Being stuck at home has become the new norm in 2020, and your electrical system quite literally keeps the lights on. Especially if you’re working from home and have kids attending virtual school, any electrical mishap can easily interrupt your day-to-day routine and sense of comfort that you’ve worked so hard to maintain.

When you encounter finicky outlets, an electrical surge, or a breaker trip that knocks your home’s power out, it might be tempting to solve the issue yourself. Although it is possible for you to safely trip your own breaker, most electrical issues are best solved by hiring a professional electrician rather than braving the work yourself. Consider these reasons why you may want to go with a licensed electrician before pulling up that “Electrical 101” YouTube tutorial.

5 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Licensed Electrician over a General Handyman or DIY

1. Permits

Hiring an electrician is always recommended for two very important reasons: compliance and permits. Just to name a few of the permits that electricians are required to obtain prior to being on the field: Annual Electrical Maintenance Permit, Circuit Panel Permit, Electrical Outlet Permit, and the list goes on. You can find the full list at the Houston Permitting Center’s website.

2. Inspections

Being a homeowner can be quite demanding when it comes to inspections. It can be tricky to know where to look, and when you see something that does look off, it can be difficult to determine what it might mean. Hiring a licensed electrician will take away the guesswork of self inspection and give you a clear idea of what’s going on with your home. John Moore’s electricians not only offer repairs and upgrades, but they also offer safety inspections. Thorough and accurate inspections are important to remain in compliance with Houston’s codes and will ensure your wiring, electrical panels, and lighting both inside and outside are up to par with requirements.

3. Training

All of John Moore’s electricians are trained, certified, and licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Certifications do not come easily; let’s take a brief look at what an electrician’s timeline looks like from start to finish: electrician training begins with an apprenticeship. From there, they have to acquire an Apprentice license, then a Wireman license, then a Journeyman license, and then they can apply to be a Master Electrician. Overall, this can take a minimum of 8 years.

As you can see, electricians need a lot of background training to know the ins-and-outs of electrical safety standards, which is why tampering with your home’s electrical system is best left to the professionals.

4. Safety

It is no question that high-voltage electricity can be tricky to work with. The slightest slip up could result in electrocution, damage to your electrical equipment, or even spark a fire. In fact, according to the NFPA, electrical work is one of the top 5 reasons individuals’ homes catch fire. Obtaining home insurance will be quite the challenge if they inquire how the fire was started—by an unlicensed electrician.

Electricians are trained to specifically look out for any potential health and safety hazards which, in turn, will keep you and your loved ones safe. Completing electrical work efficiently is a safety measure that should not be overlooked. If you were to do the work without the proper knowledge—even for something minor like replacing a light switch—you could unknowingly risk future hazards.

While unlicensed electrical work may be the more tempting and affordable option, it isn’t worth exposing yourself or your family to potential danger.

5. Convenience

If you’re preoccupied with day-to-day life, electrical work might not be something you have the time to take on yourself. Electrical work is not an easy task—it takes concentration and patience. Let’s face it, these two requirements can be challenging for a family, especially if you have a million other items to get to on your to-do list: take the kids to their after school activities, jump on a work call, stock up on your weekly groceries, you name it.

Hiring a licensed electrician to do the work means a hassle-free project for them and for you. They will get the project done efficiently, in a timely-manner, and will address any additional issues you may not even be aware of. Our licensed electricians are trained to perform the highest quality of work, which is why they are backed by John Moore’s 10 year warranty.

Oftentimes electricians are the first to catch additional issues behind your walls or near your electrical panels and will conveniently refer another specialist to fix the newfound issue. For instance, if an electrician performing a rewire notices that the wires were damaged by rodents, they will let you know and can refer another one of our specialists from pest control to get rid of the critters that were causing the problem and prevent any future wiring issues. As a homeowner, you already have a lot on your plate, and coordinating multiple contractors can be hectic. That’s why crossing all problems off with the same trusted company is the practical choice.

Call on John Moore for Trusted Licensed Electricians in Houston

At John Moore, safety and satisfaction are our top priorities. We want to make your life easy, and encourage all homeowners to stay out of harm’s way by relying on licensed professionals to fix any electrical issues in your home. For quality licensed electricians, visit John Moore’s general electrical service page or call 713-730-2525 for an estimate or contact us online!