Everything you ever to need to know about electricians
This article is all about everything you ever to need to know about electricians. Its for anyone who wants to discover more about electricians in terms of finding one, hiring one etc.
What is an electrician?
An electrician is someone who works with electricity, typically in planning, installation and maintenance of electrical systems in commercial, industrial and residential buildings.
What works do they do ?
Electricians operate in every single property you can think of including commercial, industrial, leisure and residential and so forth.
In a domestic setting they will install:
- a mains circuit board.
- cables for lighting and power
- lighting fittings
- power fittings
- fire alarm
- security alarm
- extractor fans for showers and ovens
- kitchen power and lighting installation
They will carry out similar works in non domestic situations albeit at a much larger scale.
Do electricians have formal qualifications?
Technically speaking (and with tongue firmly in cheek), if I take out my old single power socket and replace it with a double socket, then I am an electrician — I am working with electricity and therefore I can call myself an electrician. Its not a protected title like ‘Doctor’ or ‘Sir’ or even ‘Architect’.
But in reality when we say electrician we mean someone who has undertaken an apprenticeship with a qualified electrician, had their hours signed off and passed some exams. Then they can register as a qualified electrician.
And that is all we are talking about here, registration. If you are hiring an electrician you should ask for their registration number and check it is valid (that they are indeed qualified) on the relevant website.
In the UK some registration boards include the Electrical Safety Council, electrical Competent Person Scheme Operators.
If you are checking for a business name you can check the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting.
How much is an electrician?
We could not finish an article about everything you ever to need to know about electricians without talking about price.
It is difficult to say exactly how much an electrician should cost.
It really depends on the task they are being requested to carry out.
The minimum charge for an electrician to call out to your property would be £100.00.
And they will give you a quote for the works.
How do I find an electrician ?
To find an electrician, follow these steps:
Research electricians in your area on the internet.
Make a list of electricians or electrical companies that look like they would carry out the works you need.
For example, ignore a large electrical company that does industrial installations if you just want a new extractor fan installed.
Contact the list with a brief description of the works.
Interested businesses will ring or email you and set up a time to visit your property.
They will then give you some advice and a quotation will follow.
To proceed you should email them instructions to proceed so you have a written copy.
When they are finished the works get a receipt and a record of the works they have carried out.
Make sure you tell your insurance company before anyone starts work on your property including small electrical works.
How do you become an electrician ?
To become an electrician you simply research local courses in your area.
It would be a good idea to contact local electricians in your area and ask for some advice about becoming an electrician.
You can start an apprenticeship and after a couple of years you will be qualified. You can work with the same business or you can start your own business — if you are hardworking the sky is the limit!
Is an electrician a good job?
Yes, an electrician is a good job.
It is well paid and quite safe. You don’t have to lift any heavy objects like a labourer would lift 25kg bags of sand.
The works of an electrician are quite protected because of the dangerous nature of them. For example, a carpenter might try his hand at foundations or roofing, plastering and painting because they can logically give it a go and work it out relatively safely. But, unless a person is trained to work with electricity, they will stay away from all things electrical because a faulty installation could kills someone. Also, its more difficult to self-train electrical work apart from say swapping out plug sockets or light sockets.
How do you budget for electrical costs?
It is quite straightforward to create a budget for electrical costs if you know what you are doing.
Check out our article on creating a budget for electrical costs as part of an overall construction cost-plan.
Everything you ever to need to know about electricians
Do you have any questions about electricians ?
Email us now and we would be happy to help.