Several people believe that they can fix a sudden or on-going electrical problem on their own. Attempting to do your electrical work can be very dangerous, not to mention a potential waste of time and money. When it comes to electrical projects, your safest option is to hire an electrician. Hiring an electrician in Hamilton is easy and they can help you with any electrical project, big or small. An experienced electrician saves you time and money, gives you peace of mind and most importantly gets the work done! An electrician can also help you obtain any permits you may require if you are rewiring your house. In Hamilton, only Licensed Electrical Contractors (LECs) are legally permitted to perform larger electrical jobs. They can employ professional electricians who can work under their supervision.
The cost to hire an electrician in Hamilton is based on a few factors. These include what your electrical project is, the amount of time needed, and the type of electrician. In this cost guide, you will find the estimated costs to fix some of the most common electrical jobs in Hamilton. These costs are based on 13 Hamilton homeowner reviews submitted to HomeStars. Use this cost guide to help you determine a fair price to pay when you need to hire an electrician.
Cost for Various Electrical Jobs in Hamilton
| Job | Average Cost* | Lowest Reported* | Highest Reported* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appliance Installation and Wiring | $593 | $130 | $1,500 |
| Generator Installation | $3,150 | $1,500 | $4,800 |
| Light Fixture Installation | $1,611 | $100 | $5,000 |
| Knob and Tube Rewiring | $10,233 | $8,800 | $13,000 |
Costs as of October 2020*
Common Electrical Projects in Hamilton
Appliance Installation and Wiring:
- In Hamilton, you can find an electrician who can easily help you install your new appliances. Whether it’s a new kitchen stove or a full home theatre, the installation must be done by a professional and certified installer.
- Doing installation by yourself or hiring an inexperienced electrician can cause loopholes in positioning and cabling, your unit may suffer physical or technical damage and even the safety of your new appliance can be at risk. Hire an electrician who can install the appliance without any issues.
- Based on the size of your appliance and the type of electrician you hire, it may cost you anywhere from $130 to $1,500 to install an appliance in Hamilton.
Generator Installation:
- Having a back-up generator for your house can help you in a sudden power outage situation and save you from impending darkness. In Hamilton, only a licensed electrician can help you to install a generator.
- A professional electrician has all the necessary equipment for site preparation, material handling and product placement to successfully install a generator.
- An educated electrician can also help you acquire any permits required for the job. Excluding these permit charges, hiring an electrician to install a generator in Hamilton may cost you up to $4,800.
Light Fixture Installation:
- Doing a light fixture installation by yourself may seem like a great idea in the beginning, but we assure you that getting an expert electrician’s help will go a long way.
- An electrician can solve many light fixture problems like uneven mounting brackets, managing with multiple size screws, short wire and the possibility of a small electrical shock. Professional electricians in Hamilton who are trained for this job and understand the risks can charge you $1,611 on average to install your light fixtures in no time.
Knob and Tube Rewire:
- If your house was built before the 1950s, it will likely have an old knob and tube or aluminum wiring. This type of wiring is considered a higher risk for modern wiring installations as there is no ground wiring. These wirings are open to huge safety hazards and it’s wise to get them changed with the help of a master electrician as soon as possible. Once you replace the knob and tube wiring with a contemporary wiring system, only then will an insurance company will approve your homeowner’s insurance coverage.
- Based on the size of your house, it may take a team of certified electricians 1-2 weeks to complete the job. When you hire an electrician, make sure you ask them whether the drywall patching charges are included in the fees or not. Overall, to get the knob and tube rewired it may cost you up to $13,000 in Hamilton.
Factors Impacting Electrician Costs in Hamilton
Types of Electricians
There are three types of electricians: an apprentice, a journeyman and a master electrician. Based on their education, experience, licenses and certifications, these three types of electricians can help you with your next electrical project.
- An apprentice is a student electrician who is learning the business while studying. An apprentice is always supervised by a journeyman or a master electrician. An apprentice can help you with smaller electrical jobs and may cost you less.
- A journeyman is an educated and newly licensed electrician. A journeyman can help you with a variety of electrical jobs without any supervision. Many journeyman electricians work with master electricians or major electrical contractors which provides you with a better chance of quality service.
- A master electrician is the most qualified, experienced and licensed electrician. They usually work on their own or have a solid team of other qualified electricians working for them. You should hire a master electrician for major electrical jobs like rewiring the house or generator installation. They will charge you more compared to an apprentice or a journeyman.
Material and Labour Cost
- To complete an electrical job, you need more than a qualified electrician with a toolbox. You will need specific wires, electrical boxes, panels and other parts depending on the complexity of your project. You may also have to consider permit application costs if applicable.
- An electrician in Hamilton can help you acquire the extra material required or you can purchase it from a local or online store. Make sure you compare brands and prices and then purchase the part. Additionally consulting with the electrician before the purchase is equally important.
- Big electrical jobs like rewiring a whole house, requires a team of electricians. This may result in additional labour costs. Based on your timeline, the number of electricians working on your project will vary. Discuss the labour costs with your electrician when you make your project plan.
- When you hire an electrician, discuss the material and overhead costs with them before starting the project. This will save you from any surprise costs on your final invoice.
Emergencies and Off-Hour Services
- Hiring an electrician at off-hours or to tend to your emergency needs can be quite expensive. When you talk to an electrician, ask for their emergency fees before hiring them.
- An emergency or off-hour service may cost you double the actual cost to get an electrical job done.
Tips to Hire an Electrician in Hamilton
Check the HomeStars Tools
- Be it an emergency call or a well-planned project, hiring a qualified electrician in Hamilton can be difficult. HomeStars helps you to hire a trusted and experienced electrician with confidence by offering you some of the best service tools.
- After placing a quote request, HomeStars will match you with the three best electricians in your area. You can chat with these electricians, discuss the cost to complete a job and make an appointment. You can also check their company profile on HomeStars to make your decision. You can assess them based on their Star Score, verification badge and reviews given by Hamilton-based homeowners.
Confirm the Callout Fees
- Electricians usually charge a call-out fee on their first visit to your home. On this visit, they discuss the project details with you and as per your requirements, start the work immediately or schedule a later time. These call-out fees differ based on the type of electrician you want to hire.
- Many times homeowners are not made aware of these charges in the beginning. To avoid being stunned by a call-out fee in your final bill, we recommend that you ask the electrician about it in your first conversation.
Ask for Insurance and Damage Cover
- An electrical job can be hazardous and dangerous. It may damage your property and appliances. Though the experienced electricians do their best to complete the job without any hassle, there can be situations where you might face property damage.
- When hiring an electrician, make sure you ask them if they provide any insurance and damage cover. Also, confirm with them that they will clean up the place after the job is done.
Check for ESA License Number
- The ESA also known as the Electrical Safety Authority of Ontario works towards making electrical jobs secure and safe. The ESA issues license numbers to electrical contractors who are qualified and go through their rigorous licensing requirements. By law, as a homeowner, you are required to only hire electricians who have the ESA license number.
- Before hiring the electricians, make sure they have a valid license number. You can check this on their website, their vehicle, pieces of equipment and their marketing materials. You can specifically ask them to provide you with their license number. If they refuse or fail to provide it, we strongly recommend that you do not hire them to do the electrical work.
- An ESA license number certified electrician is insured, safe, experienced and recognized by law to do your electrical project.
Fill out this service request form to hire an electrician in Hamilton.