Finding an Electrician for Your Needs: Questions to Ask Before Hiring

Outdated or failing electrical system in the home is one of the leading causes of house fires, sudden blackouts, and other issues. Finding an electrician who has the right experience in fixing those issues is essential for your safety, as well as getting your money’s worth. Keep an eye on the following questions you should ask an electrical contractor before hiring them.

Questions to Ask an Electrician: A Comprehensive List

A good electrician can help you save a lot by performing electrical repair and maintenance in a timely, efficient manner. Here are the most common electrical questions you should ask them to ensure they are capable of doing so:

License

You should always check if the electrical contractor has a license. Remember that there is a wide variety of licenses for different kinds of jobs. State-certified professional electricians are highly skilled specialists that completed training in various areas. It is always a good idea to check with your local building department about the license required for the work before you hire an electrician.

Insurance

The electrician for residential work should have insurance. Insured electricians are safe to work with as when an accident occurs during renovation, installation, or repair, the electrical contractor is liable to compensate anyone who gets hurt on the job. A good electrician with insurance will protect their rights and yours. An electrician with builders risk insurance will replace damaged or stolen material without any expense in case of damages to material or theft.

Credentials

Any affiliation with electrician unions or local electrical organizations doesn’t always mean that the electrician will do a good job. By asking about credentials, you ensure that your electrician is completely informed about recent electrical installation laws and methods.

References

The electrician should have solid references. If people appreciate their work, then they must have reputable standing in the market. It goes without saying that the best  professional electrician is the one who has extensive experience in the field.

Specialties

You should always ask an electrician about their specialties. Knowing exactly what they are best at can help you avoid any complications with specific electrical work. If an electrician for residential work specializes in the repair or emergency work, they should not be contacted for renovations or new wiring installation.

Who Will Be Doing the Job?

One of the most important questions to ask an electrician is: who will end up doing the job? Many licensed electricians hire other junior electricians to perform electrical work under their license. Usually, the subcontracting professionals have experience but it’s better to ask who will perform the tasks at your home. Electrician questions should also include references from the subcontractors. Make sure that the work that is being done in your home is of high quality and it’s done by someone you trust.

Permit

A good electrician won’t always tell you whether or not they need to get a permit with the local building department right away. As a homeowner, you should do your research to know exactly what kind of permits are required before you contract with a professional electrician. Any official from the local building will let you know what inspections will be required, and what will be the cost.

What Work Will Be Performed?

The electrical service that you need determines the overall budget. Oftentimes, a professional electrician has to perform other related tasks too. This includes siding, flooring, and more. You may require another contractor to perform these tasks or these are left for the homeowner. Ask an electrician about the cost breakdown before beginning the project.

Warranties and Guarantees

As a homeowner, you may wonder who will be responsible and what the repair cost will be if any malfunction occurs. You need to find an electrician who will tell you whether the electrical work will be covered under warranty, and not only the warranty on the work but also the material they will be using. A good electrician will help you know what is and isn’t covered by the warranty.

Service Fees

Another question to ask an electrician is about their service charges. Many electricians charge a fee for an estimate. This fee is often non-negotiable. Always clear this confusion by asking your electrician if there are any trip charges, travel costs, or service charges included to avoid any hidden charges.

Hire a Professional Electrician at McCarrick Electric

Hiring only a licensed and insured electrician isn’t enough; you need trusted, reliable specialists. Our professional electricians know how to diagnose the problem and fix it before it escalates into a dangerous situation.

McCarrick Electric provides electrical services in the following areas:

Get in touch today. The sooner you call us, the sooner we’ll get started!