Time to Hire an Electrician!
Finding a qualified electrician for your electrical projects, whether for your home or office, can be quite tasking if you do not know the right place to look and what to expect. Also, knowing when to use a do-it-yourself guide or hire an electrician is very crucial to the safety of you and your home.
In this article, I will walk you through how and why you should hire an electrician, cost estimates of hiring an electrician, and the different types of electricians.
Minor Projects You Can Do Yourself vs. When You Need to Hire a Professional
The candid advice for electrical works is leave it for professionals. Electrical components can be very complex and hazardous when mishandled. Even for simple electrical outlets, a licensed professional is best to guarantee safety.
But if you must do electrical works yourself, below are some electrical projects you can work on:
- Replacements and minor repairs, such as changing sockets, light bulbs, or light switches.
- Installation of switches and sockets if your room doesn’t have enough. Mind you, if you need to work on a switch in the bathroom, kitchen, or outside, you would need to hire a professional.
You can undertake the above projects yourself using a do-it-yourself guide. However, for complex issues like complete house wiring, new electrical systems construction, and handling complex circuitry systems, you need to hire an electrician.
Electrical Projects That Require a Professional
Electricians carry out huge remodeling feats as well as the construction of new projects. Some of these residential projects include:
- Repairing or replacing a circuit breaker
- Installing a chandelier or other lighting fixtures
- Installing an outlet
- Updating, repairing, or installing an electrical panel
- Outdoor lighting installation and other accompanying electrical features
Different Types of Electricians
Mainly, there are three types of electricians:
Apprentice
Apprentices, most of the time, are not licensed. They spend four years learning the skill. They work on several projects, gaining experience and knowledge as they climb through to become a Journeyman. Their job description is usually basic electrical fixations. A journeyman or a master electrician always supervises them.
Journeyman
A journeyman does not work with supervision. In some states, a journeyman is the highest level. They can undertake electrical work ranging from wiring a new house to installing new electrical systems, but they do not design new systems. In most states, they require an electrical contractor license to be certified to do electrical businesses.
Master
Master electricians are at the highest level in the electrical field. They design new electrical systems and mainly manage a shop, as well as supervise journeymen and apprentices. They focus on large projects and contracts and bidding on new projects, but most of the time, they let journeymen or apprentices handle the job. If you want a Master electrician to handle your home electrical project, you should expect to spend 25% more for their visit.
How to Find a Reputable Electrician
A good electrician directory could be your best guide to finding a reputable electrician. Make sure to do your research thoroughly. Check out their reviews, past projects, and what they charge.
Some of the ways you can go about getting a good electrician include:
- Browsing through your local directory
- Doing a simple web search — you can find many electricians, their quotes, and their reviews on platforms like Indeed, Fiverr, etc.
- By word of mouth
- Requesting recommendation from contractors, builders, and developers
Electricians charge hourly rates, which vary from $50 to $500 depending on their level of qualification and expertise. A well-skilled and well-equipped professional electrician may charge $100 per hour.
What to Look Out for When Hiring an Electrician
Poorly done DIY electrical work can have the same consequences as a hired electrician who lacks the trade experience and technical know-how. The following are things to watch out for before you cut a deal with a professional electrician:
- Ensure they have the recommended certifications.
- Make sure they are skilled in reading schematics and design plans.
- Do they pay attention to details?
- Confirm that they have insurance.
- What is their rate like? This is where comparing rates before cutting the deal is very important.
In general, if you are looking at having the best electrical experience for your home’s safety, hire a professional electrician whose pay is not too expensive and really understands the job.