When it comes time to remodel the kitchen or put an addition on their home a lot of homeowners wonder aloud if they should use a licensed electrical contractor or the local handyman or even do the wiring themselves. What most are not aware of is that hiring a licensed electrician to do the work is not a luxury, it’s the law. The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) in fact is quite plain spoken when it comes to the issue. Any business or individual hired to do electrical work in your home must be a licensed electrical contractor. Below we’ll look at the reasons why that is.
Licensed Electricians: Why the ESA Insists on Them
There are a number of good reasons the ESA requires the use of licensed electricians. Here are three of the most noteworthy:
- Accountability – Licensed electricians must demonstrate mastery of their craft and are legally and professionally bound to adhere to specific practices and regulations. In other words, they are accountable. Something amateurs are not. As such public safety requires that the ESA insist that anyone who does electrical work in your home be a licensed electrical contractor.
- There are a Lot of Frauds – Like it or not there are a lot of guys out there masquerading as qualified electricians who are nothing of the sort. One of the reasons ESA requires you to enlist the services of a properly licensed pro is to protect you from frauds. Here are some ways you can identify an unlicensed electrician:
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- Their work vehicle does not have an ESA license number on the side.
- None of their paperwork includes an ESA license number.
- When you call them and ask for the ESA license number they hang up.
- They offer to do your drywall, plumbing and other tasks as well.
- You can only contact them through a third party email like gmail.
- They say you don’t need an ESA license to do electrical work in Ontario.
- Because the Only Option is to do the Work Yourself – That’s right. If you decide not to hire a licensed electrician to do your work your only legal option is to do the work yourself. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. First you must – repeat must – obtain a permit prior to commencing work. This will alert the ESA to the project and result in them sending an inspector to ensure the work is done correctly. If it is not your home may be deemed unsafe for habitation until the work is redone by a qualified licensed electrician. A process that will take time and a good deal of money.
Keep in mind that even if you manage to have the work conducted in secret if you ever decide to sell your home it will need to be inspected. If that inspection uncovers shoddy electrical work your sale is off. Make sure you always enlist the services of a licensed toronto electrician. It’s more than common sense. It’s the law.
