Finding an electrician is not too hard, but finding one that is good and qualified can be a little more challenging. It can be hard to figure out how to find a good electrician when you do not know what to look for. Do not fret, the following is a simple guide that will help you find a qualified electrician to work on your home. It may take time to figure out which electrician to trust, but it’s worth it since you are going to be paying this person after all.
Why are Qualifications Vital?
You would be surprised how many people do not think qualifications are important. Most of the time people only think about price, but the truth is that the qualifications of the electrician you are considering is vital. Ryan Bealmear, President of Teague Electric, says, “an electrician who has taken the time to earn his or her qualifications is an electrician who cares about safety.”
Yes, one of the main reasons you need to take your time to figure out if your electrician is qualified is because your safety is on the line. Subpar electrical work can actually lead to things like electrical fires, which can put your entire family at risk. Things get worse if you hired an unlicensed and under-qualified electrician because your insurance company is likely not going to cover your losses due to this fact.
Having an electrician who is qualified also means having an electrician who is going to work safely. Becoming a certified and qualified electrician requires about five years of education and thousands of on-the-job hours to make sure the job is performed as safely as possible. Keep in mind that there are specific codes and laws that your electrical work must abide by depending on your community and state, which your electrician is meant to help you achieve.
How to Figure Out if Your Electrician is Qualified
Now that you know why you should go the extra mile with regards to your electrician’s qualifications you can learn how to figure this out. Sure, there are a number of ways to figure out if an electrician is right for you; for example, you can read reviews. You can also find out how long the individual has been working as an electrician, which can help you figure out if someone is right for you, but you still have to figure out if they are qualified.
You are going to need to gather information from your electrician; for example, you can jot down the license number. This is a number you can request, and a qualified electrician should be happy to share it with you. Of course, you can also just jot down the electrician’s full name or the company’s official business name.
After gathering one or all of the pieces of information mentioned here, you can call your local licensing department. This department should give you the information you need to verify your electrician’s qualifications. You can also call the state’s Department of Labor just in case you can’t get through your local licensing department.
Another thing you can do to ensure that your electrician is qualified is ask for proof of liability insurance. The reason you ask for this proof is because insurance companies do their homework and will not cover an electrician who is not qualified to do the job safely. You are going to be using an insurance company’s incredible fear of having to pay for damages to your advantage. All you have to do is verify that the electrician has active coverage by giving this insurance company a call.
It is important that you find out what kind of license your contractor has as well. There are two types: One licenses an individual while the other licenses the contractor. Knowing which license your electrician has should help you figure out if he or she is qualified. A contractor has to be able to ensure that all of his or her employees meet qualification while an individual only has to produce his or her own qualifications.
Hopefully, some of this information helps ensure that you end up working with a qualified electrician. Your safety, your family’s safety, and your property deserve a good electrician even if it takes some time for you to find one.