According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, home electrical fires account for an estimated 51,000 fires every year. It is also estimated that roughly $1.3 billion dollars in property damage is also caused by home electrical fires annually. In some cases, these electrical fires can be linked to shoddy work done by unlicensed electricians. What’s more, the damage caused by unlicensed electricians can be so extensive that it isn’t covered by homeowners insurance! This considered, the dangers of hiring an unlicensed electrician are evident.
If you’re considering hiring an electrician, your first step should always be ensuring that they are licensed and insured. Not only is hiring an unlicensed electrician to complete work illegal in most states, but it puts you and your family in unnecessary danger. Today, we’ll be discussing the dangers of hiring an unlicensed electrician so that you’ll know exactly why you should never take the risk.
An Unlicensed Electrician Puts Your Property At Risk
Although there are many risks you take by hiring an unlicensed electrician, one of the largest is the risk of damage to your property. A licensed electrician can handle matters like electrical repair easily, but an unlicensed electrician could easily make a mistake that turns into the worst case scenario. Poor electrical work is a common cause of electrical fires. These fires are difficult to extinguish and can cause irreversible damage to your home.
An Unlicensed Electrician Doesn’t Carry Insurance
When you work with a licensed electrician, you have the peace of mind that their work is covered by insurance because it is required by law. Unfortunately, unlicensed electricians do not provide the same reassurance.
Without insurance, the liability of any damage resulting from their work falls on you. While you may think you’ve gotten a great deal hiring an unlicensed electrician in terms of cost, if an estimate seems too good to be true it usually is. Depending on the damage caused, an unqualified electrician could end up costing you thousands.
A legitimate electrical contractor will always carry insurance in case of an accident, which is much less likely to occur by hiring a professional in the first place.
The Cost of Injuries Could Fall on You
Aside from damage to your property becoming your responsibility, you can also be held liable if an unlicensed electrician is injured on the job. Again, a good electrical contractor will always hold general liability insurance to cover potential injuries. Someone who is uncertified, on the other hand, will not. In this case, it will be up to your homeowners insurance company to help you. Not only will rates increase, but there is also no guarantee that you will be reimbursed for the cost.
Potential Decrease in Property Value
Some electrical repairs are required in terms of function, safety, and even legality. On the other hand, some upgrades are made with the idea of increasing property value in mind. If considering this for your home, you should bear in mind that an unlicensed contractor won’t be helpful. Many electrical projects require permits to be completed and an unlicensed electrician won’t be able to get them. When it comes time to sell the house, you would have to disclose this information- which will harm your property value.
Unlicensed Electricians Typically Don’t Have the Skills & Knowledge Required
Even if your unlicensed electrician manages not to cause an electrical fire, they still lack the skills and knowledge required to catch potential problems with your electrical system. The National Fire Protection Association reports that one of the most common causes of home fires is electrical malfunction or failure.
When there are problems within your home’s electrical system, a professional electrician has the knowledge to notice these issues. From there, they have the skill to work proactively to prevent a dangerous situation. An unlicensed electrician is not likely to notice these problems, leaving you and your family at risk.
How to Verify That Your Electrical Contractor is Licensed
The next time you set out to hire an electrical contractor, you need to ensure that they are licensed. As we’ve shown you in this article, there are many dangers associated with hiring an unlicensed electrician. So how can you make sure that your chosen electrician holds a current license in the state of North Carolina?
The North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors makes it easy to verify licensing of electrical contractors in North Carolina. Simply search by company name, and you can view all of the important licensing details. This way, you can ensure that you’re in good hands. It’s important to do your due diligence when hiring any type of home service professional. Make sure to do your research!
Give the Most Trusted Electricians in Raleigh a Call Today!
Now that you understand the importance of hiring a licensed electrical contractor, trust no less than the best for your next project! Right Electrical Services is proud to employ the most knowledgable and skilled electricians in North Carolina. We would love to become your go-to electricians. Give us a call today at (919) 359-1017 or feel free to contact us online. We’re ready to take on your next electrical project.
Renee Rose
Renee is a freelance copywriter and blogger known for her expertise surrounding topics like marketing, freelancing, mental health, and more. She has written for hundreds of small business websites and is the Marketing Director here at Right Electrical Services, LLC.
Renee believes that when a business prioritizes entertaining, engaging, and informational content for their readers, they can expect a loyal following that trusts their company.