Choosing a 'Spark'

The wiring within your walls is complex and potentially dangerous and should only ever be tackled by a registered and fully qualified electrician. The consequences of not doing so ‘properly’ could result in disaster for you, your family and home. Electrical work is potentially amongst the most dangerous jobs to carry out in the home. Hiring someone who isn’t capable can result in catastrophe.

That's why despite being Electricians ourselves we have created this guide to help you choose an electrician - your safety and wellbeing is paramount, while obviously we would like you to use us because we consider ourselves the best, there are other very capable contractors out there! See below for everything you need to know!

Why should you choose a registered electrician?

A correctly installed and well-maintained installation can significantly reduce the possibility of accident or injury. So, it is important that any electrical installation work is carried out by people who have the knowledge, skills and experience needed to avoid the dangers that electricity can create.

Below are some more reasons to always choose a registered electrician!

• They’re strictly regulated by the UK and Scottish Governments.

• They work to the stringent BS7671 safety standard

• Their work is regularly assessed

• They’re insured (indemnified), so you have peace of mind

• It’s also a legal requirement to meet certain building regulations

What should you do when choosing an electrician?

• Be very clear about the work you want done and, unless it is minor, ideally obtain at least three written quotations

• Check that the electrician is registered with a government-approved scheme.

• Ask for references and check the electrician has public liability insurance of at least £2 million.
  

We highly recommend that you give your electrician a written summary of work required, which will simplify the quotation process and give you and your electrician a clear record of what has been agreed. This ensures that:

• You can easily compare quotes

• The electrician will know exactly what work is required

• The electrician will be aware of any special instructions in advance

• The electrician will be able to give you options if there is more of one way of providing the work that you require

• Once you have agreed a quote, you can ask the electrician to sign the bottom of the summary as confirmation of what has been agreed

• It can help to avoid a dispute as all parties are clear as to what has been ordered.

Important questions you should ask your electrician!

Are you a registered member of one of the Government approved schemes?

Start by checking that the individual is a registered member of one of the Government approved schemes. Choosing a registered electrician means you will get additional protections should something go wrong. Contact the scheme directly if you want to check the individual’s registration.

Could I see your paperwork?

Some people feel embarrassed about checking qualifications of the person they are employing, but if you are working with a tradesperson who is unwilling to show you evidence of their qualification and registration status then this could be a warning sign.

Do you have any references from previous customers?

If you are uncertain about an individual, ask them to provide references of previous happy customers. You can if necessary contact these referees to explain the work they had done and how satisfied they were with the job done and the price paid.

I’d like to get a second opinion – can I get back to you?

Don’t feel pressured to make a decision quickly. If an electrician makes you feel uncomfortable for any reason, then seek advice before you contract them to do work for you. Also, get a few quotes so that you can compare options. The cheapest quote may not be the best deal – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Building Regulations

When you are planning electrical work in your home, check whether it comes under the requirements of the Building Regulations for your area. If it does, you should use an electrician registered with a government-approved scheme who will take care of everything on your behalf and notify your local authority before the work is started.

The Building Regulations in England & Wales are different to those in Scotland. There are no Building Regulations for domestic electrical work in Northern Ireland, although we still recommend that you use a registered electrician. We hope you find this information informative and useful, please feel free to contact us about ANY electrical work you may be considering having carried out, we will always be happy to offer sound advice.