Hiring an electrician can be stressful. You want someone with knowledge and experience who won’t up-charge you for equipment or overcharge for labor. And you want a guarantee or warranty on the services and equipment they provide. How do you hire an experienced electrician who won’t overcharge?
Don’t hire an unlicensed friend or acquaintance
On the one hand you have a friend who isn’t a licensed electrician, but who will do the work for free. On the other hand, you have a friend of a friend who will only charge you for parts in exchange for the experience. And then there’s the guy in your Facebook group who will do the job for a fraction of the cost. And you should absolutely not hire any of them for electrical work. Anyone who offers electrical contracting services at a fraction of the cost is probably not licensed and is definitely not experienced to perform the work. And an unlicensed electrician is a serious risk to your family and your home.
An unlicensed electrician… isn’t
An unlicensed electrician ISN’T an electrician. An electrical license isn’t sold on the internet the way a minister’s license is sold. Knowledgeable electricians earn them through years of professional training, experience (under another licensed electrician), and testing. A licensed electrician follows safety protocols and electrical code, which protect you, your family, your property, and your bank account.
What’s the worst that could happen?
In a least-case scenario, a bad electrical job may damage your appliances. Your utility could shut down your power until improper electrical wiring is fixed by a licensed electrician. You could be sued for injury or damages caused by bad electrical work–and you’re likely to foot that bill yourself.
In a worse-case scenario, a bad electrical job could cause an electrical fire or electrical shock. It only takes a millisecond of electricity to stop a heart. Electrical fires are hard to put out and can result in extensive damages, complete loss of your home, or death.
An unlicensed electrician isn’t covered by insurance–theirs or yours
An unlicensed electrician is an uninsured electrician. The moment an uninsured electrician steps on your property, you assume responsibility for any injury or damages resulting from his work, as well as any injury that occurs while he is working on your property. To make matters worse, most homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover damages caused by the work of unlicensed contractors. Which means the cost of damages or injuries comes out of your pocket.
Work done by an unlicensed “electrician” is much more likely to cause an accident, injury, or property damage.What little money you save in hiring an amateur isn’t comparable to the amount of money you could lose paying medical bills, replacing appliances, or repairing your home.
Proof of general liability insurance protects you and your home. When you hire a licensed professional, it is much less likely that the work he does will cause damage or injury. If it does, however, he will be covered by his own insurance.
NABCEP Certification
If you’re looking for an electrician to install or service solar panels, you should know that the state of Arizona requires solar work to be performed by a licensed electrician. But how do you know if an electrician has experience with solar panels? Look for a NABCEP certified PV installer. A certification from the North American Board Certified Energy Practitioners distinguishes experienced solar installers from electricians. It is the gold standard in the solar industry. When you hire a NABCEP certified PV installer, you know you are getting a qualified professional with years of knowledge and proven experience.
Prove it!
A license ensures that the electrician you hire has the skills, knowledge, and experience required to perform the job you hire them to do. Many homeowners are taken advantage of by amateur or unlicensed contractors who perform sub-par work or abandon the job before it is finished. A licensed electrician will prominently display his contractor number where you can easily see it. If not, ask for proof. You can verify the license, insurance, certifications, and reputation of the company you are hiring, at roc.az.gov.
If you’re looking for a reputable electrician or solar installer with years of experience, call Redline Electric & Solar. We are a licensed, bonded, and insured electrical contracting business (ROC#CR-11-354292) and NABCEP Certified PV Installer (NABCEP# PV-020419-016733) with over 60 years of combined experience. We pride ourselves in our honesty, integrity, and high quality work. When you choose Redline Electric & Solar, you can be confident that you made the right choice. See our portfolio here and our customer testimonials here. Contact us at https://iamredline.com/get-a-quote/ or call 480-430-1939 for information about our services.