Electricity is a basic need in the modern world. When there’s an issue with the electricity in your home, it can seriously disrupt your lifestyle and make carrying out daily activities a hassle. Electrical projects can be dangerous to fix, so you must always hire a professionally trained and certified electrician. An electrician can help you rewire your entire house, install ceiling lights and fans, fix a generator and most importantly update your knob and tube wiring.
To perform these tasks without any danger, Ontario law states that you must hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) in Ottawa for any type of household electrical projects. You can hire other qualified electricians only if they are employed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
The cost to complete electrical projects is based on the skill level of the electrician and the type of project. In this cost guide, you will find estimated costs to complete various electrical jobs in Ottawa. These costs are based on 75 verified homeowner reviews submitted to HomeStars. Following these estimates, you can ask a local Ottawa electrician for a custom quote for your electrical project.
Cost for Various Electrical Jobs in Ottawa
| Job | Average Cost* | Lowest Reported* | Highest Reported* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling Fan Installation | $363 | $100 | $1,000 |
| Appliance Installation and Wiring | $717 | $125 | $2,875 |
| Generator Installation | $5,314 | $1,100 | $14,000 |
| Light Fixture Installation | $1,017 | $127 | $20,000 |
Costs as of October 2020*
Common Electrical Projects in Ottawa
Ceiling Fan Installation:
- A ceiling fan is one of the most common electrical appliances found in an Ottawa home. Whether it’s installing a new one or replacing an old fan, an electrician in Ottawa can help you with your ceiling fan installation.
- An electrician will charge you based on the type of ceiling fan, its location and how many ceiling fans you want to be installed. Another cost factor will be the type of electrician you hire.
- An experienced electrician can help you fix the fan based on the position of the wall to fix the switch, the sturdiness of the ceiling, wiring requirements, mounting and electrical box etc.
- Ask your electrician for details about the process, time frame and any additional materials that may be required to install your ceiling fan before hiring them.
Appliance Installation and Wiring:
- Wiring your house or installing a new appliance is an expert’s job. These tasks should only be done by an expert as they require thorough electrical knowledge. A master electrician or a journeyman are the right types of electricians to hire for the job.
- Be it wiring your new home or rewiring the old knob and tubes, an experienced electrician in Ottawa can get the work done.
An electrician is a right pro to help you with new appliance installations as the project involves complex wiring, moving of heavy appliances, fixing switchboards and connecting the power with the main circuit board.
Generator Installation:
- An electrician in Ottawa will charge you to install a generator based on its size, fuel source, distance from the electrical panel, and the amount of wiring it requires. The additional wiring can be considered as an overhead cost.
- For a gas generator installation, we recommend you only hire an electrician who has a license to operate gas appliances. Additionally, check with the electrician if you have to obtain a special permit to install a generator. The cost to apply for the permit is not included in the electrician’s fees.
Installing a Light Fixture:
- If not done by an expert, light fixtures can cause unnecessary damage to your home’s electrical system and your safety. An electrician in Ottawa can help you with light fixtures in every room of your house and even outside.
- The electrician can also help you purchase the necessary material for the light fixture which may cost extra than the initial quote.
Factors Impacting Electrician Costs in Ottawa
Types of Electricians
Electrician costs are highly impacted by their experience, education and type of certifications they have. There are three types of electricians in Ottawa for hire:
- Apprentice: an electrician who is still learning the trade, is in school or is a part of an electrician certification program, is known as an apprentice. An apprentice is always supervised by a journeyman or master. You don’t have to pay a hefty amount to an apprentice as they can only do small electrical jobs in your home.
- Journeyman: an electrician who has earned the required certifications and has a basic knowledge of performing various electrical jobs is known as a journeyman. A journeyman can be someone who works alone or is employed by a master electrician. A journeyman can help you with jobs like ceiling fan installation, generator fixers, etc. Hiring a journeyman costs you an average of what an apprentice and a master electrician may charge you.
- Master: a master electrician is the most qualified and experienced electrician who can carry out tasks like rewiring the house, installing major appliances, changing electrical panels, etc. They might charge extra compared to an apprentice or journeyman. A master electrician is the most reliable tradesperson to perform any major electrical work at your home.
Materials
- When doing any type of electrical work, you have to consider the overhead cost of materials like wires, switchboards, screws and hinges. You can get this material as per your needs in a local or at an online store. We recommend you compare prices with different stores before making a purchase. You can also ask your electrician to help you find and buy the material on your behalf.
- Check the electrical material’s quality and any warranty period attached to it. In that case, keep all the receipts and purchase records in case you need to exchange the goods.
- Before starting the job, ask your electrician if you need any additional material and how much it can cost you.
Emergencies and Off-Hour Services
- Tripping electrical wire, overloaded outlets or power outages are considered electrical emergencies. If not fixed on time, they can be extremely dangerous for your safety. These emergencies can occur during the day or night, on a busy weekday or a festive weekend. An electrician can help you at such emergent times and fix the problem at hand.
- When you get in touch with an electrician in Ottawa to treat an emergency, make sure you tell them the problem in detail and ask specifically for the emergency fees. If hiring at odd hours, electricians may charge an off-hour service rate.
Tips to Hire an Electrician in Ottawa
Check the HomeStars Tools
- HomeStars can help you make a confident decision when hiring an electrician in Ottawa. You can review a service provider’s star score, their verification badge and verified homeowner reviews on their profile before booking an appointment.
Confirm the Callout Fees
- When you book an appointment with an electrician, they pay a visit, diagnose the problem or the need for the job and make a work plan accordingly. But many electricians in Ottawa charge a hefty amount for the visit which is known as call-out fees.
- Often the call-out fees are not mentioned before hiring the electrician or while booking an appointment. The fees are directly seen on the final invoice which can throw you off your estimated budget. To save yourself from any unexpected additions to the final invoice, we recommend you ask the electrician to share the details of their call-out fees before inviting them for a visit.
Consider the Extra Material and Labour Cost
- Once the electrician has decided upon a work-plan, we recommend you sit with them to work out an estimated budget. This budget includes their fees, labour cost and cost for extra materials.
- This estimated cost will provide you with a fair idea of your final invoice. You can pay a partial amount of the cost beforehand to the electrician.
- You can compare the estimated cost given by your electrician with the costs mentioned above in this cost guide to making sure your quote is fair.
Ask for Insurance and Damage Cover
- Doing an electrical job can be dangerous and risky work. If not done with care and precaution, it can result in heavy damages. Before hiring an electrician in Ottawa, ask them if they have work insurance and if they provide any damage cover for your assets.
Check for ESA License Number
- Electricians in Ontario must obtain an ESA (electrical safety authority) license number to do any type of electrical job. Whether you are rewiring your entire house or just installing a new appliance, you must only hire electricians who have an ESA license number.
- The ESA mandates to the electricians that their license number should be displayed on their vehicles, invoices, website and other marketing/promotional materials.
- Hiring an ESA licensed and certified electrician assures you safe, secure, experienced and insured service.
- For more information, visit ESA online and understand your responsibilities as a proud Ottawa homeowner.
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