Is It Safe To Replace a Circuit Breaker Without an Electrician in Halifax, MA?

Is it safe to replace a circuit breaker yourself? You almost always need the help of a professional offering electrical services in Halifax, MA, to perform this type of work. State and local regulations require licensed electricians to execute most work involving circuit boards.

Learn more about why you should rely on professionals to make changes to your circuit panel.

Electrocution Is Possible When DIY Replacing a Circuit Breaker

Even if you take all the circuit breaker replacement safety precautions, you might risk suffering a dangerous electrical shock. A circuit panel has the main wiring serving the house passing through it, meaning you could be exposed to high voltage when working in this area. 

You don’t have the experience or training of a licensed electrician, which puts you at risk when working around electrical wiring. Electricians have the proper tools and equipment to do this type of work safely and know how to follow power shutoff procedures to further reduce the risk of a shock.

An electrician can look for signs of breaker failure throughout the circuit board, ensuring the system is safe. Rather than simply replacing a circuit breaker, you might need additional work done to make your wiring safer.

You Must Follow Local Electrical Codes in Halifax, MA

Is it safe to replace a circuit breaker yourself under local building codes? If you try to do this electrical work yourself, you will likely violate the building codes in Halifax, MA. Situations where you likely need to have a local electrical permit include:

• New outlets
• Electrical panel work
• Wiring work
• Replacing light fixtures

Only licensed electricians are allowed to apply for and receive electrical permits. The Halifax, MA, Building Department manages permits for electrical work. As part of obtaining a permit, you allow professionals from the Building Department to inspect the work. 

You Could Violate the Terms of Your Home’s Insurance Policy

Some homeowners’ insurance policies have sections that require you to use licensed professionals for repairs. The policy might force you to always adhere to local building codes when working around your house.

If you fail to hire a licensed electrician to replace the breaker and a fire starts because of a DIY mistake, the insurance company might deny your claim. 

Work From Licensed Electricians Will Reduce the Risk of Fire

Is it safe to replace a circuit breaker without using an electrician if you have an older home? Hiring an electrician is especially important if you have an older home with original wiring.

In Massachusetts, aluminum wiring was allowed in homes built before 1980. However, you should not use aluminum branch wiring with newer copper branch wiring because of the risk of fire. As it ages, aluminum wiring becomes susceptible to breakdowns that could start a fire.

Much of the population growth in Halifax, MA, occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, meaning older homes are common here. Having an electrician help you identify aluminum wiring in an older house can be part of replacing a circuit breaker. The licensed electrician can verify that the work being done on the circuit breaker follows local and state codes for safety. 

You might have an older circuit panel in your house if it was built in the 1970s or earlier. It might need some upgrades before installing a new circuit breaker, and you’ll need a professional to do the work.

It’s Not Safe To Install the Wrong Size Circuit Breaker

If you are replacing a circuit breaker yourself, you might not put in the right size of breaker. Each breaker has a measurement in amps that indicates the maximum amount of electrical current it can safely handle. If you install the wrong size of breaker, it might trip constantly, or you could increase the chance of damaging any appliances connected to the wiring for the breaker.