Many general contractors and handymen claim expertise in working with electricity. But as the most hazardous system in your home, capable of causing injury and even death, simply claiming electrical expertise isn’t enough.
Moreover, poor circuit design can damage appliance motors and electronic gear by delivering the wrong amperage. Keep in mind that today’s modern appliances need stronger and more direct wiring methods than were originally installed in older homes. Many old homes have only one or two circuits that power the entire house. A new home built today will typically have 10 to 30 circuits. Lights on even partially overloaded circuits can flicker when an appliance is in use, or the breaker may trip or the fuse might blow, shutting down the circuit entirely.
Hiring an experienced electrician can help you avoid all these problems, and finding one can be easier than finding a carpenter or plumber. If an electrician is licensed—and you should never hire one who isn’t—you can assume a minimum level of competence. But go a step further: Hire an electrician who has passed a standardized test and has several years of experience.
Seventy percent of electrical problems are the result of work done by homeowners, handymen, and less-professional electricians who aren’t aware of correct procedures, recent code changes or improvements in electrical technology. This means homeowners are wasting valuable money and time trying to rectify problems that never should have happened in the first place.
