Get Quotes from Top Electricians in Wichita, KS
What to Ask Before Hiring an Electrician in Wichita
Wichita is known as the “Air Capital of the World,” a major global center of aircraft manufacturing and innovation. The city is also Kansas’s premier commercial, cultural, financial, and entertainment hub. With over 395,000 residents, 8,100 hotel rooms, 1,200 restaurants, 144 parks, and many tourist landmarks like the Botanica Wichita, the city’s demand for electricity and electrical contractors is enormous. Be assured that local electricians are always ready to help with a wide range of electrical services for homes, offices, commercial centers, or factories.
- What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring an Electrician in Wichita?
- Are You Licensed as an Electrician in Wichita?
- What Rates Do You Charge for Your Electrical Services in Wichita?
- Are You a Master Electrician in Wichita?
- Will My Electrical Project Require a Permit in Wichita?
- What Type of Electrical Services Do You Offer in Wichita?
- Will You Be Doing the Work, or Do You Outsource the Electrical Work in Wichita?
- Are You a Fully Insured and Bonded Wichita Electrician?
- Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Electrical Work in Wichita?
- How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with Your Electrical Services in Wichita?
What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring an Electrician in Wichita?
Hiring a licensed and experienced electrician that adheres to the requirements of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Building & Trade Code for installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems is the only way to ensure that your electrical tasks are handled safely and correctly. Therefore, it is important only to call trained and licensed electricians to help you deal with your electrical issues, no matter how small the problem may seem to you. Here are a few examples of electrical jobs that professional Wichita electricians can help you with:
- Electrical shocks
- Replacing faulty circuit breakers, switches, and electrical panels
- Installing or repairing faulty outlets and fixtures
- Wiring newly constructed or remodeled buildings
- Obtaining electrical permits and correcting code violations
Are You Licensed as an Electrician in Wichita?
Electricians that want to provide electrical services in Wichita must first obtain a trade license from the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD). This agency offers journeyman electrician and master electrician license options to interested Wichita electricians based on their level of experience and expertise.
Hiring properly licensed electricians assures that you will be doing business with capable and legitimate professionals who can handle your electrical projects proficiently. You can confirm that your prospective Wichita electricians are properly licensed to do electrical work in the city using the License Lookup platform that the MABCD provides.
Bear in mind that doing electrical work without the appropriate licensing in Wichita is an unlawful act that violates the city’s electrical code.
What Rates Do You Charge for Your Electrical Services in Wichita?
Wichita electricians usually charge average rates of $50 - $120 per hour for their services. Note that some factors will affect the overall cost of your required electrical services, such as the nature and scope of the job. Other factors that typically influence the cost of electrical services in Wichita include:
- The urgency of the job
- Your location within the city
- The labor required to complete the task at hand
- The electrician’s experience, expertise, and reputation
- The cost of necessary permits and materials, such as wires, lighting fixtures, and surge protectors
Before hiring an electrician in Wichita, it is advisable to compare three to four electricians’ quotes. Doing this not only helps you get an idea of the current market rates for your required electrical services but also ensures that you do not fall prey to fraudulent electricians trying to overcharge unsuspecting clients.
Are You a Master Electrician in Wichita?
Electricians in Wichita are generally grouped into three categories based on their level of experience:
- Apprentice Electricians: These are entry-level electricians who have not attained sufficient knowledge and proficiency in the electrical trade yet. Apprentice electricians must always work under the supervision of a master electrician.
- Journeyman Electricians: These electricians have either gained at least one year of field experience and one year of electrical trade school or two years of field experience and an acceptable score in a city-approved International Code Council examination.
- Master Electricians: These electricians have gained at least two years of field experience as licensed and certified journeyman electricians and passed a city-approved International Code Council examination to demonstrate their expertise.
It is always best to hire master electricians for your electrical projects in Wichita, as these electricians generally have the experience and expertise necessary to provide a wide range of electrical services competently and satisfactorily.
Will My Electrical Project Require a Permit in Wichita?
The Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MBACD) issues electrical permits for projects Involving the replacement, installation, or modification of electrical wiring in Wichita. These permits must be obtained before the project begins. Electrical permits are typically only issued to the following:
- Licensed electricians
- Homeowners currently residing in the property for which the permit is being requested and who intend to do the required work themselves. Note that these homeowners must pass an MBACD-administered examination before being issued the requested permit.
You can contact the MBACD at (316) 660-1840 or by email for more information on the procedure and requirements for obtaining electrical permits for your project.
What Type of Electrical Services Do You Offer in Wichita?
Wichita electricians can provide various types of electrical services, including:
Will You Be Doing the Work, or Do You Outsource the Electrical Work in Wichita?
Under certain circumstances, professional Wichita electricians have to outsource work to third parties. This often happens when the electrician is hired for a time-bound commercial or industrial project or even for relatively large-scale residential projects, like an electrical system installation in a newly constructed building or a whole building rewiring for a remodeled home. Therefore, before concluding hiring arrangements with any electricians in Wichita, it is always a good idea to confirm if any part of the electrical work will be outsourced. If your electrician confirms this, then you should strongly consider taking the following actions:
- Find out who the subcontractors that the work will be outsourced to are and make sure they are licensed and experienced.
- Verify their bonding and insurance coverage.
- Get a lien waiver to ensure you are not held responsible if the primary electrician fails to make timely payments to these third parties.
Are You a Fully Insured and Bonded Wichita Electrician?
Wichita electricians must carry general liability insurance of at least $300,000 before they can legally offer their services to interested clients; this insurance covers any bodily injury or property damage that may occur during the project.
Therefore, before concluding hiring arrangements with Wichita electricians, request a copy of their insurance policy and validate this policy with the appropriate issuing agency.
You can contact the MABCD at (316) 660-1840 for additional information regarding Wichita electricians’ insurance requirements.
Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Electrical Work in Wichita?
Reputable Wichita electricians typically provide work warranties that cover their services and the materials used for these services. Nevertheless, always confirm this from your prospective contractor. Do not hire any electrician who does not offer warranties.
While the validity period and scope of warranties typically vary depending on the electrician, you should ensure that any work warranty you are offered will be good for up to one year at least. Also, ensure you get a written copy of the warranty to review its terms and conditions thoroughly.
How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with Your Electrical Services in Wichita?
You can report matters concerning unsatisfactory electrical services or fraudulent electricians in Wichita with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Division by completing a consumer complaint form and submitting it to this office by email or mail to:
Office of the District Attorney 18th Judicial District of Kansas 535 N. Main Wichita, KS 67203Table of Contents
- What Do I Need to Know Before Hiring an Electrician in Wichita?
- Are You Licensed as an Electrician in Wichita?
- What Rates Do You Charge for Your Electrical Services in Wichita?
- Are You a Master Electrician in Wichita?
- Will My Electrical Project Require a Permit in Wichita?
- What Type of Electrical Services Do You Offer in Wichita?
- Will You Be Doing the Work, or Do You Outsource the Electrical Work in Wichita?
- Are You a Fully Insured and Bonded Wichita Electrician?
- Do You Offer Any Warranties on Your Electrical Work in Wichita?
- How Do I Resolve Any Issue I Have with Your Electrical Services in Wichita?