Electrical Repair Services
Professional electricians are trained to complete your repair jobs fast. Read about various electrical repair jobs and how to get them done right today.
When you need repairs done to electrical parts or systems inside your home you have the option of calling a professional or conducting a DIY project. Before you make your decisions, it is advisable to consider all aspects and requirements pursuant to the repair, including costs for parts and potential dangers. Various fixtures, breakers, fuses and other electrical components all need repair services at some point. It is essential to learn how to estimate the costs of an electrical repair job and make sure it is safe for you to do on your own. Professional electricians are trained and certified to safely and accurately complete the repairs needed. Read ahead to learn more about various electrical repair service jobs and what it takes to get them done right today.
Electrical Repairs - Call a Professional or Do It DIY?
Choosing between calling a professional electrician and taking on a DIY electrical-based repair project needs to always be about safety first. This might not be what some homeowners want to hear, especially those with some handyperson skills under their proverbial (or literal) toolbelts. Some repairs to electric devices are dangerous and require specific skillsets to do safely. Sometimes what appears to be even the most basic home-based electrical problems are extremely dangerous to attempt to fix on your own. How do you know the difference?
From a safety standpoint you need to assess the various challenges and risks. Risks might be involved even from a non-electrical perspective. For example, does the repair require you to climb a ladder? Are the wires in the bathroom, laundry room or anywhere near a source of water? You might be able to handle a ladder but your ability to climb will not prevent electrocution if live wires touch water. Does the repair require removing components from an appliance or device you do not understand? Some electrical repairs require disassembling appliances, cutting into walls, or even accessing the roof.
Electrical repairs are simply not as simple as changing a light bulb. Sometimes what you think will be a simple fix to an appliance reveals shorted wires inside your walls or a failing overall electrical system. Attempting to repair electrical issues you do not understand might lead to more expensive repair bills, injuries or worse.
Average Costs of Common Electrical Repairs
Prices for electrician services vary based on a wide variety of factors, including your location, the experience level of the electrician and the severity of the damage. Low-voltage repair services might cost $50 in one area of the country but less or more in others. The rewiring of your entire house is a major undertaking. Expect those costs to range between $3,000 and $8,000 (approximately). Conversely, if you have a larger house or live in an affluent area the prices might be higher. It is rare for the price of rewiring an entire house to dip much below $3,000, however. For example, the cost of new wiring itself ranges between $6 and $8 per linear foot. Even the replacement of an electrical switch or outlet costs approximately $100 - $200 per outlet or switch.
If you are going to perform a DIY repair job you will possibly need a permit. Permits are required for larger jobs and those susceptible to local and state regulations and guidelines. An electrical permit for DIY work costs between $50 and $350 depending on the type of work required and municipality zoning laws in your area. Prices for additional common electrical repair services are as follows:
- Recessed lighting installations ($100 - $200 per).
- New light fixture installations ($400 per).
- Major renovation project requiring new wiring ($1,000 - $1,500).
- 100 amps electrical panel upgrade ($1,100).
- 400 amps electrical panel upgrade ($4,000).
- Replacing entire electrical panel ($2,500 and up).
How Much Do Electricians Cost Based on Type?
The costs for hiring an electrician vary based on the type of electrician you need. Commercial, automotive, corporate, industrial, and residential electricians are all available for hire. Even residential electricians are categorized in different types, however. Some electricians specialize in low-voltage work, which is forty-nine volts or less. This type of work costs approximately $50 per hour. A low-voltage electrician repairs items such as fire alarms, entertainment systems and internet systems. If you own a business, you can expect a corporate electrician to charge significantly more. This is also true when hiring industrial mechanics to rewire airport terminals or work on multi-story or otherwise dangerous systems.
How Much Do Electricians Cost Based Per Hour?
The national average hourly price to hire an electrician range between $50 and $100 per hour. Some electricians bill in flat rate or per-job increments, however, especially for larger jobs. For example, a whole-house rewiring might be billed as a flat fee based on an amount determined during an estimate. When it comes to an electrician’s experience, the truth is you almost always get what you pay for. An experienced master electrician often has decades of experience and a solid reputation to back his or her work and pricing. Some electricians also charge a higher hourly fee for jobs involving more dangers, risks, and challenges. Travel time is often taken into consideration as well and billed accordingly when called to work outside a normal service area.
Conversely, some electricians charge less per hour the longer they know they will be on the job. Free estimates are commonly offered, but not always. Ask up front if a nominal or minimum hourly fee will be charged for assessing your damages. Electricians also do not provide parts for free. You will pay out of pocket for any parts needing to be replaced.
How to estimate How Much an Electrical Job Will Cost
You want to know how much an electrical job will cost before committing to the repairs. The best way is to have an electrician visit your home and complete an official estimate. A certified professional electrician has the skills, experience, and knowledge of parts (and their costs) to give you an accurate idea of what the total costs will be for the job. If you know what is wrong and what parts are required it is possible to do some DIY research as well. Trusted and popular online resources such as HomeAdvisor.com and HomeGuide.com provide free average estimates for electrical repair services and the costs for parts. It is also possible to use Yelp to inquire with former electrical service customers about how much it cost them to have similar jobs completed.
