Why You Should Hire a Licensed Electrician?

Would you consider yourself a weekend warrior who fixes everything by yourself?

You may find that professional help is a waste of money because you can watch YouTube tutorials and do the work on your own. This is probably true for most DIY projects, however, it is not true when it comes to tampering with your home’s electrical system when rewiring. However confident you are that you can do it, it’s always best to hire a professional when it comes to electricity.

Three Levels of Electrician

Tradesmen such as electricians possess a high level of skill. They must complete apprenticeship programs with classwork and rigorous training to achieve the rank of a journeyman after being an apprentice. Eventually, some may become master electricians. The term linesmen refer to outdoor electricians who spend most of their days up power poles of all kinds, while wiremen refer to indoor electricians working on a building electrical system. Additionally, they’re categorized into industrial, commercial, residential, maintenance, and automobile electricians. They must be certified to perform electrical work. Certification comes in three levels:

• Apprentice Electrician: This is the first certification level. For entry into an apprenticeship program and to begin training, a high school diploma or GED is required. Usually, it takes four years to reach the next level.

• Journeyman Electrician: Second level, following an apprenticeship. This level requires a certification test and licensing. The state issues licenses to these individuals. While they are allowed to install wiring and equipment, they cannot perform higher-level work, such as designing electrical systems. There are some states where journeymen can operate a shop if they hold a separate license.

• Master Electrician: The highest level requires thousands of hours of experience. To put that in perspective let’s do some maths. 8 hours per day times 50 weeks per year is 400. 2,000 hours of experience is five years on the job. A master electrician has to pass a licensing test. They are usually responsible for overseeing a shop and managing large, complex projects, such as designing electrical systems. You’ll pay more to hire a master electrician, but you can rest assured that even your most complex jobs will be well done and safe. Master electricians can even train journeymen.

Why Hire a Licensed Electrician

You must hire a licensed electrician when working around electricity. Choosing an electrician who is unqualified for the job can lead to injury or death. When it comes to electrical work, having someone who knows exactly what they’re doing is crucial for your safety and peace of mind.

It is a very important step in any home improvement project, from lighting upgrades to complete renovations. Because these projects can be dangerous, it’s crucial to hire a professional. Here are the reasons why you should call a qualified electrician today:

Money and Time Saving

Hiring a licensed electrician for your electrical project can save valuable time and money because they know what they’re doing and will complete the job quickly and efficiently while paying close attention to detail. You also won’t have to pay another contractor, later on, to come in and fix anything that was botched during installation.

Protection from Liability

In the case of electrical systems and repairs, there is always a risk of electrocution or damage to the property. If the electrician is injured or your property is damaged, who is going to be liable?

Under the law, a licensed electrician must be insured as well. Therefore, in case something goes wrong during an emergency electrical repair, your family and property are protected. Even for simple tasks that you may be able to complete yourself, you may need electrical design services. If this is the case, make sure the electrician is licensed.

Unlicensed contractors may complete the job without a hitch, but that decision could prove costly in the end. This is because your home insurance policy requires that all electrical system installation is handled by a licensed professional. If an accident is attributed to faulty wiring caused by an unlicensed professional, you will be responsible for the cost of repairs.

Surety Bond

The surety bond is among the reasons to hire only licensed electricians. All licensed electricians are required to post a surety bond. As a result, you are guaranteed to receive a set amount of money if the task is not performed correctly. In short, you get paid whether the task is completed correctly or not. An electrician’s bond not only proves that he or she is a professional but also confirms that you are his or her priority.

Qualification and Peace of Mind

For an electrician to become licensed, he or she must complete hours of classwork as well as rigorous on-the-job training. Because such comprehensive training is provided, your emergency electrician will have the knowledge and skills necessary to resolve any electrical issues you may have. You will thus have peace of mind knowing that the issue has been resolved and your family and property are safe.

Licensed Electricians Keep Up With All The Latest Codes And Technologies

To ensure residents’ safety, building codes and safety standards are continuously improved. The process becomes more frequent when new technologies become available. To stay up to date with new codes and technologies, licensed electricians are required to attend regular training sessions and classes. By doing so, they are aware of any new or changing safety regulations. Additionally, there are some electrical problems requiring highly specialized equipment, most of which are new products.

Besides their expertise, electrical contractors have top-of-the-line equipment. This will ensure that the job will be done better and faster while reducing the risk of damage or injury.

Accountability

Licensed electricians pride themselves on providing quality work. For this reason, they offer a service guarantee. With this, they ensure that the service is of high quality and long-lasting. If you have an issue during or after they render their electrical design service, they are always available to assist you.

Makes Selling Your Property Easier

Homebuilding is an expensive endeavor, and many builders try to reduce costs as much as possible. This could lead to you thinking that you will save money by hiring an unlicensed electrician. Licensed electricians, however, are the only ones who are approved to do the necessary home wiring. In the event you want to sell your home in the future, you must indicate if there’s a permit for the wiring in the real estate disclosure. The lack of a permit will discourage most buyers because of safety risks, and force you to sell your home for less than it is worth.

What To Look For In An Electrician

Generally, electricians specialize in certain fields. Some specialize in new construction, some specialize in commercial work, and others specialize in service calls to fix dead outlets or faulty fixtures. You can start your search for an electrician by requesting referrals from your friends, family, local hardware store, or big box home improvement store. Also, most general contractors have a shortlist of dependable electricians, but if your contractor can’t recommend one, check with the local home-builders’ association or an electrical-supply house in the area for a recommendation.

Or you can avoid this hassle and just call us. We have over twenty years of experience with all kinds of electrical work. We have a large team of electricians that each specialize in certain areas so as a business we cover anything and everything you will need for your home, business, or industrial plant.

Consider an electrician who is insured, experienced, and has good business ratings and user reviews on Google and other review sites. Electrical installation work on a house is a field that heavily relies on job completion that is done professionally and safely. Additionally, you can see pictures of past work to see how well they perform. Examine their neatness. A messy job is dangerous. Look at the wiring, etc. You don’t need to be an expert, just use common sense.

To compare your electrical-service options, get multiple quotes and ask the right questions upfront:

• Are the business’ documents current and are they licensed and bonded?

• Do they have proof of worker’s compensation and liability insurance?

• Who is performing the onsite work?

• How much experience do they have?

• How long has the company been in business?

• Does the price include the cost of permits?

• What is the projected timeline for the project?

• Is their work guaranteed? Because good electricians will guarantee and insure their work for at least a year, including a parts-and-labor warranty.

Risks Of Not Hiring A Pro

If you attempt an electrical project yourself, you might encounter major problems, such as:

1. An electrical fire caused by faulty wiring.
2. Damage to appliance motors.
3. Fuses blowing due to overloaded circuits.
4. Getting fined for not having a permit.

Mistakes like these can also happen whether you are tinkering yourself or hiring someone with too little experience:

• Not following project instructions: Electrical work is precise. If instructions are not followed to the letter, even easy-to-complete projects can quickly go awry.

• Failing to shut off the power: This may seem like a no-brainer, but zealous DIYers may forget to take this simple step, and the consequences could be drastic.

• Residual power: Even after the power is turned off, some homes retain an electrical charge, increasing shock risks. It’s common knowledge for professionals, but not always for homeowners.

• Greater risk when projects require power: If the work is more complex, it may require an ongoing power source for the duration of the job, which poses even greater dangers to rookie electricians.

Bottom Line

Time is of the essence when it comes to electrical issues. No one wants to live without light or any of the other comforts we have grown accustomed to. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t feel like you have to settle for someone who isn’t qualified.  

Further, each year thousands of people are injured and properties are damaged by fires caused by electrical issues that stem from botched electrical repairs. Thus, make sure the electrician you hire is licensed every time you need electrical design services or even something as simple as an outlet replacement. This will drastically reduce the risk of electrical failure and accidents.