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Hiring an electrician: what to check first
License, permit, inspection. Three checks that take a few minutes and tell you most of what you need to know before work starts. Pick your city for the local details.
Calls are answered by an independent provider that serves your ZIP code. You decide whether to hire.
- Answered by a local provider
- Matched to your ZIP code
- Hiring is your decision
Guides by city
- Nashville, TNDavidson County
- Chattanooga, TNHamilton County
- Murfreesboro, TNRutherford County
- Franklin, TNWilliamson County
- Brentwood, TNWilliamson County
- Lebanon, TNWilson County
- Huntsville, ALMadison County
- Birmingham, ALJefferson County
- Montgomery, ALMontgomery County
- Decatur, ALMorgan County
- Auburn, ALLee County
- Opelika, ALLee County
- Prattville, ALAutauga County
Questions to ask before you hire
- What is your license number, and which license is it? Look it up before the visit.
- Does this job need a permit here, and will you pull it?
- Who schedules the inspection, and is the job finished only after it passes?
- Do you carry liability insurance? Ask for the certificate.
- Can I have the scope and price in writing before work starts?
Problems and costs, explained
Why a breaker keeps trippingA breaker that trips is doing its job. The question is what it is reacting to, and whether that is a busy circuit or a fault.
Outlet not working, breaker not trippedA dead outlet with no tripped breaker usually has a cause a few feet away, and often in another room.
Half of the house lost powerWhen one part of the house is dark and the rest is fine, the cause is either in your panel or on the power company's side of the meter.
Lights flickering in the houseOne flickering lamp is usually a bulb. Flicker that follows you from room to room is a different matter.
What a panel replacement costs, and why quotes differTwo quotes for the same house can be far apart and both be honest. The difference is almost always in what each one includes.
Federal Pacific panels: what is known and what to doFederal Pacific Electric panels with Stab-Lok breakers come up in home inspections often. Here is what the public record says, without the alarm.
Aluminum wiring in a houseAluminum branch wiring was common for about a decade. The wire is not the weak point; the connections are.
Home EV charger installation: what drives the costThe charger itself is the predictable part. The wiring between your panel and your parking spot is where quotes differ.
What electricians charge per hour, and what the bill coversThe hourly figure on a bill and the hourly wage of the person doing the work are two different numbers. Knowing why helps when comparing quotes.
What it costs to add an outletAdding an outlet can be a short visit or half a day. It depends on where the power comes from and what the wall is hiding.
Jobs people call about
- Panel and service upgradesReplacing a breaker panel or increasing service capacity. Ask whether a permit and the power company's sign-off are part of the job.
- New circuits and outletsDedicated circuits for appliances, added outlets, GFCI and AFCI protection.
- EV charger installationA 240-volt circuit and charger mount, sized to the panel's spare capacity.
- Rewiring and repairsReplacing damaged or outdated wiring, tracing a circuit that keeps tripping.
- Generator connectionsTransfer switches and interlocks so a generator can power the house safely.
- Lighting and fansFixtures, recessed lighting, ceiling fans and exterior lighting.
About this site
Is ProDoorstep an electrical contractor?
No. ProDoorstep is a guide and a connection service. When you call, you are connected with an independent electrical provider that serves your ZIP code.
Who do I pay for the work?
The provider you hire. ProDoorstep does not perform work, set prices or collect payment for jobs.
How do I check the electrician's license?
Ask for the license number and look it up in the state's public search linked on this page. The lookup takes a couple of minutes.
Does every electrical job need a permit?
Rules differ by city and county. The office named on this page is the one to ask for your address.
Talk to a local electrician
One call. You describe the job, and the provider that serves your ZIP code takes it from there.