Do I Need an Electrician to Replace a Light Fitting?
If you have a screwdriver and the know how, you likely think you can change a light fitting yourself with no problems. But, should you?
The beauty of hiring a professional electrician to perform your electrical installation, repair or replacement is that you are guaranteed of a perfect job with lasting results. This ensures your safety as well as that of your property. Nonetheless, there are certain minor electrical projects you can perform yourself around the home to save time and cost, as long as you are certain of your DIY skills.
Repairs you can do yourself
If you are competent with DIY works around the house you can perform the following electrical projects:
- Replace a simple light fitting
- Replace light switches
- Replace sockets
- Replace light bulbs or plug fuses
- Change existing light switches or sockets for similar ones
- Connect or disconnect appliances
- Replace an extractor fan with a similar one
- Install a replacement door bell
- Repair loose wiring in plugs, switches, or light fittings
- Change a hard-wired smoke detector
- Change dimmer modules
- Change spotlight transformers
- Re-position sockets without having to change the existing circuit or wiring
- Replace electric radiators or towel radiators with similar ones
As you can see, replacing a light fitting is one of the electrical projects you can do around your property even if you are not a certified electrician. Performing electrical repairs or installations outside of those mentioned above could be a breach of law.
Electrical works you cannot do yourself
Part P of the Building Regulations in the UK states that a homeowner or landlord has a responsibility to make sure all electrical repairs are safe and do not pose a risk to anyone within the property. This is a strictly enforced legal requirement and its contravention can lead to stiff penalties. Thus, any of the electrical works mentioned in Part P of the Building Regulations cannot be carried out by anyone besides a Part P certified technician.
The jobs listed below fall under Part P of the Building Regulations and should not be performed by anyone aside from a certified electrician:
- Re-wiring of faulty sockets or lights that cause tripping of the fuse
- Replacement of an outdated or faulty fuse board
- Installation of outdoor or garden lights, or sockets and light switches connected to the mains electricity
- Installation of communal hallway emergency lighting or smoke alarms
- Installation of new electric radiators
- Installation of home entry systems
- Running of new circuits
- Installation of electric towel radiators where there weren’t any before
To avoid any complications, breach of law, or compromising of safety, it is best to consult a certified electrician before engaging in any complicated electrical projects. You can also consult an electrical expert for your minor projects.
At Electrics on Tap, we have experts on hand to answer any questions you may have and provide any service you may need. No electrical project is too small or big for us to handle.
