Electrical Jobs You Should Never DIY (and What You Can Do Yourself)

Online videos make electrical work look simple. The risk is that a small mistake doesn't always show up straight away — a loose connection can sit quietly for months before it overheats. In Australia, nearly all fixed electrical work has to be done by a licensed electrician, and the rules exist for good reason.

Leave these to a licensed electrician

• Installing, moving or replacing power points and light switches
• Wiring in new light fittings, ceiling fans or downlights
• Anything inside the switchboard, including adding circuits or safety switches
• Hard-wiring appliances such as ovens, cooktops and hot water systems
• Running new cabling through walls, ceilings or underground
• Outdoor power, garden lighting connected to mains, and pool equipment

What homeowners can usually do

Plugging things in, changing a globe in an existing fitting, resetting a tripped safety switch and testing your smoke alarms are everyday tasks. If you're unsure whether a job counts as electrical work, your state or territory's electrical safety regulator has guidance — and when in doubt, treat it as a job for an electrician.

Warning signs you shouldn't ignore

• A safety switch that keeps tripping
• Power points or switch plates that feel warm, buzz or are discoloured
• Flickering lights that aren't fixed by a new globe
• A burning or hot plastic smell with no obvious source
• A mild tingle when touching a tap or appliance

Getting the most from an electrician's visit

Electricians often charge by the hour or with a call-out component, so grouping small jobs together makes each visit better value. Make a list of every power point, light and fixture you'd like looked at, and send photos when you ask for a quote. Before bigger work, these questions to ask an electrician are worth a read.