The job of an electrician is very important in our modern society. They help our world run smoothly with well-installed wires and safe electrical work. Electricians have a very important job so it is important that you hire the best possible one for the job you need to be done.

Finding a professional electrician is pretty easy. There are plenty of people who have gone to trade school to become an electrician. It is finding the right electrician for you that is a bit more difficult.

Knowing what questions to ask your potential electrician is the best way to decide if they are the right person for your job. The right questions will help you weed out which electrician is the best for you and let you know what to expect from their work. Here are a few of the questions you should ask before you choose an electrician.

1. Ask Your Electrician if They Have a License 

The first question you should ask any potential electrician is if they have a license. If they do not have a license that means they have not passed the electrician test and you probably do not want them near your wires. A license for an electrician is what lets you know they are trained to do their job safely.

Ask to see their license. You want to make sure they really have one and that it is valid. A real electrician will be happy to show you their license or offer to bring it to the job before they start working.

Electricians are required to be licensed in most states so it is important to make sure your electrician is following the rules and allowed to work in your state. There are different kinds of electricians so make sure you know what type of license and electrician your job requires.

2. Does the Electrician Have Insurance?

This is important for making sure your home will be protected if anything goes wrong due to your electrical work. It is unlikely that your electrician will make a mistake, but it is very important they are insured. If they are not insured they should not be touching your home.

There are so many things that could go wrong when working on electricity. It is a high-risk job that requires insurance. If your electrician is not insured then they should not be running a business or working for you.

It is recommended an electrician have at least $500,000 in worker’s compensation and liability insurance. You do not need to be so thorough as to check what insurance they have, but do make sure they have some kind of insurance before you hire them.

3. Does the Electrician Have References?

The only way to be sure that an electrician can do the kind of work you require is asking people they have worked for in the past. Ask for references that your electrician did work for that was similar to what you are asking for. That way you know your electrician can do the work you need to be done and will do it well.

Make sure you call the references they give you. It might seem good enough that they were willing to offer references, but make sure you follow up. Asking people who got work done about their experience and the results of the work is very important to your own peace of mind.

Before you hire anyone you should check their references. It is doubly important you ask for references from someone who is going to be doing high-risk work in your home or business. Make sure you ask any electrician you intend to hire for references before you make a deal.

4. Who Will Be Doing the Electrical Work?

This is an important question so that you know who to expect and you know if the electrician you hire will be the one working. If you are hiring a specific business it is important to make sure no apprentice is working alone and that all the electricians working on your project are licensed. Knowing who will be doing the work and what their experience is will let you know what to expect.

Do not hire anyone who says apprentices will be doing most of the work. Especially if it is implied they will be working without constant supervision. A professional should be working on your project at all times, even if they are just supervising.

You deserve a competent professional working for you so make sure you know who is doing the work and what their qualifications are. You do not want to hire a professional and have a few apprentices turn up to do the work. Ask who they will be sending and if they will be doing the work themselves.

5. Does the Electrician Have a Warranty?

If an electrician is not willing to give you a guarantee or offer a warranty then you do not want them working for you. Any tradesman not willing to stand by their work and promise a great job is not someone you want to do business with. Every electrician should have some kind of guarantee on their work.

Most electricians will have a warranty on any of the fixtures or wires they buy with their business cards. If you are buying your own fixtures than you will have to depend on any warranty given by the store you bought them from. Everything your electrician provides should be guaranteed. 

An electrician not willing to give you a warranty is not an electrician you are going to want to trust with your home or business. You want an electrician who is willing to stand by their work and offer proof they are willing to fix any mistakes that might be made. That is why you should always make sure to ask for a warranty or guarantee.

To Conclude

There are very few jobs as specialized and important as being an electrician. Making sure that you ask the right questions will help you get the best electrician for the job. All you need to do is hire the right person with the right qualifications for your job.

Any electrician you hire should be licensed to work in your state. They should also have insurance that protects them, their workers, and you from any possible mistakes. Your electrician should be willing to offer you plenty of references for jobs similar to yours that they have completed. 

An electrician should know who will be doing the work you are requesting and be very transparent about what sort of workers they have. Finally, any electrician you hire should be willing to stand by their work with a warranty or guarantee. Asking these questions will make sure you get the best electrician for your job.