When ensuring that the electrics are safe in your home or workplace, you will want to hire someone that knows how to fix them. An electrician is a tradesman or tradeswoman who is qualified to carry out work on your electrics. They will be able to fix and install electrical appliances. In this article, we take an in-depth looking into what is an electrician. As well as what they do.
An electrician is a tradesman or tradeswoman whose responsibilities is to design, install, maintain and troubleshoot electrical systems. The systems that they look after can either be located in your home or at a place of work in commercial and industrial buildings. They can also be machines and larger pieces of equipment.
An electrician will work both inside and outside. They will ensure that you can use lights, televisions, work equipment and other appliances essential in your daily life. Some of these appliances include:
An electrician can carry out a variety of electrical tests and installing electrical appliances in your home. You would want to hire an electrician if you need an electrical issue fixing. Or if you are wanting an electrical appliance installed.
It is important that the electrics in your home are safe. And that they are performing they way they should be. The main things that our electricians at IPF Electrical do in your home are:
The fixed wire test is also commonly known as the EICR (electrical installation condition report). It is an electrical inspection and fixed wire test that will assess the condition and compliance of the wiring withing your propery.
An EICR is the best way to check for any electrical faults. When doing this test they will be able to identify any issues. And then rectify them to prevent causing problems in the future.
Thermal imaging is great for understanding what is going on in our electrical systems. Specific equipment must be used for this, so it is not something you can do yourself.
By carrying out thermal imaging of your systems, it will pick up any parts that are overheating. This will help decrease the risk of failure and a fire of the electrics.
An electrician will be able to install electric heating systems in your home. These systems heat up your home, normally in winter when it is colder, so you can keep your house warm.
There are different types of electric heating. And these include:
At UPF Electrical we have many years of experience in installing electric heating. This includes our best selling storage heater, the Dimplex Quantum Storage Heater.
The consumer unit within your home is also known as a fuse box. It is used to distribute power throughout your property. It will provide electricity to all your rooms and appliances in your house.
By ensuring that the consumer unit is working well overall is important to the safety of your home. If there is to be a power surge, the unit will act like a safety device and prevent any damage to your electrics.
As well as an electrician carrying out electrical tests and installing appliances in your home, it can be done in the workplace too. There are some things that will be carried out in the workplace that you won’t have at home. The main things that our electricians at IPF Electrical do in the workplace are:
PAT Testing is also known as portable appliance testing. It is the process of testing electrical appliances used within the workplace. The test will limit any accidents that may occure in the future. And the appliances are either deemed safe or not safe.
Some appliances will require to be PAT tested more than others. The more you use an appliance, the more you will need to get it tested. You can read more about the frequency of PAT testing here.
Emergency Lighting Test is used in a variety of business and commercial settings. We must ensure that the emergency lighting is working correctly. This enables you to be complaint with the regulations.
By carrying out tests on the emergency lighting, we can ensure that it is working the way it should be. If there are any issues, it can be fixed right away.
Having electrical work carried out should not be left to unqualified or inexperienced people. It is vital you hire an experienced electrician. You may also refer to them as an electrical engineer.
There are four important steps to hiring an electrician for the work you need doing. Whether you are hiring for the work in your home or the workplace, you should follow these steps.
When looking for someone to carry out your electrical work, you want to find someone local. And someone that is recommended or well known in the area for their good work.
All electrical engineers will need to have the correct qualifications. If you are having work carried out at your home, this falls under the Part P building regulations. This means the engineer must be certified by their local authority building control. It is important they are qualified and certified correctly.
At IPF Electrical, we City & Guilds Qualified and approved by the NICEIC. You can view all of our accreditations here.
As with most things, you will want to shop around. We recommend getting three quotes, no matter how small the job is. Depending on the electrical work that needs to be carried out, detetermines if a survey is needed. In some cases the engineer will be able to give you the quote over the phone.
However, you should be wary of getting a quote over the phone. This can sometimes be an estimate. And when the job is completed, they might charge you more than agreed.
Once you have got your three quotations arranged, they will carry out a survey. This involves them coming to your property and assessing the work that needs to be done.
They should provide you with a detailed written quote. This will help you make the decision of which company to go with. As well as things like:
However, remember that the cheapest quote isn’t the best. You should listen to the recommendations of the electrical engineers. And how professional they are in your home.
Although you might not have the electrical knowledge to understand what needs doing, your electrical engineer should explain. If you have hire a good electrician, they will be able to explain how they will:
This should be done before they start work at your home. Afterwards, they will show you the work that they have completed. Make sure that everything is working as expected. As well as you understand how to use any new appliances.
Now you understand what an electrician is and how they operate, you can decide on the best company or person for the job. They will look after the electrical systems located in your home or at a place of work. And ensure that they are safe for you and your family.
At IPF Electrical we are here to help with any of your electrical needs. All of electricians are qualified and we have local certification. Feel free to Contact Us if you have any questions. Or would like a quote for a job.