Questions You Should Ask An Electrician Before Hiring Them | Irving, TX

As Autumn draws to a close and Christmas fever sets in, it is advisable to consider inviting an electrician to inspect your home in preparation for the winter. Most homeowners in Irving, TX, observe a significant spike in energy consumption during winter as their heating systems have to work on overdrive to keep their homes warm. Since people tend to spend more time indoors over the winter, their heating systems run for longer and consume even more energy. Your home’s electric system may not be able to handle this surge in power demand.

Having a professional electrician inspect the system may be the only way to prevent costly malfunctions in the dead of winter. But you shouldn’t let just anyone mess with your wiring; it’s a sensitive and complex job that requires a lot of knowledge, specialized tools, and experience. So before you hire an electrical service to inspect your home, make sure to ask the following questions:

1. Are You Licensed?

The last thing you want is an unlicensed electrical company messing around with your home’s wiring, especially right before winter. Most states and municipalities require electricians to be licensed for a good reason; it’s a high-risk profession where carelessness and mistakes can cost people’s lives.

There are a few types of electrical licenses:

• Master electrician – Has at least two years of professional experience under a master electrician and holds a journeyman license. They are licensed to perform electrical system design and installation and authorized to supervise other electrical professionals.

• Residential wireman – Licensed to perform repairs and install wires. A residential wireman has at least 4,000 hours of on-the-job training.

• Journeyman – Has 2-6 years of apprenticeship training and is only licensed to perform installations. Some regions require that journeymen work alongside master electricians.

• Apprentices – They assist in electrical services like wiring and installations, and they have to be supervised by either a journeyman or master electrical professional.

2. Do You Have Insurance?

Given the complex and often dangerous nature of the electrical repair, you should only contact an insured electrical company. Accidents can happen anytime, and if your electrical company isn’t insured, you may be liable for any medical fees resulting from an electrical system-related accident and additional repairs. Furthermore, an uninsured contractor can hurt your home’s value and void your insurance.

Your Irving, TX electrical company should have at least $500,000 in liability coverage to cover any accidental damage and workers’ compensation insurance to cover their contractor’s lost wages.

3. Do You Have Any References?

References and reviews are the best way to determine an electrical company’s past performance. They may rave on and on about their abilities, but if a significant portion of their previous customers isn’t happy with the results, you probably won’t be satisfied either. A professional electrical service company confident in their work would be happy to provide references. If an electrical company is reluctant to or refusing to provide references, you should probably continue your search.

4. What is Your General Area of Work?

Generally, electrical professionals will focus on a specific area of electrical repair. Some electrical contractors are much better at maintenance and repair, while others focus on replacements and installations. Asking this question will give you an idea of whether the electrical professional is better suited to handle your job, be it installation or maintenance.

5. Have You Specialized in the Specific Job I’m Asking For?

Certain electrical jobs usually require specialized knowledge and equipment. Suppose your project requires expertise in a particular area, say installing solar equipment, data cables, or a home automation system. In that case, you will want someone well trained and experienced in that specific area. They may all be installation jobs, but they are niche jobs that need someone with plenty of experience doing them.

6. Do I Need a Permit, and Who Will Pull it?

While smaller electrical jobs like installing fixtures and replacing outlets don’t need permits, larger jobs with a significant risk of electrocution usually require a permit and a visit from a city inspector. Based on the kind of work you require, your electrical professional will help you determine the needed permits and pull them. It’s better to have the electrical professionals pull the required permits as city officials will most likely have many questions about the job, and the contractor will be better able to answer them.

Generally, you will need an electrical permit if you:

• Run additional wiring into your home
• Convert from a fuse box to circuit breakers
• Install or alter permanent wiring or electrical devices
• Installing or altering low-voltage systems like security alarms
• Installing a receptacle for a garage-door opener

7. What Work Will the Repair Involve?

Some electrical jobs may force electricians to drill through flooring, siding, or drywall. Each job has its own specific needs, and asking your electrical professionals to break down the services they will perform will allow you to plan your finances better and give you a good idea of how long the job will take. It is likely that the cost of repairing anything affected by the electrical work like drywall.

8. What Are Your Service Fees

What does the contractor charge for their professional services? Some electrical professionals will charge you extra fees for travel costs, parts. Ask for any additional fees beforehand to ensure you have a clear idea of how much the job will cost beforehand.

9. Is Your Work Under Warranty

Who will be liable if the installation or repair malfunctions in the near future? How much will it cost? If they offer a warranty for their work, does the warranty cover parts and labor?

Electrical Service in Irving TX

Your home’s electrical system should only ever be inspected, maintained, and repaired by a licensed and insured electrician. They are in a much better position to handle any electrical repairs and services you need and will be able to cover potential damages and lost wages. If you are looking for a professional electrician in Irving, TX, contact Tioga Plumbing & Electric. Our electrical services tackle all types of electrical challenges, and we offer prompt emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Contact us today for more information about our services and schedule an appointment.