Electrical repairs are best left to the professionals, but you have to know what you’re looking for in an electrician to be sure you have the right person for the job. It can seem tricky, but here a few tips for making sure you’re hiring a professional you can trust.

A good electrician will be upfront about their licensing information and the type of work they are permitted to complete under that license. You could be held responsible for hiring the wrong type of electrician. Even if things appear to go smoothly, you can’t be sure you electrician was trained for the job he or she just completed.

It’s important to make certain your electrician is insured. You can always ask to review insurance policies to check that they are current and will cover the type of work you are asking to have done.

Make sure that the electrician you are hiring has experience with a similar assignment. If they have completed projects like yours, check to see they come recommended by former clients.

Often you can get an estimate from an electrician based on the job as you describe it. Invite them to see the space, and describe in the best detail you can what you would like to have happen. While some electricians do upcharge in the process, sometimes their legitimate estimates are too low because of how the job or location has been described during an estimate.

Ask for an estimate and a breakdown of the costs from more than one electrician. It will help you get a better understanding of what to expect from the process and you’ll be able to see which electrician is offering the fairest price for both parts and labor.

How old is your home? Has your electrical system been updated within the last 5 – 10 years? If you haven’t asked these questions recently, it’s probably time to examine your options! Older homes with older electrical systems aren’t typically able to handle the stress of modern electrical appliances. So what can you do to make sure your home can safely run all of your appliances and electronics? Typically, a heavy up can be the answer to your problems. But should you install one? Let the experts at Kolb Electric answer!

A heavy up is an increase in the amperage (power) of your main electrical service. But how can you know if your home is in need of an increase of amperage? There are some things you can check to make sure you’re in need:

Depending on your specific goals, you have a range of upgrades available when thinking about a heavy up. Some service upgrades are as simple as adding a few additional circuit breakers to the existing box, or expanding the box with a subpanel. More complex upgrades may include things like replacing a fuse box or an aging panel with one that allows for higher energy capacity. A Kolb Electrician can evaluate the condition of your current panel with any problems you are experiencing to determine how extensive your upgrades will be.

The time depends on the job. Adding additional breakers to an existing panel is usually pretty quick, often taking less than an hour. Installing a subpanel is not too complicated either, often taking no more than a few hours.

Where it starts to take a long time is when you need to make serious upgrades. If you need to replace a fuse box or circuit main, you could be looking at a job that takes all day.