How To Find A Good Electrician

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Identifying the best electrician from a bunch of them can be a little intimidating. While you can get a number of potential candidates online, via friend referrals, or in the yellow pages, it’s up to you to decide on the best one for the job. Simply looking into each candidate, their portfolio, and other qualifications should however help you weed out the quacks leaving you with potential contractors. Some of the important factors to consider when shopping for quality electrical technician include:

1. License and Insurance
All electricians should not only be certified but also have a valid license to operate. For an electrician to be licensed or certified, he/she has to present proof of training and present valid certifications. Hiring a licensed contractor, therefore, protects you from untrained/unqualified persons. The contractor also needs to have an insurance cover. The insurance policy needs to cover both the contractor and items he/she handled while working.

2. Expertise and Experience
You also need to hire an electrician trained and certified in that particular niche. If looking for a contractor to handle entire house rewiring, you then have to look for that kind of an electrician. If you however need basic electrical stuff such as HVAC installations, appliance repairs and servicing, then a primary electrical contractor will do just that. Experience in the niche is a necessity too. It’s only through experience that a contractor can know how to handle even the most complicated electrical systems in his niche.

3. Reputation
Just because someone is well-trained and experienced doesn’t mean he can be trusted with all jobs. While gaining a reputation is easy, maintaining a good one is something else. This is to say, hiring a reputable electrical contractor not only assures you of quality work but also means you can trust them.

These are basically the essential things to consider when hiring an electrician. Looking into their portfolio, licensing and past work can also help you identify the best-fit person for the job.

An Electrician’s Must-Have Tools

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Without the right tools, an electrician wouldn’t be able to do his/her work well or provide the best quality job. These tools not only make the job easier but also safer particularly when dealing with live wires. Basic electrical tools have however improved over the years making them more efficient and safer to use. Outlined below is a short list must-have tools for every electrician or electrical job.

1. Pliers
Long-nose and side-cutting pliers are the most common and necessary tools for most electrical jobs. As the name indicates, these pliers are needed to help hold wires and other tools in place while at work. These pliers can be used to strip or even cut wires to the desired length or crimped into place.

2. Nut and Screwdrivers
Almost every part of electrical work involves tightening and loosening screws or nuts. This is where screw/nut drivers come in handy. These tools come in various calibers and specifications, with the best having a comfortable cushioned grip handle. Some come in all-in-one heads, chrome-plated and heat-treated shafts. Some of the basic screwdrivers have an inbuilt tester, meaning they can be used to test electrical current in appliances and other tools.

3. Power Tools
Power tools come in both cordless and corded variants, with each having a particular use. For instance, cordless power tools come in handy when working in a hard to access panel while corded are more powerful. Saws and power drills are good examples of power tools that electricians use today.

Some of these tools are essential for everyday application and use. Almost every electrician’s toolbox will have all of these among other essential tools. Whether you are an electrician or looking for an electrician to hire, it’s advisable to ensure the technician has all the right tools for the job. Without the right tools, the job would be substandard and even pose a bigger risk to the appliance to be worked on.