling if that replacement will fit the same place as the original piece did without some testing first.

5. You Can't Work with Live Electrical Current

It takes electrical contractors' years of experience to know exactly how far they can reach into a junction box or panel without risking their safety. They also have the knowledge and tools needed to safely shut off the power from coming through that circuit before attempting work on it.

6. You Could Be Fined for Your Actions

If you have no idea what you're doing but still attempt to fix electrical problems yourself, you are putting yourself and everyone around you in danger. Unfortunately, this is not looked kindly upon by homeowners' insurance companies. If they find out about it after something goes wrong, there will likely be penalties written into your policy. What if you get hurt? Are you prepared to deal with the medical expenses?

Hire the Right Electrical Contractor

So, how should you go about fixing electrical problems in your home? You call a licensed and insured electrical contractor. This expert can identify the problem with your electrical system and suggest the best course of action to resolve it.