By Daryl Ashley
Confusion Solution
I love fixing up my home. I am able to do things like painting, unclogging drains, or installing window blinds. Things that are relatively easy by just looking up how-tos on the internet, purchasing the right part, and there it is all fixed and proud of myself for not needing to spend money on hiring a professional.
Recently, I was framing a wall that I had removed to open space from the living room to the kitchen. There was a wall outlet that wasn’t being used right in the middle of where I was to be installing the new frame. It needed to have the wires capped off and a metal plate installed to make it safe so it could be covered by the framing. So, I turned off the power, removed the plug attachment, capped off the four wires, and turned the power back on. And what do you know? The whole house went dark. It became apparent that one of the wires was linked directly to my power panel which controlled everything electrical. That’s when I knew I had to call in an electrician.
I have replaced many wall outlets before by learning from the experts, but when it came to fooling with the entire power grid, I thought better of trying to fix this on my own. The electrician came out and did the repairs safely and without my help. I then decided that the best solution would be to cut a hole in the framework and expose the outlet so it could be used or accessed if something more serious were to come up. It was worth every penny spent to hire a trained electrician.
It’s wise to know when you need help with your DIY project; especially when it involves major plumbing, heating, and electrical fixes. Be aware of what needs to be done before you do it and, most importantly, don’t let pride get you into trouble.
It’s as simple as that!
Send your questions and comments to me at info@confusionsolution.com
