You Can Be Liable for Unlicensed Electrical Work

07/30/15

Revamping your home's electrical work can be a big headache. You need to find a qualified electrician and write what could be a hefty check for work that might require opening holes in your walls and temporarily making a mess of your home. The last thing you want after a big electrical project is to have to tear it all out and redo the job all over again. That could be the scenario you face, however, if you cut corners and don't hire a licensed electrician to take on the task. Fly-by-night contractors might be cheaper at the outset, but they can cost you big time in the end if they don't follow the local building code, leaving you liable for the faults in your home wiring.

Fanning the Building Code Fires

Some contractors might complain about having to follow local code, but it's in place for a reason – it helps ensure that any work done on your home is performed safely and effectively. Local code standards are particularly important when it comes to electrical work, because faulty wiring and connections can lead to short circuits or even an electrical fire, putting your family at risk.

That's why technicians who do electrical work are required to maintain a license, secure permits and schedule inspections for many home projects. Unfortunately, there are electricians who are tempted to skip the code requirements in order to avoid the time and expense of compliance. They might quote you a lower price, but shoddy workmanship can leave you on the hook for a lot more money overall.

Limit Your Exposure to Liability

If your local government figures out that you are working on an electrical project, they can send an inspector to check it out. If the work isn't up to code, you'll have to remedy the problem before you pass inspection. And if your electrician isn't licensed, you have little recourse to correct the faulty electrical work besides paying out of pocket for someone else to redo the entire thing. Worse, if your electrical system does cause a fire that leads to injury or death, you could be civilly liable for huge sums.

Licensed electricians, on the other hand, have more incentive to follow the rules to begin with, since they could lose their certification if they don't. Furthermore, you may have an easier time recouping your investment in the event of unsafe or incomplete work if you can prove that you did your due diligence and hired a licensed electrician.

Good Work Done Right

To avoid code and permitting issues, hire only licensed technicians for your electrical work and ask them to show you all the relevant permits. Protect yourself and your home by holding out for competent contractors so you know the work is done right the first time.

Is your sensitive electronic equipment protected from the potentially devastating effects a power surge brought on by winter weather? Seventy percent of U.S. power outages are attributable to severe weather, with winter months producing a host of storms that can result in outages and subsequent surges. Power surges are now more troublesome than ever, as homeowners now own a much wider array of this sophisticated and expensive electronic equipment.

A surge protector offers your sensitive electronics protection in the event of power surge or spike. Those looking for additional support may want to consider an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) as well, which offers surge protection plus the added benefit of a battery backup, allowing for the safe shutdown of equipment and prevention of data loss in the event of an outage.

Multiple layers of surge protection coverage are required for complete protection. Even whole house surge protectors cannot handle 100 percent of surges. While all three levels are recommended, the combination of Type 2 and 3 devices will provide an adequate safeguard, however.

Without a properly grounded home and outlets, even the best surge protector will fail to protect your home. Why? Surge protectors shed all that excess voltage through ground. Have your home inspected for grounding issues prior to installation to ensure effective surge protection and prevent the need for replacing expensive electronics due to failure.

Adding surge protection to your home costs very little in comparison to the replacement cost of your electronics. Protection at outlets runs as little as $10, while whole house protections costs a few hundred. Sound like a lot? The cost of replacing a single large home appliance such as a washer, dryer, stove, or hot water heater will likely cost you double the investment in a surge protector. Start adding in iPhones, tablets, e-readers, laptops or other devices in your home that could be destroyed by a surge while charging and the numbers are nauseating. This is why the average insurance claim for power surge and lighting related damage is over $4,000, not to mention the inconvenience of living without those electronics until replacements are procured, making the costs of installing a surge protector a drop in the bucket.

Can you afford to live without surge protection? Trust in Mr. Electric® to keep your electronic essentials from getting zapped. Our professionals have the information you need to help you select the best surge protection for your home or business.

Your business’ lighting is critical to its success, and with commercial lighting rapidly changing, you could be light years behind the times. Don’t let your business be left in the dark. Take advantage of the perks of modern lighting!

Buildings constructed just 20 years ago harbor energy-hogging lighting systems in dire need of replacement.  Consider computers built in the 80s and 90s versus today’s models, and that will give you an inkling of how far behind the times your lighting systems are - and you’re not alone. According to the DOE, more than 75 percent of buildings are over 20 years old, collectively wasting more than $50 billion annually by holding on to antiquated lighting systems.

Depending on your business type, 20-50 percent of your electricity budget is sucked up by lighting demands. This means energy-saving improvements could really help manage costs. In fact, with continually improving bulbs, fixtures, and controls, lighting typically provides the highest return on investment among major upgrades. The right combination could pay for itself in three to five years, and save you 25-50 percent annually on lighting energy. How much could you save?

Talk to your Mr. Electric® professional to learn more about benefits and incentives available in your region, including:

The experts at Mr. Electric can help you get things all figured out, from the best lighting options for your business to cost. Our experts have what it takes to assess your current lighting system and needs, damaged/outdated/mismatched systems, inefficiencies in energy use, necessary light levels and color, under-lit areas, and more, to find lighting solutions perfectly matched to your needs – and your budget!

Have a bright idea about your business’ lighting? Contact Mr. Electric today.

One of the most important parts of hiring an electrician is screening and selecting the right contractor to work with. While this task may seem tedious at times, taking a little bit of time to do your due diligence at the onset can save you significant time and headache later on. By grading each contractor that you are considering by a number of variables, you can make your job a little bit easier. One important thing to consider with any electrical contractor is their rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Why should you care about a contractors’ Better Business Bureau rating? In a nutshell, the BBB is one of your best sources for learning more about a business’ track record. While customer testimonials should always be read with a grain of salt, complaints made to the Better Business Bureau are researched and responded to. Whenever a company has a longstanding A+ rating with the BBB, you can be sure that they have a reputation of upholding high standards of work and customer service. Furthermore, you can view any prior complaints to see how a business responds to any complaints that have been made.

In addition to giving you an idea of how many complaints an electrician in Glendale has received, knowing how they are responded to can be valuable information. A company that cares about its customers will take the time to properly address and fix any legitimate complaints, while a shoddy contractor may just brush them off.

With a little bit of research and the proper resources, you can find a high quality contractor that can take care of any and all of your electrical needs. The Electric Connection  holds an A+ rating and takes pride in the service that we provide. Please don’t hesitate to call us or visit our website for consideration in your next electrical project.