When it comes to your home, the smartest thing you can do is invest in its safety. This means not cutting corners or trying to save a few bucks on important projects. For example, your home’s electrical system is one you should always invest in. This means hiring professional electricians with the right equipment, knowledge and licensing to work on your home. From the smallest task to a complete house rewire, it’s always a bright idea to hire an electrician.
To find out more about the importance of hiring a professional electrician, HomeStars spoke to the expert Clement Tritz, Director and Master Electrician at Dedicated Electrical Services Inc., located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dedicated Electrical Services Inc., has been providing high-quality residential electrical services to Calgarians since 2014. With nearly two decades in the industry as an electrician, Clement has seen it all. He knows about the importance of homeowners avoiding DIY projects and how much you can really save when you hire a pro in the first place.
1. Why Should Homeowners Never Attempt to DIY Electrical Projects?
Most simply put, electricity is dangerous. Without the proper knowledge, you can seriously harm yourself and damage your home if you don’t know what you’re doing. As Clement notes, electrical processes have changed over the years, and the average homeowner is unaware of these changes. A pro, on the other hand, is always informed of changes in electrical processes. One example of this is where the power source comes from in a light switch. Older homes will have the power at the light source, whereas newer homes have the power at the switch. If you’re unable to tell the difference, you should most definitely hire a pro.
In addition to having the proper knowledge, pros are also licensed to handle complex and dangerous projects. This is why the Alberta Electrician Trade Regulation requires that only licensed electricians be hired to work on knob and tube rewiring projects. Whether you live in Calgary, Edmonton or any other city in Alberta, the responsibility is on the homeowner to hire a licensed electrician for any residential project.
2. What Questions Should Homeowners Ask When Hiring an Electrician?
Clement’s number one piece of advice is to do your research first. Look on HomeStars to read and compare reviews from past customers. This will help you understand if they are in good standings in your community. You also want to check if the company is incorporated under Provincial Registries and to see how long they have been in business.
Remember to ask any potential electrician to see their qualifications, insurance, and WCB. More specifically, Clement advises homeowners to ask about the type of experience the electrician has. Do they have residential experience working in homes or do they mostly do commercial projects? You want to know if the pro has experience working with your specific issue/project before hiring them.
When it comes to red flags, watch out for poor communication, lack of qualifications or insurance. Additionally, electricians must be bonded to request payment upfront. If they’re not this is a red flag about more than their pricing.
3. How Can Homeowners Tell if They’re Receiving a Fair Quote?
According to Clement, a fair quote will include the total costs for travel, labour, materials and permits. You also want to factor in the skill level of the electrician, plus the cost of the materials themselves. The quality of the materials is important and like most things in life, the higher the quality the higher the price tag.
To find out more about how much you can expect to pay for your project, you need to get a custom quote. Luckily, you can do this by clicking on the “Get a Quote” button on any pro’s HomeStars profile.
4. How Can Homeowners Make the Electrician’s Job Easier?
Clement says that the best thing homeowners can do prior to the electrician’s arrival is to clear the working area. If the electrician will be looking at your electrical panel, be sure that there is at least one metre of clearance at all times. Also, please be sure to put your pets away. This way they won’t escape while the electrician is coming in and out of the home, and they won’t steal their tools for playing fetch.
5. What Surprises Homeowners Most About Working With an Electrician?
Troubleshooting takes time, especially when done properly, Clement says. Although it may sometimes appear as though electricians are magicians, they’re really not. They are skilled and educated but need to take their time to ensure everything is done correctly. Also, when working on a larger renovation, electricians are required to bring everything up to code. So while you may hire an electrician for one thing, they may have to do several things before they can have an inspection performed. This is done to ensure your home’s safety and to make sure you only require a visit from them once.
Save By Hiring Local Electricians First
Now that you understand the importance of always hiring a licensed electrician, you would have to be pretty dim to attempt a project on your own. While you may think that switching out a countertop outlet is too small a project to bother hiring for, Clement thinks otherwise. In fact, Clement notes that no project is too small to hire an electrician for, and often doing so in the first place is more affordable. Trust the experts and hire a professional and licensed electrician. Not only will you save time and money, but you could end up saving your home from an electrical fire. When it comes to the safety of your home, hiring an electrician is always a bright idea.
Dedicated Electrical Services Inc is a family-run business that is dedicated to providing innovative electrical services to homeowners within Calgary and the surrounding area. Prioritizing communication and relationship building, their clients come first. Get in touch with Clement to find out more about working with Dedicated Electrical Services.
