<p>No one said DIY is not good.<br>
You came on a college forum to hold a discussion about electrical work of a tbd nature. Personally, when I need that sort of support, I head to an electrician forum. Yes, we talk about lots of topics here- but your uncertainty, the Mr Fix-It parts, DID worry some of us.</p>
<p>My house was also owned by a DIY guy- and not qualified. Since we were dealing with three types of wiring, random adaptations to code and the oddest pattern of zones, darned right we used a pro. On the other hand, we can change an outlet, replace a thermostat and I’m the one who will replace a tub faucet and restored all the windows. I replaced the car outside mirror (very satisfying) and did fix a problem with the dishwasher. Maybe I get an extra point cuz I’m female. </p>
<p>You just have to understand there was a measure of doubt in some of your posts. We don’t have to compete; you did worry some of us. You survived.</p>
<p>NRE, this is an internet forum. Don’t take things too seriously. T1 and I went back years. If you search my threads on CC. I bet T1 is in everyone of them criticizing me of something. I would start a thread saying water is wet and fire is hot, T1 will be there saying something different. </p>
<p>This is one of the most simple DIY work - connecting a wire to a light fixture. Folks, it is not rocket science.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>LF, look around. How many threads in this caf</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with DIY…provided the one who is doing it is capable of doing a competent safe job. Especially when failure to do so may cause loss of one’s property at best, loss of life at worst.</p>
<p>It isn’t worth risking one’s house and one’s life and those of others for the sake of saving some cash or for DIY pride if one’s not 100% sure they’re up to the task.</p>
<p>It was the doubt, the need to explore, that worried some of us- and led to a code discussion and etc. The fact that it turned out to be something simple- gets a jolly pat on the back. That’s all.</p>
<p>Come on now. I have said three times. This is about putting a wire on a light fixture. There is NO electric job that is more simple than this. Unless you call changing a light bulb an electric job. </p>
<p>You run a risk of being hit by a car every single time you drive on the road which “may cause loss of one’s property at best, loss of life at worst”. Do you drive?</p>
<p>Well, I am actually more cautious than most people. While I have done my searches and understood the problem, I always like to bounce it around to get some conformation.</p>
<p>Actually a little googling and reading electricians forums will show that many of them don’t know the answers to some of these esoteric questions. GFCI outlet without a ground, for instance, will work fine, but the test button will be inoperative. Makes sense.</p>
<p>Actually Dad II…we DO hire licensed and insured professionals for work done in this house…plumbing, roof, carpentry, heating system, appliance repairs, etc. My husband designs power systems, and is an electrician first. But even with that, if something is acting funky, he hires someone to fix it.</p>
<p>We paint, do our own yard work, and the like.</p>
<p>But for things that are life and safety code issues…we don’t take chances. Sorry!</p>
<p>Notrichenough…the plumbing repair was done behind a wall. There were marks from the leak all the way down to the basement. It was a $500 repair, not $50. They had to partially take the wall out, fix the leaky pipe, and redo the wall and paint. </p>
<p>And yes…I would have walked away if I had not known it was properly fixed. I had lived in houses where leaks behind walls caused significant damage, and mold and mildew problems.</p>
<p>Yup, there are leaks and then there are leaks. Sometimes a simple looking - on the surface - problem is really a major headache and needs to be handled by a pro (or a very, very handy DIYer). It seems like thumper’s sellers were not that handy. </p>
<p>Glad that DadII is still alive. We missed him in the Exercise thread. :)</p>
<p>I think most DIY type are men and the ladies do not like or afraid of DIY, especially for auto and home. As soon as the “professionals” mention “SAFETY ISSUES” the ladies all gave in and let them run the course. I have seen a lot of gauging in Auto Dealers and Plumbers or Electricians. There are lots of “professionals” who take advantage of this and put a “fear factor” in the minds of their potential customers.</p>
<p>I am the believer of DIY, in fact, if you spend time reading you can save a lot of money DIY. A job which might only cost $50 will run you $500 when you engage professionals. The thing about DIY is that you need to know your limitation, certain jobs you can do and certain job you cannot do and should call for a professional. Moisture and water leaks I will not handle, so I am not going to work on the breaks or tires of my car. I will certainly change my engine oil and install an electric fixture. Just yesterday, I completed the plumbing to replace my swimming pool filter. Painting, for example, is one thing I will do, hiring a painter might cost me 5 to 10 times if DIY.</p>
<p>I also will compare prices before I hire a professional, the difference maybe huge from one quote to the other.</p>
<p>The test button of a GFCI outlet should work even if the grounding is not connected:
[How</a> the Test Button Works on a GFCI Receptacle 01-5-2002](<a href=“404 Error - Page Not Found”>404 Error - Page Not Found)</p>
<p>“I think most DIY type are men and the ladies do not like or afraid of DIY…”</p>
<p>Please, let’s stop insulting, generalizing, unsupported statements. Both men and women raised concerns about OP’s qualifications.</p>
<p>" A job which might only cost $50 will run you $500 when you engage professionals"</p>
<p>First, we are talking about a house that was still not in Thumper’s possession. If you were the buyer (in a buyer’s market, as she was), would you tell the seller, “Ah, just give me 50 bucks, and we are good” or would you insist on the correct repair OR $500 discount?</p>
<p>Second, are you including the opportunity costs in your calculations? If I charge $150/hr for my services, and it takes me $50 in materials and $50 in special tools that I only need for this particular project plus a day of my work, what is my NPV of hiring a pro who would charge $500 for the whole thing?</p>
<p>I think anyone who had previously experienced mold and mildew issues would be more afraid of the larger job those symptoms could have represented, not settle for $500. It just happened to be that dollar amount for the correction, but could have been far worse.</p>
<p>I am also a believer of DIY under two general conditions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Risk of substantial property damage/to the life of oneself/others is minimal to practically non-existent (i.e. Screwing up installation of DD-WRT or other third-party networking firmware on a $20 wireless networking router to the point of bricking it). </p></li>
<li><p>One is competent and reasonably confident in being so when #1 isn’t applicable and knows one’s limitations when that competence/confidence isn’t there.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’m a huge believer in DIY. When it comes to cars I do my own oil, tire rotation, tire patching when I run over something stupid, spark plugs and wires, distributor caps, belts, etc. my dad helps when it’s something new. My uncle helps me with brakes. He’s a mechanic.</p>
<p>When it comes to house work, I do my own electrical outlets, wall building, painting, dry walling, wall patching, spackling, etc. I’ve ripped out carpet and installed new carpet as well. my boyfriend does his own electrical wiring and plumbing… Even refinished his own hardwood floors and they look great. I don’t trust myself to do those however when I need something like that done I have a cousin come do it… Whom is an electrician. he doesn’t charge and I trust him. Just send him home with a six pack and he’s happy.</p>
<p>I’ve actually built several houses from the ground up so I’m pretty handy when it comes to house hold things.</p>
<p>Most electrical jobs are not that tricky. I’ve added new circuits into the breaker panel, wired up 3-way/4-way switches, added fixtures, installed ceiling fans, etc. Use a circuit tester when you are done, use the internet for research, etc.</p>
<p>The biggest differences I’ve seen between pro jobs and good DIY is speed and neatness. I can’t wire an outlet in two minutes, and I still can’t cut a great line with paint without taping it.</p>