What You Need To Know About Hiring An Electrician

At Electricians of Dallas, we know that taking on any electrical repair or starting a home improvement project requires the help of a licensed professional.  However, there are often a number of questions that come with this, such as:

• Do I even need an electrician?

• How do I know if my electrical problem is an emergency?

• What is a free estimate?

• What should I look for in an electrician?

In this article, we will go over each of these questions to help you better understand your search for an electrician.

Do I Even Need an Electrician?

The world is powered by electricity.  Without it, your automatic coffee maker, electric stove, or your company’s data center wouldn’t function.  Because of this heavy reliance on efficient electrical systems, homeowners and businessowners alike rely on electricians to help them when things go south.

But how do you know if you even need an electrician?  Is it ever safe to DIY a repair or a project?

Most often, homeowners do need to call a professional.  Some examples of the services that require an electrician would be:

• Installing a light fixture or a chandelier

• Replacing a circuit breaker

• Adding an outlet

• Adding outdoor lighting

• Installing a ceiling fan

• Installing an EV charger

• Updating an electrical panel

There are times when it might be safe to DIY a project, as long as you have the proper tools and safety protocols to do so.  Some examples of this are:

• Replacing an existing outlet

• Replacing an existing appliance

• Replacing an existing light switch

If you are to attempt a project on your own, always remember that safety is priority one when doing DIY projects. Having a volt meter to verify a circuit is off or on when turning off a breaker or group of breakers to work on something is crucial for your safety.

However, electricity is dangerous, so calling a professional is highly recommended, even if it's a simple task.

How Do I Know If It’s An Emergency?

Sometimes, homes and businesses can come across a more urgent problem.  In these cases, it is never safe to DIY the repair, and it is always necessary to call a professional as soon as you detect the problem.  If a homeowner or businessowner fails to do so, it can potentially cause an electrical fire, leading to major damage.

Here are some signs that your electrical problem may be urgent:

Sparking outlets: When an electrical appliance or lighting fixture is plugged into an outlet and turned on it draws current. If your outlet is weak from years of usage, it could cause sparks and even start burning up the internal wires which in turn could cause a fire. This should be addressed as soon as possible. Turning off the circuit until a licensed professional arrives to correct this issue is recommended.

Burning smells: A persistent burning scent, especially one that smells like burning plastic, near outlets or appliances or up in the attic is a crucial warning sign.  It usually indicates overheating wiring and should be treated as an emergency.

Smoking wires: Noticing any smoke from your electrical wiring or outlets is a serious problem.  When wires overheat for too long, they can cause the sheathing around the wire to start melting. This could leave the wires exposed and potentially cause a fire. An electrician would need to check the electrical panel and breakers to see if they are operating properly. If a wire is overheating, then it's possible that the breaker is bad since it didn't trip from the overload or even oversized for the circuit.

Circuit breaker trips: While circuit breakers are made to trip to prevent any overloading, frequent trips might signal an underlying issue with your electrical system that requires immediate attention. Again, it could be that the appliances that you have plugged in could be too large for that circuit. Constant tripping of a breaker when trying to reset it indicates that there is a dead short and needs to be diagnosed as to what's causing it. Shorts are when a hot wire and a neutral or ground wire are touching each other somewhere down the line of the circuit. This can be caused by burnt wires, outlets, switches, or a fixture.

If any of these signs apply to you, call an emergency service right away.  You could be at immediate risk for an electrical fire. 

What is a Free Estimate?

A free estimate roughly estimates the cost of a job that a company provides.  Some companies offer free estimates for their services.  If you find a company that offers free estimates, give them a call and request the free estimate. The professional will provide you with an approximate total for the services you need. This is different from a diagnosis of the problem. Many companies that offer free estimates will have a diagnostic fee if they have to go out and diagnose the issue and provide a solution.

Since it is an estimate, you should not expect the numbers to be perfectly accurate.  It is not unusual for the final quote, which comes later on, to cost more or less than your estimate.

Quotes, on the other hand, give a more detailed breakdown of the expected costs, including labor, materials, and other expenses.  While a quote is more precise and more concrete than an estimate, it is still subject to adjustment based on any new information such as an expanded project or if a challenge arises that requires a redirection of the work. If this happens, the electrician should contact you about the changing price.

Do All Electricians Give Free Estimates?

No, it is very common for electricians to offer paid estimates.  Usually, it is to cover costs such as vehicle maintenance, fuel, and compensation for the technician’s time.

It is also often used as a gauge for the potential customer’s intent.  Charging for an estimate may filter out the more casual inquiries and bring in clients who are more likely to proceed with their projects.

You may find some electricians who will deduct the estimated fee from the final cost, but only if they are hired for the job.

Electricians of Dallas always offers free estimates, all year long, no matter the project.

What Should You Look For in an Electrician?

What is most important is that the electrician you choose is licensed.  All electricians should have their journeyman's or apprentice licenses. A master's license is only required when operating a business along with a state contractors license which should be on the company website as well as the working vehicles. If you want to be extra cautious, you can always check their license's validity on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations website.

It is also very important to read reviews on Google, Yelp, or other trusted sources to find an electrician that provides quality customer service, excellent work, and reasonable pricing.

Why Choose Electricians of Dallas?

Electricians of Dallas is a family-owned and operated business that offers reliable service from experienced technicians for all your electrical needs.  From a whole-house rewire, to a chandelier installation, from an EV charger installation, to a panel replacement, Electricians of Dallas is here for you. Give us a call at 972-418-0691 if you need a free estimate.