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My question has to do with who can do electrical work in a home. I’m in the beginning stages of starting a maintenance business (does maintenance service sound better than handyman serice?). I have the knowledge to do minor electrical work, but do not have a license to do so. The laws must be different in every state, but I’d like to see how you guys deal with it. What electrical contractor is going to take the time to replace or add a couple of outlets or add a bathroom light? I want to provide a good service to my customers, but don’t want to get sued or fined. Appreciate any of your info.
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You do realize you are asking folks to say on a public forum whether they are knowingly breaking the law of their home state?
*The kind of electrical contractor who gets paid by the hour.
*If your goal is to avoid being sued or fined, ask your building inspector. Sometimes the answer varies city to city.Rich Beckman
*People are more adapt with the handyman. You might not get as much work with the other name. About the other thing; Electricians like service calls. Just ask their wife if you dont believe me.
*I have a MAINTENANCE service, and I am allowed by Texas law to do small electrical repairs without a license. I do have to go through an inspection, though. I cannot ADD circuits, change existing circuits, or upgrade a system. I can replace outlets, switches, fixtures, etc... James DuHamel
*Ok so how come the large retailers come out to install a new dishwasher.The installer does not have a good grasp of the english language let alone come from a country where indoor plumbing is common, and he proceeds to install electric and plumbing. Is this living in denial or just good at not getting caught?
*yesthere are a lot of things done that don't seem to fit the picture.It's not just the big retailers.
*It works for them because a worker (not necessarily a plumber or electrician, but a worker in general) can work off of a single, umbrella license. If I own a plumbing company, and am licensed, I can hire people to work UNDER my license number. They personally do not have to have a license, and would still be legally able to do the work.Big retailers have an umbrella license (usually an employee that is a licensed whatever), and everyone works under their license #Sears lists the license numbers of various trades on their service vans. This is a regional thing, and each region has different numbers. The same numbers are on ALL of their vans in that particular region. No matter who shows up to do the work, all are working under those umbrella license #'s.James DuHamel
*Mr DuHamel, Depends on the state. My state, Ma, requieres only liscensed plumbers and electricians to do the work. No one else can even pull a permit, which is required for everything. Journeyman can work alone, no helpers. Masters can have unliscensed helpers but have to be present when the work is being done. If that's changed here (Ma), maybe someone to correct.BobL
*The distinction in my locale is that a non electrician can do repairs ie replace receptacles, hang ceiling fans etc but not install new circuits. They also cannot do anything requiring the power to be turned off and back on by the power co. The reality is they can do whatever they want until they get caught which is nearly never.