| As a homeowner, you are responsible for making | | | | if he has a valid permit issued by the local building |
| sure that all the electrical wiring in your house is | | | | department. Before a building inspector issues a |
| sound and up-to-date. Faulty writing poses several | | | | permit, he checks the electrician's work to see if |
| hazards, not least among them a potential fire, | | | | it stands up to regulation standards and building |
| which should give you more than enough impetus | | | | codes, so this is a good way to gauge if an |
| to make sure that when you need an electrical | | | | electrician you're thinking of hiring is really reliable. |
| problem fixed, you hire an experienced and | | | | Choosing the Right Electrician for the Job |
| qualified electrician. Poorly designed or poorly | | | | Like many other contractors, electricians usually |
| repaired circuits can cause damage to electrical | | | | specialize in a specific field. Some do new |
| appliance motors by delivering the wrong | | | | construction sites, others go out only on service |
| amperage. But how do you make sure that you | | | | calls and others concentrate on commercial |
| get a qualified electrician to work in your home? If | | | | property work. Electricians specializing in |
| you know what to look for, it is not all that hard. | | | | remodeling, for example, know certain techniques |
| Licensing | | | | specific to working with pre-existing wiring and |
| One of the basic ways to assess the | | | | electrical systems, techniques like snaking wires |
| professionalism of an electrician is check to see if | | | | through finished walls, evaluating the power of |
| he has a state license. Master electricians have to | | | | circuits already in place and deciding whether to |
| pass a rigorous, standardized test and must | | | | add service panels to handle increased power |
| provide proof of having been working as an | | | | demands. |
| electrician for at least two years. He must also be | | | | Recommendations |
| knowledgeable of the National Electrical Code and | | | | Lastly, another good way to find a good, reliable |
| keep up to date with any modifications made to | | | | electrician is to ask others. Contractors usually |
| it. A sate license means that an electrician is | | | | have a list of reliable electricians that they usually |
| qualified to plan, design, install and maintain | | | | recommend to clients. So if you're having a new |
| electrical systems. | | | | room built and need an electrician, ask the |
| The other type of state licensing is that of the | | | | contractor you used for the room to give you |
| journeyman electrician. A journeyman electrician is | | | | some recommendations. Another good place to |
| one who has not yet qualified for a master's | | | | find the contact info of recommended electricians |
| license, but who (as required by the state) works | | | | is by going to your local home-builders' association |
| with a master electrician. The law prohibits that | | | | or an electrical-supply store near you. |
| journeymen electricians design electrical systems, | | | | When you sit down to interview an electrician, ask |
| but they are allowed to install wiring and | | | | to be shown a copy of his state license and proof |
| equipment. | | | | of insurance and check that they are current and |
| Permit | | | | that he has minimum liability coverage of |
| Before hiring an electrician, also think about asking | | | | $500,000. And remember to check his references. |