Get Quotes from Top Electricians in Lubbock, TX
What to Ask Before Hiring an Electrician in Lubbock
Lubbock is a vibrant city with family-friendly attractions, great nightlife, wineries, breweries, state-of-the-art theaters, and an incredible arts scene. The city’s numerous museums focus on different themes: aviation, history, agriculture, and heritage. Nicknamed the Hub City, it is considered the center of education, technology, healthcare, and manufacturing in the South Plains region of Texas. In this sense, Lubbock fosters the entrepreneurial spirit with numerous opportunities in different industries and trades. With its thriving economy, the need for good electrical services only keeps growing. Thankfully, over 500 electricians in Lubbock are ready to handle all your electrical emergencies.
- What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring an Electrician in Lubbock?
- Are You Licensed as an Electrician in Lubbock?
- What Rates Do You Charge for Your Electrical Services in Lubbock?
- Are You a Master Electrician in Lubbock?
- Will My Electrical Project Require a Permit in Lubbock?
- What Type of Electrical Services Do You Offer in Lubbock?
- Will You Be Doing the Work, or Do You Outsource the Electrical Work in Lubbock?
- Are You a Fully Insured and Bonded Lubbock Electrician?
- Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Electrical Work in Lubbock?
- How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with Your Electrical Services in Lubbock?
What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring an Electrician in Lubbock?
Hiring a qualified electrician in Lubbock is important to ensure your electrical problems are correctly solved. Doing so protects you, your loved ones, and everyone else from potentially fatal hazards and helps minimize the risk of injuries. Working with a qualified electrician ensures all electrical work will follow the National Electrical Code and its local amendments. Some common scenarios requiring the services of a skilled electrician include the following:
- Defective breakers, electric panels, or sub-panels that need replacing
- Burning wires smell
- Upgrading your home's wiring, lighting fixtures, or outlets
- Correction of code violations
- Water damage around electrical outlets and fixtures
Are You Licensed as an Electrician in Lubbock?
Individuals wishing to offer electrical services in Lubbock must obtain a license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). In addition, electricians must register their state-issued license with the Lubbock Building Inspection Department. Any electrician who provides services in Lubbock without a valid license is subject to fines of up to $2,000. Each day of unlicensed work constitutes a separate offense.
So, when hiring an electrician in Lubbock, you must ensure they have the necessary license to carry out your projected electrical work. You can confirm the licensing status of your prospective electrician by using the TDLR's license data search portal or contacting the department at (800) 803-9202 if calling within Texas or (512) 463-6599 if calling from outside the state. In the same way, to confirm if the electrician registered with Lubbock, you can contact the city's Building Inspection Department at (806) 775-2087.
What Rates Do You Charge for Your Electrical Services in Lubbock?
For electrical work in and around Lubbock, average hourly rates range from $20 to $90. Nonetheless, several variables affect the actual cost of electrical services in Lubbock, including the following:
- The urgency of the job
- Your location within the city
- The complexity of the job
- The cost of required permits and materials
- The electrician's local reputation and level of experience
- The scope and nature of the required electrical work
Before choosing an electrician in Lubbock to handle your electrical job, make sure you get and compare cost estimates from at least three electricians. This will help you identify overcharges and ensure you get the best price for the job.
Are You a Master Electrician in Lubbock?
Lubbock considers three main categories of electricians based on their skills and experience:
- Apprentice Electricians: These individuals are not licensed to work as electricians. They enroll in an apprenticeship program where they carry out basic jobs under the supervision of a licensed electrician.
- Journeyman Electricians: These electricians have completed an apprenticeship and can perform various electrical jobs without supervision. They usually must pass an examination and accumulate at least 7,000 hours of working experience to obtain a license.
- Master Electricians: These electricians are highly skilled individuals who have been working as licensed electricians for several years. They can perform all kinds of electrical jobs regardless of their complexity. To work as a master electrician, an individual must accumulate at least 12,000 hours of work experience and pass a licensing exam.
Confirm that your prospective electrician in Lubbock has the necessary license and experience to carry out your job before you hire.
Will My Electrical Project Require a Permit in Lubbock?
The Lubbock Department of Building Safety requires electrical permits for projects involving the erection, installation, repair, removal, conversion, alteration, or replacement of any electrical system. The department gives electrical permits only to electricians with a state-issued license. The electrician must register their license with the city's Building Inspection Department before applying for a permit.
For more information about the electrical permitting process, contact the city's Department of Building Safety at (806) 775-2087.
What Type of Electrical Services Do You Offer in Lubbock?
Professional electricians in Lubbock can handle various types of electrical tasks, such as the following:
Will You Be Doing the Work, or Do You Outsource the Electrical Work in Lubbock?
Professional electrical contractors in Lubbock can usually handle most electrical jobs alone. However, in certain projects, especially large ones, the electrician may need to subcontract all or parts of the work to other professionals. So, if you plan to carry out a large project, you should ask the electrician if they will hire subcontractors. If they will, consider taking the following steps:
- Confirm the number of electrical subcontractors to be hired.
- Confirm the licensing, insurance, and experience of the subcontractors.
- Get a lien waiver to protect you from being held liable for non-payments by the primary electrician to the subcontractors.
Are You a Fully Insured and Bonded Lubbock Electrician?
All licensed electricians in Lubbock must maintain minimum business liability insurance limits of $300 000 per occurrence (combined for property damage and bodily injury), $600,000 aggregate, and $300,000 aggregate for products and completed operations. In addition, electricians must also maintain workers' compensation insurance for their employees, if any.
When negotiating electrical services, request copies of your prospective electrician's insurance policies and ensure their coverage is adequate for your project’s scope. For more information about the insurance requirements for electricians in Lubbock call the TDLR at (800) 803-9202 if calling within Texas or (512) 463-6599 if calling from outside the state.
Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Electrical Work in Lubbock?
Many reputable electricians offer work warranties for their electrical services in Lubbock. If your intended electrician does not offer a warranty or tries to downplay its importance, you should consider it a red flag.
Please note that the terms and conditions of these work warranties are determined by the electricians who offer them. So, ensure you request a written copy of any warranty you are offered and review it to avoid voiding it, and make sure that the warranty will be valid for at least one year.
How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with Your Electrical Services in Lubbock?
Suppose your electrician is unlicensed, you received subpar electrical services, or you have been a victim of an electrical scam in Lubbock. You can report those cases to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) by filing a complaint using the TDLR's online complaint form or by contacting the department at (800) 803-9202 if calling within Texas or (512) 463-6599 if calling from outside the state.
You can also file a complaint against a fraudulent electrician in Lubbock with the Texas Attorney General's Office by contacting its consumer protection hotline at 1-800-621-0508 or by completing an online complaint form. Likewise, you can report an unlicensed electrician offering services in Lubbock to the city's building inspection division at (806) 775-2087.
Table of Contents
- What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring an Electrician in Lubbock?
- Are You Licensed as an Electrician in Lubbock?
- What Rates Do You Charge for Your Electrical Services in Lubbock?
- Are You a Master Electrician in Lubbock?
- Will My Electrical Project Require a Permit in Lubbock?
- What Type of Electrical Services Do You Offer in Lubbock?
- Will You Be Doing the Work, or Do You Outsource the Electrical Work in Lubbock?
- Are You a Fully Insured and Bonded Lubbock Electrician?
- Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Electrical Work in Lubbock?
- How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with Your Electrical Services in Lubbock?