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Think saving a few dollars on light switches is worth the risk? Safety is priceless, and at Deako, we prioritize your well-being. Many homeowners underestimate the risks associated with installing light switches themselves or hiring the wrong electrician.
Here’s how Deako’s plug-and-play modular lighting system helps protect you and your home from potential dangers.
Risks of Personal Injury
Hiring an electrician brings a stranger into your home, which can be uncomfortable or unsafe, especially if you have a family. When changing a light switch yourself, you’re dealing with high-voltage electricity, which poses significant risks. Someone who isn’t skilled at working with an electrical system risks cutting themself while trying to strip wires, burns from incorrectly handling electrical components and electrical shocks, which can be fatal.
“In the United States, there are approximately 1000 deaths per year, as a result of electrical injuries. Of these, approximately 400 are due to high-voltage electrical injuries and lightning causes 50 to 300.”
Compromising Your Home's Electrical System
Rewiring a home without professional knowledge can lead to severe issues, including the risk of misidentifying the correct breaker and working with live wires, causing unexpected shocks. Turning off your circuit breaker yourself also comes with risks, such as inadvertently turning off critical systems like your refrigerator or security systems, which could lead to spoilage or security vulnerabilities.
Common problems include incorrect wiring connections that can lead to short circuits, overloaded circuits that may cause overheating and fires, and loose connections that can generate heat and sparks. Using incompatible or uncertified components can result in malfunctions and electrical failures, while improper grounding poses shock hazards. Even turning off the wrong breaker can leave live wires exposed, creating further risks.
Not every product on the market will be UL (Underwriters Laboratories) or ETL (Electrical Testing Laboratories) certified. Using non-certified switches and materials can increase the risk of electrical failures. Additionally, using components made from inferior materials, such as alloy copper instead of pure copper, can compromise the safety and efficiency of your electrical system. Alloy copper is more prone to overheating and corrosion, increasing the risk of electrical failures and fires.
Fire Risks
Improper installation of light switches can lead to electrical fires. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that electrical malfunctions cause an estimated 24,000 residential fires annually, resulting in $871 million in property losses. Fires can start due to loose wiring connections that generate heat, incorrect wiring that causes short circuits, or overloaded circuits that overheat. Additionally, using non-certified switches and materials can increase the risk of fire hazards. Deako uses flame-retardant plastics and adheres to rigorous safety standards, such as UL certification, to minimize these risks and ensure safe installation for homeowners.
Building Code Violations
Installing non-certified switches or improper installations can lead to building code violations. These violations can decrease your home’s value and complicate insurance claims or resale down the road. Non-compliance with building codes can result in penalties, increased insurance premiums, or refusal of insurance claims in the event of damage caused by faulty electrical work. Deako’s products meet or exceed all relevant building code requirements, ensuring your home remains compliant and maintains its value.
Choose Safety, Choose Deako
Safety is not an area where you want to cut corners. Deako’s modular lighting system reduces the risks of personal injury, electrical fires, and building code violations that come with replacing traditional light switches. Don’t be fooled by the lower upfront costs of cheaper alternatives—consider the true value of Deako.
