When you need an electrician for your home, it is very important that they you hire a certified and licensed electrician. Your electrical system affects your entire home or business and faulty wiring done by an unskilled electrician, is a fire hazard.
Transworld recently had a homeowner contact our office because he was concerned with an odor that was coming from the electrical panel and noticed that the HVAC unit kept running. Our certified and licensed electrician went to check out the problem. When he arrived, he safely opened the electrical panel and checked the crawl space under the house, these are the electrical hazards that he found.
This photo shows the poor craftsmanship and multiple NEC (National Electric Code) violations of the previously unskilled electrician who serviced this electrical panel.
As you can see in this picture, the junction box is hidden because it is covered by a wall. Another NEC violation.
This photo shows improper splices done by the previously unskilled electrician and a code violation because they are located outside of the junction box.
This photo shows improper splices done by the previously unskilled electrician and a code violation because they are located outside of the junction box.
The Problem: The previous unskilled electrician (NOT a Transworld employee) failed to use the correct gauge wire to supply the HVAC and range circuits. This smaller gauge wire and loose connections were causing the wires to heat up and burn. They also violated the National Electric Code when they buried there open wire terminations inside the wall without a box or cover.
The Solution: Transworld’s certified and licensed electrician installed new circuits for the HVAC and range circuit with 60 amp and 50 amp circuits. Also, he used the correct gauge wire to supply power to the HVAC and range circuits.
Unfortunately, we have seen this on multiple occasions where we have be called to correct an electrical hazard that was created by an unskilled electrician. We understand that finding certified and licensed electricians is not always an easy task. We have compiled a checklist that will help you ask the right questions so you can be sure you’re making a wise investment and most importantly that your home is safe from any electrical hazard.
Hiring an Electrician Checklist
- Is the electrician qualified and do they have a state license?
An electrician earning a state license means that they have trained a certain number of hours, knows the state codes and regulations, and takes safety seriously.
- Are they insured?
A professional electrician will have public liability insurance that will cover any unforeseen accidents that may occur whilst carrying our work on your property.
- Do they have any recommendation or testimonials from past customers?
Getting references can give you an extra peace of mind that you’re hiring the right electrician.
- Are they offering a fair price?
It is recommended that you shop around for quotes. Doing this will give you a better idea of what is a reasonable price for the work.
