5 Signs You Need an Electrical Contractor

5 Signs You Need an Electrical Contractor

Electrical contractors handle everything from simple light fixture installations and repairs to more complex tasks like troubleshooting existing electrical systems, updating wiring, and installing new electrical panels. Whether you have an upcoming project or are simply looking for trustworthy professionals to meet your future needs, the following red flags will help you identify when it’s time to bring in an electrical contractor.

Whether you work as an electrician or another trade professional, it’s important to have reliable contacts who can assist with projects as needed. An electrical contractor is a helpful ally who can assist with a range of services related to electricity in your home or business.

Depending on how often you use them and the scope of their services, they may be able to become partners that charge a flat monthly rate for assistance with whatever projects come up.

Electrical contractors know their stuff when it comes to wiring and circuits. Not everyone has the best understanding of how electricity flows, what all those volts and amps mean, and where an electrical emergency exit is located on a given circuit.

If you’re thinking about upgrading your home but don’t know where to begin, hiring a trusted professional can make all the difference. So much so that you might think these pros appear as if by magic: when you need them most! Here are 5 signs that point to needing an electric contractor:

Check Your Electrical Panel

It may be time to replace your electrical panel if you notice any of the following: Aging and rusting. A panel’s housing should be clean and free of rust. Dirt, rust, and grime can negatively affect the way the system operates and could result in a dangerous situation.

What’s inside? The type of breakers and other components inside your electrical panel will have an impact on your system and what you can do with it. As breaker technology and tools improve, you’ll want to bring your panel up to date. An outdated panel may also mean that your home’s wiring is out of date as well.

Lights Are Flickering and Failing to Turn On

If your lights are failing to turn on and flickering, you may have an electrical overload issue. If the problem lights are near a circuit that has several other lights connected to it, you may want to consider upgrading the switchboard. If the problem is more widespread, however, you may want to call a contractor to assess your wiring and electrical system.

Electrical overload can be caused by a number of different issues, including too many lights connected to a single circuit, a very large appliance plugged into an outlet, or a short circuit. If you notice that a circuit is struggling to turn on all the lights on its own, you may want to add another circuit to help alleviate the issue. If your problem is caused by a short circuit, you’ll definitely want to call a professional.

You’ve Discovered Damage from Previous Repairs

If you find damage from previous repairs, you may want to call a contractor in to assess the scope of the problem and what repairs will be required. From there, you can decide whether to handle the repairs yourself or hire a contractor to take over.

A broken wire is one of the most dangerous situations you could encounter. If a previous contractor failed to replace the broken wire with a new one, they may have simply taped it in place.

This leaves the wire exposed to anyone who comes in contact with it, including you and your family members. If you find a broken wire, don’t touch it. Instead, call a professional to assess the damage and repair the problem.

Your Wiring Is Over 10 Years Old

If your wiring is over 10 years old, it’s definitely time to call a contractor. It’s not necessarily bad wiring or a sign that you installed it improperly—it’s just past the point where it should be expected to function correctly. Wiring can be incredibly dangerous if it’s older than 10 years.

It can also be incredibly difficult to fix. If your home’s wiring is that old and you want to add a new light fixture or run new wires, you’ll probably have to replace the wiring entirely. Even if you have the right tools, it can be a complicated and time-consuming process that you may not be able to complete on your own.

Finding New Wiring is Incredibly Difficult

If you’ve tried adding new wiring but find that it’s incredibly difficult, you definitely have an issue. If you have an old home, you may find that the walls are thick and hard to pierce.

Fortunately, you have a few options: If the walls are very thick, you may want to consider hiring an electrical contractor to route the wires for you. You can also consider hiring an excavator to dig a trench in your yard, laying the wires in the trench, and then covering them back up.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many different signs that indicate the need for an electrical contractor. On Electrical Contractors handle everything from simple light fixture installations and repairs to more complex tasks like troubleshooting existing electrical systems, updating wiring, and installing new electrical panels.

When you notice one of the signs above, it’s time to call an electrical contractor and get your home or business back to normal.