Making Simple Electrical Repairs
Work on your electrical system only when you are absolutely sure that it is safe. Even experienced electricians err on the side of caution when verifying that power has been shut off on a circuit needing repair. The repairs in this section are ones that a motivated homeowner can do but don’t hesitate to call an electrician if you feel uncomfortable about taking on a particular job.
First turn off the power. The basic rule when working with electricity is simple but very important: Always turn off the power to a fixture or an outlet that needs repair by flipping off the circuit breaker or removing the fuse that controls it at the main service panel. Then test the wires to confirm that the power is shut off. An inexpensive neon tester sold in hardware stores can tell you whether a receptacle or a switch is powered or not. Make sure you buy a tester that’s rated for 120/240-volt household current – not a 9-volt automobile unit. To test a receptacle or switch, first turn off the power to the outlet at the service panel. Remove the cover plate and then take out the screws holding the switch or receptacle to the box. Pull the switch out from the box being careful not to touch the wires. Touch one prong of the tester to the electrical box if the box is metal or to the bare metal of the ground wire if the box is plastic. Touch the other prong to one screw terminal then to the other screw terminal. Then touch the prongs to the two screw terminals at the same time. If the tester doesn’t light up at any point there’s no power. It’s safe to continue the repair.
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