Working with wires is something that many homeowners are unwilling to do for themselves. Electricity appears to be mysterious, even baffling; electrical jobs seem to hold an aura of danger. Like many other misconceptions, these beliefs are built up from grains of truth--or from no truth at all.
Take the idea that electrical jobs are complex and laborious. In reality, they are straightforward, orderly and, in the great majority of cases, surprisingly easy. Procedures and equipment are standardized. The techniques of wiring actually call for less manual skill than most other home repair jobs. When you are replacing a defective switch in a wall, for instance, the job involves a few turns of a screwdriver, a stop at a hardware or electrical supply store, and about 10 minutes of work--all at a cost of a dollar or two.
Working with wires is something that many homeowners are unwilling to do for themselves. Electricity appears to be mysterious, even baffling; electrical jobs seem to hold an aura of danger. Like many other misconceptions, these beliefs are built up from grains of truth--or from no truth at all.
Take the idea that electrical jobs are complex and laborious. In reality, they are straightforward, orderly and, in the great majority of cases, surprisingly easy. Procedures and equipment are standardized. The techniques of wiring actually call for less manual skill than most other home repair jobs. When you are replacing a defective switch in a wall, for instance, the job involves a few turns of a screwdriver, a stop at a hardware or electrical supply store, and about 10 minutes of work--all at a cost of a dollar or two.