DANIEL DUBBS
Maneuver Support Center of Excellence
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
I was flat on my back on the basement floor when I heard my wife’s voice from upstairs saying, “What did you do?” Not wanting to worry her, I lied and replied, “Nothing!” She soon knew the truth, though, when I slunk upstairs to the breaker box and started flipping switches — again.
Backtracking a bit, the home we were renting had a cracked porcelain light socket that needed replacing. I spoke to our landlord and worked out an agreement that if I fixed the socket, the cost of the repair would be deducted from the monthly rent. I’d studied electricity and even completed some hands-on practical exercises with home electricity as a curriculum requirement for my degree from the University of Central Missouri, home of the Fightin’ Mules, so I was quite confident in my ability to accomplish this task.
I started by going to the breaker box and moving the switch — or what I thought was the switch — for the basement lights to the off position. I was not familiar with lockout/tagout procedures, but any do-it-yourselfer can flip a switch so they can work “cold” (no power to the item being repaired). Next, I went downstairs and found a stool (no, not a ladder) that allowed me to barely reach the socket. As I began to remove the screws, something I did was not well received by this “cold” circuit, and I was knocked from my perch atop the stool. I let out an involuntary, “Ugh,” which prompted my wife’s inquiry.
Fortunately, nothing was hurt but my pride, so I went upstairs to try again. This time, I enlisted the help of my highly intelligent better half/safety manager to ensure the socket was indeed cold. I then completed the relatively easy task of replacing the socket, reenergizing the circuit and checking the light. Much to my surprise, the light worked. I smiled, and maybe strutted a little, and celebrated my achievement … until the dishwasher sprung a leak.
I told my wife, “No worries. I’ve got this, and rent will be a little cheaper this month.” I must have missed her audible sigh and eye roll. She stated — nay, demanded — that I ensure the electricity to the dishwasher was off prior to diagnosing the leak. “No worries, babe. It’s under control,” I replied.
Back at the breaker box, I flipped the switch marked “dishwasher” and got to work. I removed the lower panel on the machine, shined a flashlight under it and found water dripping from a hose fitting. When I reached in to further diagnose the problem, something zapped me. Once again, an involuntary auditory response and subsequent interrogation from my wife was followed by another trip to the breaker box. With her assistance, I found the correct switch and rendered the circuit cold. With the appliance now safe to repair, I removed and replaced the leaky hose. Repair complete, power restored, smile and strut.
While I saved a few bucks by making these repairs myself, I learned some valuable lessons about electricity. First, always verify with 100 percent certainty that the power is off before working on any electrical device. In the case of our rental home, the circuits were improperly marked on the breaker box panel. I just assumed the labels were correct. A voltage tester or multimeter would have confirmed the circuit was still hot. Second, wear personal protective equipment. Insulated gloves and nonconductive safety glasses can protect you from electrical hazards. Finally, if the job is too much for your abilities, hire an electrician. While my repairs were fairly easy for a motivated do-it-yourselfer, there are some jobs best left to the professionals.
FYI
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) has designated May as National Electrical Safety Month to raise awareness about critical electrical safety topics. Each year, thousands of people in the U.S. are seriously injured or killed in electrical mishaps. The ESFI recommends hiring a qualified, licensed electrician to perform any electrical work in your home. However, if you do decide to do it yourself, consider the following important safety tips before undertaking any home electrical project:
- Learn about your home electrical system so you can safely navigate and maintain it.
- Never attempt a project that is beyond your skill level. Knowing when to call a professional may help prevent electrical fires, injuries and fatalities.
- Always turn off the power to the circuit that you plan to work on by switching off the circuit breaker in the main service panel.
- Be sure to unplug any lamp or appliance before working on it.
- Test the wires before you touch them to make sure the power has been turned off.
- Never touch plumbing or gas pipes when performing a do-it-yourself electrical project.
Visit the ESFI website at https://www.esfi.org for a wide variety of electrical safety products and information, including posters, industry codes and regulations, standards and best practices, and injury statistics.