Electrify Your Projects with Our Expertise
Electrify Your Projects with Our Expertise
Call a licensed electrician for any work involving your breaker panel, house wiring, circuit additions, or burning smells from outlets and switches. DIY is reasonable for simple tasks like swapping a light fixture or replacing a standard outlet, as long as you turn off power at the breaker and test with a voltage tester first. When in doubt, calling a pro is the safer and cheaper choice long-term.
If you’re not sure where your issue falls, contact TurnKey Electricals at (504) 883-7075 for a free estimate. We’ll tell you straight whether it needs a pro or you can handle it yourself.
Some situations are not “schedule an appointment” problems. If you experience any of the following, stop using the affected circuit and call a licensed electrician the same day.
Burning Smells or Smoke: A burning smell from an outlet, switch, or behind a wall usually means wiring is overheating from loose connections, overloaded circuits, or damaged insulation. If you see smoke or the smell gets stronger, leave the home and call 911 first. Do not attempt to open the outlet or inspect wiring yourself.Beyond emergencies, certain electrical projects require a licensed electrician by code, by complexity, or by both. Attempting these as DIY creates real risks: voided homeowner’s insurance, failed inspections, NEC code violations, and fire hazards that may not show up for months.
Most older homes in Greater New Orleans run on 100-amp panels, but modern households with central air, electric ranges, and EV chargers often need 200-amp service. A panel upgrade involves working with the service entrance, which carries live power from the utility even when your main breaker is off. This is not a DIY job under any circumstances.
Homes built before the 1960s in New Orleans commonly have knob-and-tube or cloth-wrapped wiring that has degraded over decades. Post-Katrina rewiring from 2005-2006 is also approaching 20 years old and may need inspection. Full or partial rewiring requires permits in Louisiana and must comply with the current NEC.
Adding a dedicated circuit for an appliance, workshop, or EV charger requires calculating load capacity, selecting the correct wire gauge, and pulling permits. Mistakes in wire sizing can create a fire hazard that passes a visual check but fails under load.
A breaker that trips repeatedly, or lights that flicker across multiple rooms, points to something deeper than a one-time overload. Overloaded circuits, loose connections at the bus bar, or deteriorating wiring are common culprits. DIY troubleshooting often masks the symptom without finding the cause.
Generic electrical advice misses the realities of living in Southeast Louisiana. The state averages more than 60 days of thunderstorm activity per year, and a direct or nearby lightning strike can damage wiring, fry surge protectors, and cause hidden panel damage that doesn’t show symptoms right away.
Year-round humidity averaging 76% also causes corrosion on connections inside panels, junction boxes, and outdoor outlets. Corroded connections create resistance, which generates heat – and that’s how electrical fires start. GFCI outlets in wet areas are required by code for this reason and should be tested monthly.
New Orleans has one of the oldest housing stocks in the country, and many homes still have outdated wiring that predates modern electrical demands. Aluminum wiring (common in homes built between 1965 and 1975) expands and contracts differently than copper, loosening connections over time.
If your home has aluminum wiring, a licensed electrician should inspect it and install compatible connectors to reduce fire risk.
Not every electrical task requires a professional. Here are jobs a reasonably handy homeowner can handle safely, with a few non-negotiable rules.
Always turn off power at the breaker before touching any wiring and verify it’s off with a non-contact voltage tester. Never work on a live circuit. If you open a box and see anything unexpected – black marks, melted insulation, aluminum wiring, disconnected wires – stop and call a pro.
Swapping an old light fixture for a new one is simple enough if the existing wiring is in good condition. Match wires by color, secure with wire nuts, and mount per the manufacturer’s instructions. If the box doesn’t support the weight of the new fixture (especially ceiling fans), that’s where DIY ends.
Replacing a basic duplex outlet is manageable with the right tools and standard copper Romex wiring. Skip DIYing GFCI or AFCI outlet replacements unless you fully understand the wiring differences, as incorrect installation defeats their safety purpose.
Smart thermostats, video doorbells, and USB outlet covers are generally DIY-friendly because they involve low-voltage connections or simply replace an existing device. If the installation requires running new wire or connecting to your panel, it’s no longer a DIY project.
Electrical work has a very small margin for error. The National Fire Protection Association reports that electrical failures cause roughly 46,700 home fires per year in the United States.
For anything beyond a simple fixture or outlet swap, contact us at TurnKey Electricals today! We serve homeowners and businesses across the Greater New Orleans area, including Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Baton Rouge, Covington, Mandeville, Slidell, and surrounding communities. Free estimates, licensed and insured.
Louisiana allows homeowners to perform basic electrical work on their own property, but any work requiring a permit (panel upgrades, new circuits, rewiring) must be inspected and is best handled by a licensed electrician. Unpermitted work can lead to failed inspections, insurance denials, and liability issues when selling.
Warning signs include frequently tripping breakers, flickering lights across multiple rooms, discolored or warm outlet covers, burning smells near outlets, and two-prong outlets throughout the home. Homes built before 1975 are at higher risk due to outdated materials like aluminum or cloth-wrapped wiring.
Replacing a standard duplex outlet is safe if you turn off the breaker, verify power is off with a voltage tester, and follow proper wiring procedures. Do not attempt GFCI or AFCI replacements without understanding their specific wiring requirements, as incorrect installation creates a false sense of protection.
A professional inspection is recommended every 3-5 years for homes with modern wiring and annually for homes older than 40 years. Also schedule one after any major storm, when buying or selling, or if you notice warning signs like flickering lights or tripping breakers.
Most policies cover damage from sudden events like lightning strikes or power surges but typically do not cover repairs due to aging or deferred maintenance. Unpermitted electrical work can also give insurers grounds to deny a claim.
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