Selecting The Right Electrical Contractor
Everyone likes to save money and almost every homeowner has a brother-in-law or a
handyman who can "do everything an electrician can do" around the house. If the electrical job is something more than changing a light bulb, the homeowner may be in for a shock.
Electricity isn't anything to mess with, and should be left to professionals. According to MyOptimumHealth.com and many other sources, more than 1,000 Americans die each year from accidental electric shock, not including lightning strikes, and thousands more experience burns and other injuries ranging from minor to catastrophic.
Many homeowners fancy themselves as handy enough to install a light fixture or a new light switch, but even these seemingly easy tasks can be fraught with danger and code violations. If not grounded properly, or if the wire get reversed - and easy thing for the lay person to overlook - the fixture or switch could easily overheat and present a fire danger. And in the kitchen and bathroom it is now required by code to install grounded breaker plugs for outlets close to water sources, and these take extra expertise to insure they are operating as designed.
Things like adding extra outlets to accommodate all the electrical equipment now ubiquitous in modern life are without question something that should be left to a licensed electrician not only because it is dangerous, but such work can also have an effect on the whole home's electric load that might require additional breakers or other safety measures. Only a professional is equipped and trained to understand the big picture.
So, now that it is established that a professional, licensed electrician is the way to go, the question becomes "How to select the right electrician?" Electrical contracting is a highly competitive business and, like most everything else, populated with electricians and companies that run the gamut from experienced and trustworthy to shoddy and questionable.
Here's a handy checklist to assist any homeowner in finding an electrician and electrical contractor with confidence:
Longevity in business. Check the website or promotional materials to find a company and/or an electrician who has been practicing the trade for several years. Many new electrical service companies are formed by someone who used to work somewhere else, and that's okay; to instill confidence, the electrician should have years of experience.
Expertise. Check to see that the electrician or firm in question has experience working on similar types of homes in your area, and on the type of work you are contemplating.
Credibility. Be sure to check with the Better Business Bureau for a history of complaints and overall grade or rating of the company. Check with former customers too; any really credible service company will gladly share contact information with customers.
Licensure. Electricians are licensed. Find out the licensure agency in your locale or state (rules vary) and make sure the license is in good standing.
Liability insurance and worker's compensation insurance. Check to make sure your electrical contractor has both these types of insurance in good current standing; the contractor, not you, should assume the liability in case of an accident.
Customer service. Having a live person answer the phone during business hours, and receiving a prompt call-back for emergencies 24/7 goes a long way to indicate the level of professionalism of the company.
Fair and competitive pricing. Nearly all reputable electrical contractors will offer free estimates and it may pay to get a second (or third) opinion, especially if it is a big job.
The electrical demands on the average home in the new millennium are much greater than ever before, with extra appliances, multiple electronic entertainment systems, computers, charging devices and elaborate interior and exterior lighting systems. Homes built even 10 years ago, and especially older homes, can easily be inadequate from an electrical point of view, and only a professional, licensed electrician can completer even simple tasks with safety and confidence.
Copyright (c) 2010 Gerry Stringer
by: Gerry Stringer
Five Industrial Diseases That May Lead To A Claim Cleaning Air Conditioners and Dehumidifers Arcan Aluminum Quick Lift Service Jack 2 Ton Model ALJ2T 3000 Lb. Capacity Lightweight Aluminum Racing Jack Interactive Digital Advertising – Engaging With Customers Digital Schools For Photography - How To Choose The Right One? Online Elliott Electric Supply Shocking facts and also evaluations of Electric cigarettes Torin Aluminum Steel Race Jack 2 1 2 Ton Model T84025 Ease Your Work With Digital Pressure Gauge And Testing Equipments FDI Industrial Project Reports in India Digital Cameras For Hassle Free Photography Travelmart's Best Beach Front Resorts Hawaii -Outrigger Hotels