Choosing the right electrician is a very important decision to make. It can have a huge impact on your home, your safety, and on your bank account. As a result, there are certain things you should think through, and keep in mind as you search for an electrician. This guide goes through each point in detail, as well as what you need to keep in mind when getting an electrical certificate of compliance for all electrical work done on your home.
Do Electricians Need A License?
This is a jurisdiction-specific rule. Some places don’t require a certificate to do low-voltage electric work, such as installing a security system. While other places have complicated electrical laws with many types of licenses.
As a homeowner, you want to make sure that the electrical systems in your home and/or commercial premises are working properly. If they aren’t, it can be very unsafe and also pricey to repair. As a result of this, engaging a licensed electrical contractor is an essential part of looking after your residential property.
Hiring a person that doesn’t have the needed certifications poses a large risk to both you as the customer and also the individual you have actually hired to perform the job. Apart from being unlawful, it can cause damage to your property and place you, your family as well as the operator at risk.
On top of this, the individual getting the job done is put in a harmful situation that calls for skills only a licensed electrical expert has. Given the above, regardless of the type of electrical work you are planning to get done, we always recommend hiring a qualified electrician.
Can I Do My Own Electrical Work?
It is not a good idea to do your own electrical work. We cannot state this more clearly. Do not try and attempt to complete your own electrical work unless you are a qualified electrician.
The amount of power that is surging through the wires in your home, in your walls, and in your ceiling, can easily and quickly kill you before you even realize you have put yourself in danger. The power required to run our modern conveniences is very strong and very fast, and it is very easy to get yourself in trouble with electricity if you do not know what you are doing.
As a result, even if the job seems easy, and even if you have seen a tutorial explaining what to do, do not try and attempt your own electrical work unless you are qualified to do so.
Different Types of Electricians
There are multiple different types of electricians, or electricians that have different specialties, so knowing which one you need for your job is important.
If it is a job at your home, then it is highly likely that a residential electrician will be the most appropriate type of electrician for the job, but it’s important to be aware of the different types of electricians to ensure you hire the right person for the job.
Residential
A residential electrician is typically responsible for maintaining, fixing as well as updating electrical systems within a home. This includes lights, home heating, cooling systems, and more. They may work independently or with an electrical service provider.
Commercial
Commercial electricians perform similar work to residential electricians yet work in commercial situations. Based on the number of people that occupy the different workspaces they come across, a commercial electrical expert should always operate with public safety and security in mind. A commercial electrician may be asked to mount security systems, digital systems, and heating & cooling systems suitable for a workplace among many other jobs.
Industrial
You will find an industrial electrician dealing with large-scale tasks across industrial facilities like manufacturing facilities, mining facilities, and power plants. An industrial electrical contractor deals with huge equipment and computer system systems utilized to support industrial processes.
Automotive
An automotive electrician focuses on the electrical systems discovered in motor vehicles. These electrical experts might rely on computer-based repair devices to complete a project. Workers have to maintain a detailed understanding of car and truck diagnostics, performance electronics, drivetrain systems, as well as other facets of automobile technology.
Are They Experienced?
Finding an electrician who is suitably experienced in the type of work you need to be completed, is very important. Even though multiple electricians may have the same license, and may be legally allowed to do the job that you need to be done, some electricians will have more experience with that type of work, than others.
When you hire an electrician who has lots of experience with a type of work you need to be done, you are going to get someone who can do the job well, who knows what pitfalls to look out for when doing that type of work, and who will do it as quick as possible. If the electrician you hire has little experience in the job type, it may take them longer to complete the job than it would someone who does that type of work multiple times per week. Given that tradesmen are typically reimbursed for the time spent on a job, the longer somebody spends on your job the more they are going to charge you for it.
Make Sure You Get A Certificate of Compliance
What Is An Electrical Certificate of Compliance?
Electrical Certificates of Compliance (ECOC) are a legal record of the work done by a qualified electrician. The certificate lists the work that was done, and who it was completed by, to prove to the relevant authorities, or future purchasers of your home, that the work that has been done is both safe and compliant with the relevant law.
While it might be an inconvenience to organize an ECOC, the certificate stands for the lifetime of the work done and does not need to be renewed.
Do certifications of compliance have an expiry date?
No, certifications do not expire. Once an electrical certificate of compliance has been issued it is valid forever, or as long as the work stays in position. If further work is done, then an additional certificate would need to be completed.
In Summary
Overall, the critical thing to keep in mind when you need electrical work completed is not to do it yourself. No matter how simple it seems, it is not worth risking your life on something you can get a qualified professional to do quickly and for a reasonable cost.
When looking for an electrician to complete your electrical work, make sure they have the appropriate license as stipulated by your local laws and legislation. In addition to the basic license make sure they are also experienced in the type of work you need to be done. If they are experienced in the work, you know they will do a good job, and they will do a quick job by maximizing the quality of the job that is done and minimizing the cost you pay for that job.
Though it is tempting to do it yourself when it comes to electrical work, get somebody qualified and skilled to do it.
