Last updated on January 9th, 2024 at 09:00 pm
When electrical work needs to be done in your home, you may think doing it yourself will save money and speed up the process. However, unless you happen to be a licensed electrician yourself, electrical DIY projects can result in frustrating (and sometimes dangerous!) outcomes.
To guarantee that the job gets done properly, hiring a professional licensed electrician is usually the best bet. Choosing a licensed electrician ensures that the people working on your home have received sufficient training and the electrical work is guaranteed to meet certain quality standards.
In this article, you’ll learn seven reasons why hiring a licensed electrician is the best way to get the job done.
1. Licensed Electricians Have the Right Training and Experience
In Washington State and many other areas, licensed electricians have to undergo thousands of hours working as a trainee under the supervision of a licensed electrician before receiving their own license. Most homeowners don’t have anything close to that level of electrical training.
2. Electricians Know How to Stay Safe From Electricity-Related Risks
Electrical work can be extremely dangerous. Aside from the obvious electrical risks that come with rewiring your home on your own, it’s easy to fall from a ladder or accidentally ingest chemicals that are a threat to your health. Trained and licensed electricians know how to operate machinery and stay safe from harmful substances.
A basic home service panel provides 200 amps, which is enough to kill someone if they aren’t careful. Even if you take all of the recommended at-home safety precautions, it is always better to hire someone who knows exactly what they’re doing during high risk installations.
3. An Electrician Can Help You Get Permits and Required Inspections
Without a licensed electrician on the job, you will have to go through the frustrating and time consuming process of getting the correct permits and inspectors on your own. However, if you hire a professional, these tasks are already part of the electrician’s process.
4. Experienced Electricians Know How to Save Time and Money
If you’re a novice, doing your own electrical work often results in issues at one point or another. Hiring a licensed electrician can save you time and money by making sure it’s done right the first time. This helps you avoid wasting your own time and money redoing your project after something goes wrong.
5. Licensed Electricians Must Have Liability Insurance
If you hire licensed electricians for a job and one of them gets hurt while at the job site, their general liability insurance will ensure that they are covered in the case of injury or if your personal belongings are damaged.
6. Your Electrician Will Place a Surety Bond
In simple terms, a surety bond is an agreement between three parties. In an electrician’s case, it is an agreement between the electrician’s company, the surety company, and the obligee (usually the state government). This bond ensures that you, the client, are protected from any fraud or misconduct imposed by the electrician.
7. Licensed Electricians Are Accountable to the State’s Electrical Division
Each state has an electrical division that sets rules electricians must abide by. The mission of these divisions is to establish state-wide standards for all people performing electrical installations in order to keep the quality of work high and fair.
FAQs About Choosing a Licensed Electrician
There are a few common misconceptions about electricians. Below are some frequently asked questions about electricians and their services.
What is the Difference Between a Certified and Licensed Electrician?
There is a slight difference between a specially certified electrician and a licensed electrician. All legal and working electricians are licensed in their state, but getting specific certifications on top of this licensing is optional. Acquiring certifications allows electricians to work with special processes, materials, or machinery on the job.
How Do I Find a Trusted Licensed Electrician?
You can find a trusted electrician in a number of ways. You can ask friends for a recommendation, ask your general contractor, or inquire with the local home builders’ association or an electrical supply house in your area.
Why are Licensed Electricians So Expensive?
Electricians are often very expensive because the price of insurance to run an electrical business is extremely high. The price of insurance to cover a company and its employees is immense due to the high risks involved with electrical work.
Licensed Electricians in Washington State
Looking for a licensed election in Washington State? Switch Electric can help! Switch Electric has an amazing staff that is dedicated to serving all of our customer’s needs from project inception to finish. Every one of our electricians is extensively trained to provide exceptional service for your home. Schedule a consultation with us today to see how we can help you with your electricity!