Soon after Experts In Your Home launched a series on do-it-yourself electrical repairs, we thought some of our customers might be asking, “Why on earth would they give free, how-to advice? It might spare us the need to call them for an appointment!”

Be empowered, yet safe

While that may be true, we are good to our word when we say that we want to educate and empower our customers. After all, Experts In Your Home's goal is to develop long-term, trusting and honest relationships with our customers, and holding back on those "teachable moments" (it seems to us) would be a little like a father refusing to show his son how to change the oil in his car for fear that the father will no longer be needed to do the job.

We at Experts In Your Home believe people should share information and, when they can, work together as a team. In the same collaborative spirit, we think it's important to share some tips on how to save money on electrical repairs when you DO have to call a licensed electrician in the Chico area--for a complex repair or one that you don't feel confident undertaking. It's bound to happen at some point because—let's face it—you can't be expected to possess the knowledge and expertise of a licensed electrician.

Save on electrical repairs

• Maximize the opportunity of having an electrician in your home. Day to day, this means keeping a to-do list of even those “little things” that have proven to be an annoyance, such as a loose receptacle in the bathroom, a non-working outlet in the kitchen or a non-working ceiling fan in a bedroom. This way, when an electrician arrives for the “big thing”--wiring a room addition or rewiring a circuit breaker box—you may be able to save on travel and/or hourly charges. You might be surprised how many repeat repair calls Experts In Your Home gets right after an electrician leaves; it's as though the visit itself gets people thinking in terms of electrical repairs. Spare yourself repeat visits—and extra charges—by bundling repairs.
   
• Understand the scope of the work that will be performed, as well as how much each specific task will cost. Yes, sometimes electricians encounter an unexpected problem or circumstance because some hidden problems come to light (no pun intended) only after a repair has begun. So be sure you have a good understanding of the steps involved in a repair and ask if there might be any complications.
   
• Identify those tasks you might be able to accomplish yourself. And if you're not certain, be sure to ask. Even a “small” DIY job like attaching switch plates and outlet covers can add up, especially if you're having a full room wired for electricity. (And don't forget to peruse our blog on DIY electrical repairs; we're truly in your corner when it comes to helping you save money).
   
• Provide a clear, unobstructed path to the repair area. The less time an electrician has to spend moving toys, furniture and knick-knacks, the more efficient the visit will be overall.

More ways to save on electrical

As long as your wheels are turning about saving money on electrical repairs, be sure to ask your electrician how you can save even more money, day to day, on your electrical bill. After all, electric rates rarely go down, and there are probably more steps you can undertake besides the obvious (such as turning off lights when you leave a room and replacing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent ones).

For example, verify with your electrician which outlets can be converted to dimmers. Each one can reduce your energy consumption by between 5 and 10 percent--and that's an idea that we at Experts In Your Home truly consider enlightening.

Contact Experts In Your Home for electrical repairs you may need done by a professional.

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