Electrical contractors are business people who execute specific construction work based on installation, design and maintenance of the electrical systems. Electrical contractors are not electricians. Electricians work as an individual tradesman while electrical contractors are people from business firms that provide work for electricians. Electrician and electrical contractors both hold insurances and licenses to manage the business safely and properly protect the business owners or home owners and the employees from the insurance burden.
Different types of electrical contractors
You will get a variety of electrician and electrical contractors each focusing in a technology or application. Few examples of electrical contractors comprise of electrician, network installer or alarm installer, low voltage contractor etc. Each field includes its own set of techniques and skills along with individual set of rules and regulations.
- Electricians – They are the most familiar type of electrical contractors. They work in both residential as well as commercial situations. They perform various tasks such as outlet and switch wiring, utility hook ups, installation of electrical breaker box, installation of fixture and electrical interface related activities. Electrician and electrical contractors must clear a certification test to get a license from the state for their work. The work that is performed by the electricians which is inspected by the local electrical inspectors. Sometimes the electricians appoint helpers who help in the installation of fixtures or wiring. They have to report to a licensed contractor who will further certify and inspect their work.
- Low voltage contractors – Anything less than 600 VAC is considered as low voltage by most of the governing bodies. Low voltage contractors are the alarm installers, telephone technicians, and computer network engineers. This type of work requires voltage which is very nominal, to perform analog or data signals rather than using raw electricity. The low voltage contractors of some states can apply for a specific license for their work. There is supervised by licensed electricians and electrical contractors.
- Outside plant – The electrical contractors who maintain and install high voltage transmission lines between electric company services are designated as an outside plant. They have licensed electricians with special training for their work.
- HVAC contractors – These types of an electrician and electrical contractors work with residential and commercial air conditioning and heating tools. HVAC tools present special risks due to high voltages and their immediacy to high water or moisture. In some states require HVAC license separately.
How to choose the right electrician
It is very important to keep the electrical system inside your home functional and safe. But when you face any problem you would like an expert to solve the problem successfully. There are many electricians and electrical contractors in the market so it becomes hard to choose the best among them. Here we will discuss some factors which one should consider before choosing a contractor.
– Licensed, insured and bonded – It is always preferable to choose a well licensed, bonded and insured electrician who will fix the electrical problems at home. This will look after the unnecessary stress and costs when something gets wrong and also make sure that the electricians who are working must be properly trained to perform the work effectively and safely.
– People working on the team – There are many workers who work as a team or a company. This team or company includes licensed trainees or electricians, master electricians etc. If any electrician company gets excess work they may delegate the work to some other licensed electricians to make the work completed. It is better to have complete information about the company who will handle your project so that if they don’t attend your home project you are at least informed about that beforehand.
– Certification and qualification – It is very important that the electrician and electrical contractors are well trained and experienced so that they can provide top quality service for your electrical installations and repairs.
Above all word of mouth is always considered a popular way of evaluating any service provider. With the help of internet, reviews and testimonials it becomes easier to get a complete knowledge of the companies. This type of analysis provides widespread impression about customer satisfaction and performance of the electricians with granted recognition and high customer ratings.
