How can a residential electrician help me?

Finding a good residential electrician may seem like a headache at first, but it could save you a world of trouble in the end.

Do you need a residential electrician? Given the complexity of the electric systems in today’s homes, it’s a good idea to consult with a residential electrician in any case where new wiring or new installations are required.

It goes without saying that electricity is nothing to play around with. That goes for doing any kind of rewiring, putting in new lighting, or doing outside work around power lines.

• Unless you’re absolutely sure you know what you’re doing, you should bring in a residential electrician, even if it’s only to advise you on your DYI project.

• An outside lineman typically handles the wires and transformers that bring power into a building.
• An indoor wireman can take charge of the indoor wiring, switches, fuses, and breakers for a facility.
• A residential electrician is much like an indoor wireman, except he or she works in single- and multi-family dwellings and is often an expert in domestic types of installations and renovations.

Residential electricians are usually up to date on local building codes and are well-versed in smart-home systems, alarm systems, and domestic wiring.

• If you are doing some renovations, moving a fuse box, replacing a fuse box with breakers, or replacing old, faulty wiring, then calling a residential electrician to come by and service the problem is a no-brainer.

With electricity, safety is key.

• Unfortunately, many homeowners are overconfident about their abilities to do what may appear to be a simple project all by themselves.
• If you have a new piece of equipment that cannot be accommodated by existing switches and surge protectors (something requiring 200 volts of power or more), it’s a good idea to bring in an expert.

If you want to save money, remember the adage “penny-wise and pound-foolish”—don’t try to save a few bucks by doing it yourself, only to burn out your system and have to pay for bigger repairs to your botched job. Also, don’t forget that electricity, when handled poorly, can cause severe injury and even death.

Most certified residential electricians have received at least three years of education and apprenticeship training, so relying on their expertise is strongly advised for any home electricity issue.

Whatever kind of work you’re doing at home, a residential electrician will make sure you’ve taken care of everything that concerns your power supply.

*Not only is it dangerous, it may even be illegal in some provinces, such as Québec, to do your own electrical wiring. The solution: consider hiring a master electrician.