Why you should Always choose a Licensed and Insured Electrician

04 Aug Why you should Always choose a Licensed and Insured Electrician

Kingsport, TN

The Electrical Safety Foundation estimates that approximately 51,000 home electrical fires occur each year, doing about $1.3 billion in property damage. Many of these fires, unfortunately, are caused by shoddy work performed by electricians who are unlicensed or not properly trained. This is why, if you are looking for an electrician in Kingsport, you should only work with electricians that are licensed and insured. We explore this topic in greater detail, today on the blog.

What can happen if you work with an unlicensed electrician?

Qualified electricians can charge a high price for their services. This cost reflects their training and experience, as well as the type of work being done. It may seem like an unlicensed electrician or fly-by-night contractor is the better choice because you can pay less, but this is a decision that can cost you greatly in the long run.

• Building code violations – Local code standards exist to ensure that any electrical work performed on your property is both safe and effective. Faulty wires or shoddy work can cause short circuits or, as mentioned, an electrical fire. If work is done that does not adhere to code, it may have to be ripped out and replaced. There also may be a fine assessed that you would be responsible for paying.
• Limit liability – How would a code violation be detected? The state or local government can send out an inspector at any time to inspect an electrical project. If the work is deemed not up to code, you have to pay another, licensed electrician out of your own pocket to complete the project the right way. Moreover, if an unlicensed electrician does the work, you are liable for any injury that they or someone else might sustain because of your electrical system.
• Property damage – This is one of the greatest risks of working with an unlicensed electrician. The state of Tennessee requires electricians to receive a license for a reason. Most locations in Tennessee require at least 8,000 hours of work experience and hundreds of hours of classroom instruction just to apply for a journeyman license.
• Lower property value – The majority of electrical projects require permits before they can be completed, and an electrician who lacks a license will not be able to obtain those permits. In the event that you sell your property at a later date, you would need to disclose this information, and it is sure to diminish the asking price you can expect.

Fully licensed electricians in Kingsport, Tennessee

You can avoid all of these risks by verifying that any electrician you work with is licensed. These licensed professionals also are required to carry insurance. When you hire a licensed electrician, you know they have completed the hours of training and on-the-job experience to know how to tackle your project. They also have a personal incentive to do work up to code standards, as they could lose their certification if they fail to follow the rules.

Every technician who works with Thompson Electrical Service is licensed, bonded and insured for any and every aspect of electrical work. To find out more about our services, call our office in Kingsport at (423) 343-5726.