Reasons for hiring a licensed electrician!

The worst-case scenario: Your home burns down and your insurance doesn’t cover it due to unlicensed work. The US Fire Administration recently shared some staggering statics. Over 28,000 electrical fires occur each year causing $1.1 billion in property damage, 310 deaths and 1,100 injuries. They pointed out that many of these fires happen because of wiring and they most often occur due to a resident overloading outlets or extension cords.

Education is key to safety and home efficiency. Hiring an electrician that is knowledgeable on city and state code requirements and is certified is critical to ensuring you and your family can enjoy your electronics and appliances safely.Outdated wiring can cause an electrical fire, especially if your home is over 20 years old. A lot has changed in the last two decades and electrical outlets are being maxed out by charging iPads and multiple other devices as well as accommodating wide screen TVs, Xboxs, not to mention all of your appliances.

Breakers and best practices. A licensed electrician can help you create a system for your home that is safe while making sure you have what you want when you want it. For instance breakers are an important aspect of the electrical equation. If breakers have worn connectors your electrical system could get overloaded, which could result in an electrical fire.

Codes and permits. If another contractor needs to secure a permit and an inspector is requested, he/she may inquire about the electrical work to ensure it is up to code. This could cost you a lot of time and money.

What is required to be a licensed electrician in the state of Washington? Education, training and experience. This includes over 8,000 hours of general journey level training dand 4,000 hours of specialty training, which includes hands-on experience. There are three stages to becoming a licensed electrical contractor. They include:

• Serving as an apprentice supervised by a journeyman electrician for 2-4 years
• Passing a test for a journeyman’s license
• Taking and passing another test to become a master electrician or administrator.