In a world of big box home improvement stores and Google, there’s really isn’t much a determined do-it-yourselfer can’t fix around the house. There is one area, however, where even accomplished homefront handymen (and women!) take pause, and that’s electrical work. A mistake made while working with electricity can have damaging, even deadly, consequences. This is especially true with emergency electrical repairs when a homeowner may feel a heightened sense of urgency to attempt a DIY fix on a time crunch versus calling a professional.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is a non-profit organization that promotes electrical safety and tracks electrical related deaths and injuries annually. ESFI reports that there were 160 electrical fatalities in 2018 (the most recent year of their published data) and of those deaths, 35% were in a private residence, while 26% were in an industrial setting and another 13% happened along a street or highway.
The message here is pretty illuminating; electrical work in the home should be left to professional electricians. Specifically, emergency electricians that not only do the job right, but specialize in responding to customer calls that happen on off-hours like evenings, weekends, and holidays. At On Time Electrical, we want your business and we’re confident our skills, experience, and customer service are unmatched in the industry. However, what is more important to us, is that customers make the safe choice when it comes to tackling electrical repairs by leaving it to professionals, even if you don’t call us. Here are key things to consider when preparing to hire an emergency electrician.
The Benefits of Calling an Emergency Electrician
You save time and money. Yes, that goes against the traditional school of thought that you’ll pay more and waiting longer for a professional during off-hours (which is when many emergency electricians are called.) Think of it this way, if you were to put a fair market price on the hours you would spend researching the fix, getting the parts, repairing and possibly re-repairing the problem, you will almost certainly invest more in a job (that may not be done correctly) than the cost of an emergency electrician. Should you cause property damage to your home or, even worse, yourself, then the “saving time and money with DIY” benefit is completely lost. Emergency electricians are used to being called out on holidays, evenings and weekends, which means you don’t have to blow up your plans to have a repair safely done if it happens outside of “normal business hours” during the week. Being ready to roll whenever you call is a hallmark of On Time Electrical’s service.
Along with being available 365 days a year, 24/7, here are the 5 Key Things You Should Look for in an Emergency Electrician:
- Fast response and excellent customer service: When you call them, you should expect to speak to a knowledgeable person who can listen to your concerns, give you accurate answers and get your work order submitted to a technician immediately.
- Upfront, honest pricing estimate: You should be able to get an educated estimate on what the job will cost, with the caveat that there can always be additional charges based on what the emergency electrician finds once he or she “gets their hands in it.” If you ever get the runaround on a commitment to hourly rate or an estimate, move on. Ask if there is a separate trip fee related to the call out, or if that’s all considered in the hourly rate. On Time Electrical will always give you a complete, accurate bottom line estimate before any work begins.
- Has a license, insurance, and experience: The best emergency electricians arrive in a truck stocked with the most common tools and parts needed in residential repair so the job is done right…and right now. There shouldn’t be lost time running to the nearest electrical supplier for parts. When you book the job, ask who is coming to do the work so you know who to expect. Many emergency electricians will send a text or email with the technician’s name and picture ahead of their arrival. Please ask us for our credentials any time, it’s important to us that you’re confident and comfortable with the technician who will be coming to your home.
- Offers a warranty on the work: Ask about a warranty on the work to be done. Most reliable, professional emergency electricians guarantee their work for at least one year.
- Strong, positive customer reviews. Any emergency electrical service worth your time will have customer reviews online that you can view. You should also check their Better Business Bureau rating and reputable customer review sites such as Angie’s List, Yelp, and Home Advisor, to name a few. (You can also use popular social media outlets such as Facebook and NextDoor to ask trusted friends and neighbors who they’ve used for emergency electrical work.) At On Time Electrical, we’re very proud of our A+ Better Business Bureau rating and the countless positive customer reviews we receive. We know trusted referrals are important in helping you choose the best emergency electrician for your next repair or project.
On Time Electrical customer service is available 24/7 at (704) 675-7400. You can also visit us online anytime at www.itselectriccharlotte.com. Check out our weekly and monthly specials, plus we waive the service call fee on ANY repair! Locally owned and operated, we’re On Time Electrical. It’s electric!