Four Common Wiring Mistakes to Avoid

Jun 01, 2016

As a homeowner who takes pride in where you live and knowing how to fix and operate everything you own, it’s  understandable to want to do as much as you can yourself. When it comes to DIY home wiring, however, there are some things you shouldn’t do yourself unless you’re a trained electrician. Other things should be tone with the utmost caution.

In order to avoid risking injury or causing expensive damage, here are some common wiring mistakes to avoid at all costs.

1.    Mixing Line-Voltage and Low-Voltage Wires

When a low-voltage wire comes into contact with a 120-volt line wire, the 120-volt wire can damage whatever is connected to the low-voltage wire. To prevent this from happening, keep at least six inches of space between any 120-volt outlet boxes and low-voltage conductors like phone or internet jacks.

2.    Overstuffing Outlet Boxes

Switches and outlet boxes crowded with wires are electrical fires waiting to happen. When wiring your home, give wires enough space to breathe so this doesn’t happen to you. To determine the maximum wire capacity of an outlet box in your home, consult the NEC Handbook. On a similar vein. Don’t run too many wires through holes drilled in your home’s foundation. This can result in friction burns, which are a major fire hazard.

3.    Insulating Too Close to Recessed Lighting

Recessed lighting can be uber atmospheric. If you’re adding recessed lighting during a home building or renovation, be sure to leave space between the light source and any insulation covering it. As a general rule, there should be at least three inches between recessed lighting and insulation. Insulation contact lighting makes for an exception to this rule.

4.    Burying Splice Boxes

If you’re dealing with splice boxes yourself, you should be well acquainted with the ins and outs of electrical wiring. Splice, or junction, boxes should be easily accessible for electrical repairs and safety purposes.

Now that you know of some of the most common wiring mistakes made by DIY-happy homeowners, you can be sure to avoid them when doing wiring in your Phoenix home. If you’re looking for a professional to help you meet your Phoenix smart home wiring or commercial electrical wiring needs, call Integrated IO® at (480) 839-1446 to learn more about our services or obtain a free estimate.

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