Most, if not every, DIY person reading this is going to say "Dah" when they read this, however I am speaking from experience even though I too would have said dah myself had you made this statement to me 50 years ago.
My first home had a little apartment in the basement. That apartment made it possible for me, a 19 year old boy making minimum wage, to own my own home. DIY was also a major factor in being able to afford a home on $1.65 an hour.
Shop classes in school gave me a good foundation in woodwork and I also had a class in "electronics" which truly taught me little that was useful as a homeowner.
One thing it did NOT teach me was a healthy respect for high voltage. That being said I knew enough to unplug electrical appliances before working on them.
Note: I also learned that some electrical appliances have capacitors that store electricity in them and that stored electricity and knock you on your butt as well.
The apartment had its own kitchen which included a stove. The stove was acting up so I decided to check it out. Knowing that stoves use 220 volt electricity I approached with caution and unplugged it... so I thought. Well I didn't unplug it and I crossed a wire and ka-pow! Scared the crap out of me.
The ah-ha moment. Be sure, double check, and in addition find the circuit breaker for the appliance you intend to repair. That incident, 50 years ago, has stuck with me as if it had happened yesterday. Yes, it is "Dah" advice but it really is good advice for any DIY person.
Any home repair that could put yourself or someone else in danger is a repair that extra caution needs to be exercised. Another safety step that is a good idea is to be sure someone else is aware of what you are doing so they can call 911 if something goes awry.
This is an entry into the December Challenge put forth by Lew Corcoran , Who Are You & Your ‘Aha’ Moment - Self-discovery and Personal Growth
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