National Electrical
Hiring The BEST Electrical Contractor / Electrician Long Island
How To Hire An Electrician
Let’s keep this simple. Let’s treat this like just like any other purchase of an item that costs at least as much as this service will. Two words come to mind…..research & comparison shopping. OK….so it’s really 3 words but I think you get my point.
Ask Questions
1. “Are you licensed in this municipality?” Not all states, towns or counties regulate electricians or require licenses, but it is a wise idea to check first with you local building department. Make sure to ask if electrical work in your municipality must adhere to the standards set forth by the National Electric Code
2. “Will my electrical panel need to be replaced?” The current National Code recommends a minimum 100 amp incoming electrical service. If yours provides less, it should be upgraded to this level or better to meet current home requirements. Most new homes are wired with 200 amp service.
3. “Will I have to apply for a permit?” If one is required, the electrician will often make the application for the homeowner. Some municipalities allow the homeowner to do minor electrical installations and repairs if they secure the permit first and then have the work inspected upon completion.
4. “Is my home’s electrical system properly grounded?” Ground-wiring protects your home and occupants in case of an electrical fault. It also protects expensive electronics and appliances. This is something an electrician can quickly check and add additional grounding capacity if necessary.
5. “Are there any hidden costs for the work?” A thorough preliminary inspection should be done by the electrician and you should be provided with a firm accurate estimate that includes cost of fixtures to be installed. If additional work is necessary, it can be negotiated and billed separately.
6. “If upgrading the service is necessary, will the entire house need to be re-wired?” Normally, if you don’t live in an extremely old home with antiquated wiring, you will not have to replace your existing electrical lines. If more capacity is needed in certain rooms, new wiring runs and additional outlets will most likely be needed.
Asking a lot of questions is always a smart idea. If the electrician you are dealing with does not want to take the time to answer them, find another electrician immediately. The questions provided here is a good start but make sure you take your time and think of any more questions that you might have and write them down before your appointment. The more information you can get the better.
Ask For a Quote
Have the electricians come to look at the job and request for the quote to be in writing. Ask to have the time required to complete the job to be specified in the quote. Living in your house without full ise of appliances and computers will be challenging to say the least.
Execute a Contract
When you execute a contract be sure to include the following: specific work to be done, total cost, start date, payment schedule and estimated end date as well as specific details about the materials needed etc……
What to Look For In a Qualified Electrician
• Insurance – Make sure the electrician is fully insured with liability and worker’s compensation. The electrician should be able to provide you with a copy of the insurance policy.
• Better Business Bureau – Contact your local BBB to ascertain if any complaints have been filed against your prospective electrician.
• Use www.AngiesList.com to see what others have to say about this person. If the reviews there are good, there is a good chance that person will do good work for you as well.
SAFETY Accidents can and do happen with any type of home project. Make sure to ask your candidate, what steps they will take to help prevent injuries and property damage. They should be able to answer this question with ease.
General Tips
1. Small business electricians will tend to be more affordable because their overhead is lower.
2. If it’s a big job, get a good number of quotes and then discard the lowest price and the most expensive. The cheapest will have underestimated and you will get stung at a later date and the most expensive most likely has work up to their eyeballs and they really don’t need or want your business in the first place.
About the Author
Long Island marketing firm submitting various forms of social media content and attracting more customers for clients (
www.LongIslandBusinessMagic.com
)
Construction Electricity @ Northland Community & Technical College