It is finally time to do something about the basement. Now that your children are older they do not need the space for the tricycle riding, the gymnastics tumbling, or the movie theater sleep overs. After years of serving as the catch all for crafts, Christmas decorations, and storage tubs, it is now time for the basement to become an organized, finished space for the entire family. You have called the electricians and they are going to come give you an estimate.
In addition to new building projects, electricians can also provide a variety of other services for homeowners. A residential electrician, for example, is often one of the first and last contractors on any new job site, and is also called in for remodel and new space construction.
Any time you need electrical work done at your home or business, it is important that you hire residential and commercial electricians who are properly licensed. Improperly installed electrical work can be both dangerous and costly. Each year, in fact, there are 30,000 non-fatal shock injuries caused by accidental contact with electrical systems or electric-powered devices, according to Electrical Safety Foundation International.
Worse yet, improperly installed electrical work can lead to fire. For instance, in the year 2011, an estimated 16,400 non-home structure fires reported to American fire departments involved some type of electrical failure or malfunction as a factor contributing to the ignition site. These fires caused 418 civilian deaths, 1,570 civilian injuries, and $1.4 billion in direct property damage.
The Electrical Safety Foundation also recommends electrical home inspections:
- When you are purchasing a home.
- When your home is 40 years or older.
- When you are adding an additional appliance.
- When your home has had a major renovation.
An electrical home inspection is important for the safety of your home, and offers confidence in the following:
- Guaranteeing safe operation of electrical components in your home.
- Identifying electrical mistakes made by contractors and previous do it yourself homeowner projects.
- Tagging outdated wiring including aluminum or knob and tube.
- Checking for electrical wiring, as well as components that may have become worn over time.
- Indicating oversized fuses or circuit breakers that could lead to fire.
- Saving you energy and reducing costs.
- Correcting fire and safety hazards.
- Assessing insurance risk and inspection requirements.
- Letting new home buyers know a property is safe before they purchase it.
Electricians are an important part of every building project. Make sure that you find one who is both licensed by the city and state, and is respected by other builders and contractors.