Four Electrical Tools That Every Homeowner Should Have
Every homeowner should keep four basic electrical tools on hand for minor jobs: a cordless drill with a drill-bit kit, a flashlight, a rugged indoor/outdoor extension cord, and a pair of wire strippers. These cover most small tasks safely, but leave major electrical work to a licensed professional.
One of the best things about being in the repair business is all the exciting tools that we get to work with on a daily basis. When our electrical contractors are on the job we often get asked about some of the tools that we use for our work so this month we wanted to discuss some of the top electrical tools that we at AllGood, your Atlanta plumbing, and electrical specialists’, think every homeowner should have to help accomplish minor jobs.
Cordless Drill/ Drill Bit Kit
The cordless drill is one of the most used tools that we own and that we can suggest to homeowners. You can not beat the convenience factor of being cordless. There are often hard to reach spots when doing repair jobs that require cordless tools! Along with your cordless drill, make sure that you have an adequate drill bit kit. A drill bit kit can help transform your drill into an do it all machine that can drill into a variety of different surfaces.
Flashlight
A flashlight may not be as exciting as the cordless drill but its an absolutely essential tool when dealing with most household repairs. If you can’t see what you’re trying to do it will be difficult to complete the job!
Electrical Cord
An electrical cord that is rugged and can be used both indoors and outdoors can be very handy for jobs. Make sure the cord is well insulated. This is very handy if you have to do repairs outdoor or in the yard.
Wire stripper
Wire Strippers are also extremely useful when performing electrical work. It allows you to cut a wire to a proper length and you are also able to score the insulation around the wire so that it can be pulled off.
What to Look for When Buying Each Tool
Cordless drill: choose at least 18V with a lithium-ion battery and a clutch, and add a mixed bit kit (wood, masonry, metal).
Flashlight or headlamp: pick a bright LED with spare batteries; a headlamp frees both hands.
Extension cord: use a heavy-gauge, well-insulated, grounded (three-prong) cord rated for indoor/outdoor use.
Wire strippers: get a self-adjusting or multi-gauge pair so you can strip common household wire sizes cleanly.
When to Call a Licensed Electrician
These four tools cover small, low-risk jobs. Leave anything bigger to a licensed pro: installing new circuits or outlets, panel and breaker work, anything inside walls, and any situation where breakers trip repeatedly or you smell burning. A voltage tester is a smart fifth tool so you can always confirm a circuit is truly off before you touch it.
We hope that this is a good start for some tools you need to get some minor electrical work done around the house. For your bigger issues, do not hesitate to call us at Allgood.
