4 Benefits of Hiring a Residential Electrician
Whether you’re building a new home from the ground up or you’re remodeling key components like your kitchen or bathroom, hiring a professional, licensed electrician in St. Louis is essential. Perhaps most importantly, it’s the law. Without an electrician’s license, you cannot legally work on the wiring of your own home. However, there are even more important reasons to hire a professional as well. Keep these benefits in mind when you start your next home project.
It Protects Your Property
Hiring a professional electrician to install new equipment or wiring ensures your property is protected and works efficiently for the duration of its life. Take a new HVAC unit, for example. It should last at least 15 years, but if you install it incorrectly, it may only last half that time. In fact, improper installation of electrical appliances can account for utilities that are as much as 30% higher than they used to be.
It’s not just a matter of utility efficiency, either. If you don’t know what you’re doing with the many wires that electrical equipment uses, you put your entire property at risk of falling victim to an electrical fire. These types of fires often do the most damage and could even put your home at a total loss.
It Protects People
If you don’t know what you’re doing when it comes to electrical wiring, you put yourself and the people in your home at a much higher risk of sustaining life-threatening injuries. A misstep with wire installation could cause severe electrical shock or even start a fire that leaves pets and people at danger of being unable to escape. Hiring an electrician in St. Louis ensures the job is done right and nobody is put in danger.
The Job Is Done Right
Even if you’re lucky enough not to cause any serious injury or property damage due to faulty wiring, you still run the risk of spending more money than you need to if you try to install electrical appliances on your own. Faulty wiring will, of course, require rewiring, which means you’ll need to pay a professional anyway, plus pay for additional supplies. Hiring a professional from the very beginning ensures you only pay to have the job done once.
There Is a Professional Guarantee
Finally, hiring a professional electrician in St. Louis ensures you have a guarantee. Electricians offer warranties that ensure their work is done correctly. On the off chance that something does go wrong within a specified amount of time, and if it is the electrician’s fault, he or she will fix it free of charge. Hiring a professional is also essential for insurance claims. If you cause an electrical fire, your insurance is not as likely to cover it. However, proving a professional worked on the wiring makes it more likely that you’ll receive compensation for any damages.
When it comes to hiring an electrician in St. Louis, don’t just choose the first company that comes up on Google. It is important to research first. Ask for and verify license information and insurance information, check out the company’s reputation on the Better Business Bureau and on review websites, and do your due diligence to ensure you are hiring a company that fits your needs and your budget. Remember, customer service and professionalism such as that available from Show Me Electrical is essential for a job well done.
5 Electrician Do’s and Don’ts to Live By
Basic electrician work is important. Even something as simple as custom lighting or ceiling fan installation takes time and care to finish. No matter how much you think you know about electronics, you should never complete electrical work without the supervision of a certified electrician. When you need work done, your first question should be “where can I find an electrician near me?” If you don’t follow basic electrical safety guidelines, the results can be dangerous and devastating. Here are some simple dos and don’ts to follow when dealing with electrical work.
Do Not Overload Your Outlets
The outlets in your home have a specific design. They only deliver a certain amount of electricity. You should never try to overload your outlet or push them past their limits. If you plug in too many devices at once, then you risk an explosion or fire. Say that you recently had a home theater install and have too many electronics to plugin. Consider investing in a power strip or consulting an electrician to protect your outlets from an overload.
Do Keep Electrical Equipment Out of Water
You should already know that you should never put electrical equipment near water. Water conducts electricity and the slightest exposure might lead to a dangerous shock. Even if you don’t think a small amount of water will cause any damage, it’s crucial that you wipe up messes automatically. Make sure that none of your plugs or appliances end up wet.
Do Repair or Replace Damaged Cords
Some homeowners overlook exposed wiring or damaged cords. If the cord still works, they assume that it will be fine. This isn’t always the case, however. If you spy tears in the protective coating with the wire exposed, you need to make sure to cover it as soon as possible. Sometimes electrical tape can save a cord if it’s only a superficial problem. However, with extensively damaged cords, they need replacements right away.
Do Not Constantly Reset Breaker
If the breaker trips, sometimes you can reset it and go about your day as normal. If you know what caused the breaker to trip, simply turn off the electrical device to avoid overloading the circuit. If the breaker trips again as soon as you reset it, then you need to investigate the cause. If you can’t find the cause, you do not want to keep resetting the breaker.
Do Hire an Electrician
If you need electrical work performed on your home, hire a professional first. Whether you’re installing new kitchen lighting, a shower light or making upgrades to your control panels, it’s better to have a professional to do the job right. Amateur work tends to lead to more errors. Not only will bad electrical work lead to devices not working properly, but you could also end up with fire hazards or electric shock risks throughout your home.
Electrical safety is important. If you’re worried that there are electrical problems in your home, then you need to contact an electrician right away. Problems with your general electric work can end in fire or electric shock. Keep your family safe and search for an “electrician near me.”
How to Tell When an Electrical Inspection is Necessary
Most people take their electrical systems for granted until something more than replacing a lightbulb is needed. The truth is that unless you have the training to work with electrics, you should leave any work up to a skilled electrician in St. Louis who has the expertise to recognize and repair the problem. An electrical inspection is a smart way to ensure that everything is working as it should, but not everyone realizes how important this kind of checkup can be. These scenarios can explain when you should schedule an electrical inspection.
Electrical Emergency
Flickering lights, even after replacing a bulb. A burning smell. An electric shock when you turn a light switch. Any of these problems can come on suddenly or recur, but either way, they should be cause for concern.
After the Storm Passes
A big weather event can bring thunder, lightning, hail, or even blizzard conditions. Any of these severe storms can also down power lines, cause surges through your home, or knock down trees. Your home may also get hit by a lightning strike, and with that level of current going through your system, you should get an inspection as soon as you can to make sure everything is working correctly.
Buying and Selling
When the time comes to buy or sell your home, you should schedule an inspection with an electrician in St. Louis. The last thing you need is any problem with a contract that is contingent on the condition of the property being held up by an electrical issue.
Major Remodel
Any time you plan a large-scale renovation of your home, you should make sure your current electrical system can handle the new demands, especially if you are looking at a new addition. It’s better to arrange for an inspection and have an electrician review the design to make any repairs or recommendations for electrical outlet configurations or other ways to add to the existing system.
Advanced Age
You can imagine that building codes have changed quite a bit over the years as better energy-efficiency, new technology, and safety considerations come into play. If your property is more than 25 or 30 years old, you should talk to an electrician in St. Louis about inspecting and even upgrading your current system. Over time, components and parts do wear out, which could create a fire hazard without you knowing it.
Don’t DIY
Not every home project is appropriate for every homeowner to complete. One of the areas that should be left to a professional is any electrical work. The risk of injury may be higher than with other home projects, and if not done correctly, you may need an electrician to redo it or at the least inspect your work to ensure your home is safe.
As you can see, a thorough electrical inspection does more than provide you with peace of mind; it can also keep your home or other property in compliance with code regulations and safety standards. Working with an electrician in St. Louis, such as the professional team at Show Me Electrical, can take a lot of the worry out of your electrical needs.
6 Reasons to Hire a Professional Electrician Instead of Trying DIY Solutions
Owning a home can be expensive, and it’s tempting to look at each new problem as an expense not worth spending money on. While there are some elements of home maintenance where you can safely tackle problems on your own, your home’s wiring should not be one of them. If you have an electrical issue or need a new device or outlet installed, here are the six best reasons to hire a professional electrician in St. Louis for the job.
Safety First
Working with electrical wiring can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing, and amateur electrical work is a recipe for disaster. When you hire a licensed electrician in St. Louis you know that your work is being done by a trained professional and that you are not having to endanger yourself or others, both in the process of the work being done and in using the devices installed in the future.
Estimates Let You Know What to Expect
When working with an electrician in St. Louis you’ll receive an estimate at the start of your job, and due to their professional experience, you can expect it to accurately reflect final costs. When you try to do a job yourself it’s easy for costs to spiral beyond your expectations over the course of the work.
Stop Small Problems Before They’re Big
A common mistake that homeowners make is seeing a small problem and deciding that it can be lived with. While it may be true the small problem isn’t ruining your day, they have the tendency to grow into big ones when left unchecked. An electrician in St. Louis can fix your small issue before it becomes bigger and more expensive.
Get the Job Done Right the First Time
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is spending a little money on a DIY home repair to save money compared to hiring a professional, only to have your sub-standard work lead to additional work in the future. Sometimes the most cost-effective option is to spend a moderate amount one time instead of spending a lesser amount several times over.
Enjoy the Peace of Mind
Electrical fires are a scary prospect, and when you trust your wiring needs to a non-professional it’s likely to leave you worrying about the potential for such hazards in your home. When you hire a professional electrician in St. Louis you know that your work was done right and you don’t have to waste energy worrying about the dangerous side effects of improperly completed electrical work.
Stay In-Line With Modern Codes
There are strict rules and regulations which must be followed when working on a home or construction project. Electricians are trained to know the latest rules in your state so you know that the work they do is compliant with local regulations, saving you from any headaches should your home need to undergo an inspection, such as during a sale or reappraisal.
Whether you’re having a new construction completed, redesigning a room or simply need a repair to an electrical fitting in a room, hiring a professional electrician in St. Louis is the best way forward. Don’t take a chance on amateur electrical work. Call Show Me Electric for a consultation today.
4 Signs You Need to Call an Electrician
The electricity in your home is essential to almost every part of your everyday life. Without a properly functioning electrical system, you will no longer be able to cook a delicious meal, watch your favorite TV show, or perform your usual nighttime routine. A small malfunction in your electricity may not seem like a big deal at first, but it can become a bigger problem over time and cause major inconveniences for you and your family. To address an electrical malfunction properly, it’s crucial to take immediate action. Here are four telltale signs that you need to call an electrician in St Louis who specializes in serving homes and businesses.
1. Flickering Lights
An effective electrical system should be able to handle multiple appliances at once. While it’s normal for large appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners to use up a lot of power, they shouldn’t prevent you from turning on the lamp in the living room. If you find that the lights in your home flicker or dim when you have more than one appliance running at a time, this typically signals that work needs to be done on your electrical system.
2. Overheated Switches and Outlets
Another common problem that requires you to call an electrician in St Louis immediately is overheated electrical components, such as switches and outlets. If these objects are warm to the touch when you plug in an electrical appliance, it means that the system is overloaded. Not only can this severely damage your electrical system, but it may also pose serious health risks to you and your family. Licensed electricians can resolve this issue by rewiring the necessary areas and restoring safety to your home.
3. Old Electrical System
In some situations, the cause of a malfunctioning electrical system is age. The older your system gets, the more often it will need to be inspected by a skilled electrician in St Louis. During these routine inspections, an electrician can identify all kinds of problems in your electrical system, such as rust, faulty wiring and dated circuits. Because these issues can put you and your family in danger, it’s vital to schedule a full service electrical inspection on a regular basis.
4. Faulty Fuse or Circuit Breaker
In many modern homes, you can find an array of gadgets that swallow up electricity even when they’re turned off, such as big-screen TVs, internet modems and computers. These devices often put too much strain on older fuses or circuit breakers, which can lead to a complete electrical shutdown. The most effective way to keep your home’s circuit system running smoothly is to call an electrician in the greater St Louis area who can upgrade your system appropriately.
Taking Proper Care of Your Electrical System
Your electrical system needs regular care and maintenance to stay in top condition. If you encounter any issues, don’t hesitate to call an electrician in St Louis who has years of experience. He or she can expertly diagnose the problem and identify the solution that will bring your home back to its normal state.