When you have some electrical work to do in your own home, such as replacing a lighting fixture or installing a new outlet, it is tempting to do it on your own. While some of the easier electrical repairs can be done as a DIY project, you want to be careful to avoid some common mistakes people tend to make.

Overloading the Circuits

One of the more common mistakes made during a DIY electrical project is overloading the circuits. It is important that you become familiar with how much a particular area of your home can handle. If you have a room where there are a lot of appliances and electronics plugged in at the same time, are you sure installing an outlet in that area is a good idea? You also need to know when you are overloading certain areas of the fuse box or electrical panel. This is when hiring a professional is often recommended.

Not Disconnecting the Power

It is essential that the power be cut off to the area of your home you will be working in. This is a common mistake when you are doing a minor electrical repair, such as installing a new lighting fixture. You assume this is such a simple task that the power doesn't need to be turned off, however, just turning off the light switch is not enough. You are stll at risk for electrical shock with live wires. After turning off the light switch, go to your fuse box or electrical panel and turn it off to the circuit you will be working with. Use a tester to make sure the wires are no longer live before you remove the old lighting fixture and install a new one.

Failing to Protect Yourself

You should not be doing electrical repairs without wearing the proper gear, starting with rubber insulating gloves. These will help to protect your hands when touching wires and cable in your home's electrical system. While you should also be turning off the power before starting on the electrical repairs, any accidents made along the way could cause electrical shock. You reduce the damage by first wearing gloves. It is also recommended that you wear other safety equipment, including goggles and a hard hat.

If you have any doubts about your ability to do the electrical repairs on your own, don't hesitate to call an electrician. They know how to handle all the various issues that might come up even during simple repairs.