Written by: Philip Jones

Hiring a quality electrician is essential to getting the job done correctly and safely. When you hire a Houston Texas electrician to entrust with work in your home or businesses, you want to be confident that the contractor has the training, skill and experience required. But what makes electricians from Access Electric stand out above the rest? Here are the electrical standards you should look for when hiring a Houston Texas Electrician.

Choose a Fully Licensed Electrician

According to the U.S. Fire Association, a branch of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, electrical fires in homes are the cause of 280 deaths in an average year, with 1,000 more injuries. Faulty wiring and overloaded circuits are two of the major causes of home electrical fires. Only a fully licensed electrician should be given electrical work, since the consequences of the work done incorrectly can be life-threatening.

Many handymen claim to know how to do electrical work. Your HVAC technician may say he or she can wire the new central air conditioning system, but you should always ask to see their licenses and certifications. Because electrical work is very technical, you should always hire a licensed electrical contractor to do any significant wiring in your home. While the types of license carried will vary by state, it will typically include an Electrical Contractor License, Residential Electrical Contractor License, Class A Master Electrician, Residential Master, Class B Master Electrician, or Class A Journeyman Electrician, among others.

Only Consider Experienced Electricians

Being licensed is a starting point. From there, an electrician needs to have years of work in order to become an expert. When you are interviewing electricians in Houston Texas, ask about the years of experience they have. If a crew will be doing the work, as about the experience level of each member of the crew. It only takes one inexperienced person to cause problems “potentially dangerous problems” in your home or business. Fire, electrical shock or damage to appliances and equipment can be the result.

Ask about Insurance and Bonding

Don’t hire an electrician who can’t show you insurance and bonding papers. If an electrical contractor is not insured, you as the owner of the home or business may be held liable for any damage that occurs during the work—including fire damage. If someone is hurt, even a member of the electrical crew, you may be sued for damages since it occurred on your property. Hiring a properly-insured contractor reduces your risk.

Secondly, when hiring an electrician in Houston Texas, only consider those who are fully-bonded. This means that if they do not complete the work as promised, the company bonding the contractor will pay you compensation. A bonded contractor will rarely walk away from a job that hasn’t been completed, so require any electrician you discuss the work with to show you proof of being bonded.

Expect Written Estimates with No Hidden Charges

The best electricians in Houston will provide you with written estimates that show the costs for materials and labor. The contractor should guarantee that the estimate will be your final cost unless certain issues come up that have been discussed in advance. There are times when an electrical contractor may not be able to anticipate some costs until work is started, but you should be made aware of that potential before you agree to hire the electrical company.

Summary

When interviewing Houston electrical contractor, price should never be the only criteria you use to make your decision. Take your time to learn about their credentials and experience, insurance and bonding, and whether or not they provide written estimates you can trust. These tips will allow you to hire a Houston electrician you can rely on for safe, reliable electrical work.

Written by: Philip Jones

There are many construction projects that homeowners can do themselves. Unfortunately, electric work is not one of them. Messing around with electricity is a dangerous business for those who are not trained to do the work safely. When it comes time to do some home remodeling, be sure to secure the services of a Houston electrician to avoid any problems. Here is a guide to the reasons homeowners should hire professional electrical work to be done in their houses.

The Risks Involved

When amateurs start playing around with electricity, it is no laughing matter. Most people have experienced a mild electric shock from an outlet in their homes. This sometimes fools them into thinking that there is no real danger involved in performing their own electrical work. That couldn’t be further from the truth.When the work starts involving circuit breakers and more advanced electrical installations, there is more voltage involved than a standard outlet. There is enough voltage involved to give someone severe burns, or even kill them in a worst-case scenario. There is no reason to risk this kind of danger when homeowners can easily procure the qualified electrical services of a Houston electrician.

Amateurs Often Make Things Worse

When amateur electricians decide to try their hands at electrical installation jobs, they often end up fouling things up and making the situation worse. Whether it involves improperly installing the wiring, or blowing a fuse, this just creates a bigger and more expensive repair job for a licensed electrician to perform later. Skip the headaches and the extra expense involved with making mistakes with electrical work. Go ahead and hire a qualified professional to do any electrical work in your home from the start.

Problems Down the Road

One of the most common things that happen when amateurs try to perform their own electric work can be quite tragic. Amateurs often finish their work, test it out and see that everything is working just fine. However, this situation may not hold. Many times the work is done incorrectly, and the problem only appears down the road.

Sometimes the future problem is mild. It may just flip the circuit breaker or lead to a blackout. However, other times the problem is more serious, resulting in an electric fire that causes thousands of dollars in repairs. It could even result in injuries or death to your loved ones. Do not play around with electric work. Leave it in the capable hands of a licensed and bonded Houston electrician.

Save Money with Professionals

One of the most common reasons homeowners cite for wanting to perform their own electric work is the need to save money. However, it can actually save homeowners money to pay for the services of an electrician. Knowledgeable electricians are very adept at reconfiguring a home’s electric wiring to make it more efficient. This will help homeowners to save a bundle over time. They will see a drop in their electric bills that will more than make up for the expense of paying the electrician.

Using the services of a Houston electrician is a no-brainer when it is time for some electrical work to be done in your home. There are many licensed and bonded electricians out there that will do a great job at a fair price. Avoid headaches and find one next time you need electric work done in your home.

Written by: Philip Jones

The type of electrician Houston from Access Electric that homeowners and business owners need for their home or business is one with broad expertise in residential, commercial and light-industrial electrical services. This helpful guide will aid you in finding an electrician that can solve all of your electrical needs now and in the future. Here are the electrical services your next electrician should offer.

Installation of Wiring and Panels

When you’ve got a new construction project planned or are remodeling your home or business, an electrician in Houston from Access Electric will be able to handle the entire wiring job. This may include bringing electrical service inside from the electrical pole or mast, installing a new panel or adding an additional panel to meet expanded electrical needs, running wire in walls that are open or closed and installing junction boxes and outlet boxes. This is sometimes known as “rough electrical work”.

Look for an electrician who can provide you with trenching and cable-burying services when needed. If the contractor doesn’t have a trencher, he or she should have a reliable trenching service subcontractor to hire for the work.

Finish Electrical Services

Your next electrician should also supply the finishing touches to any job. The contractor should install fixtures including recessed and track lighting, ceiling fans, home ventilation units, attic fans and attic ventilation fans. The electrician should install all outlets including GFI outlets in bathrooms and the kitchen and be able to provide whole-house surge protection.

HVAC-R Wiring and Similar Installations

When you have a new heating and cooling system installed, or a refrigeration system, it is important to have your electrician wire it rather than leaving it to the HVAC or refrigeration crew. Codes in your area may require this, but even if they don’t, wiring is too crucial for safety and performance reasons to leave it to anyone but a qualified electrician. The same principle applies during the installation of a hot tub or jetted tub, pool heater, water heater or similar equipment.

Home Automation Installation

Today’s homes are getting “smarter” —meaning they are becoming more incorporated with technology—and the wiring support for home automation systems is essential. The best electrician Houston residents can hire will be experienced in the installation of wiring for an automation system to control the lighting, sound system, security system including cameras, HVAC system, curtains and blinds, appliances or home theater.

Communications and Data Wiring

New phone systems, computer networks and other high-tech, interconnected systems require electrical expertise to ensure that the systems will perform correctly in the years ahead. Look for an electrician with good experience in handling these types of vital installation jobs.

Emergency Power and Permanent Generation Systems

The electrical grid in the U.S. has never been more taxed, and power outages are becoming more frequent. Today’s best electricians can supply you with generators for short-term use that will deliver emergency power when you need it for your home or business. For permanent backup electrical power, they can install a generator and wire it directly into your electrical panel. When an outage occurs, the generator automatically comes on and begins to supply your home or business with power.

Credentials that Ensure Quality and Safety

When finding an electrician that can solve all your electrical needs, only consider those with the right qualifications. Make sure the electrician is licensed to perform residential and commercial electrical services. Choose a master electrician with years of experience, and do not hesitate to ask for references.