There are many things in life that can be done on your own with a little DIY spirit and a YouTube video. Commercial electricity is not one of them. If you need any type of electrical work done in a commercial capacity, you should look for a commercial electrician in Gloucester to ensure you have exactly what you need.
Residential vs. Commercial Electrician Gloucester
What’s the difference between a residential and a commercial electrician? There are a number of differences in what they can do and which electrical tasks they’ll handle.
Power Differences
Residential homes use just one power phase, which is 120 volts of electricity. This is supplied using three wires, the negative and positive wires, as well as one neutral. In some cases, you may need 240 volts on a two-phase circuit, for certain appliances, such as a dryer, fridge, or air conditioner.
Commercial buildings are quite different and require three-phase wiring. This involves three legs, including a large 208-volt leg and two smaller 120-volt legs. It’s a design meant to promote energy efficiency and to keep commercial machinery working longer.
Installation Methods
Domestic or residential electricians don’t usually need to do a lot of electrical maintenance. This means they tuck all the electrical installations behind the walls and everything must be done correctly the first time. Once the drywall is put up, it can be very difficult to get back into the wall without a lot of destruction.
Most residential installations also involve plastic sheathing to protect the wires, as they’re accessible to anyone who can get into the wall. If there are any open areas, the sheathing can also help prevent damage to the wires.
In a commercial setting, electricians need to frequently access the electrical installations. This means they tend to use ducts or conduits which are easy to open up and adjust. These are used whenever the commercial electrician needs to do repairs or make replacements or alterations.
Training
The amount of training and the type of training is also different. While all electricians need to know the basics of electricity, they will be trained in specific wiring regulations. Commercial regulations are quite different from domestic ones.
Domestic electricians tend to install lighting fixtures, electronic gadgets, and electrical connections. They may also do repairs in homes.
For commercial electricians, Gloucester’s commercial properties provide a bit more of a challenge. They’ll find themselves working on much larger tasks. They can start out installing electricity in a commercial building, which is often quite the undertaking, or they may end up testing and installing electrical units.
Location
In addition to all the other differences, domestic electricians obviously work in homes while commercial electricians work more on larger buildings and in industrial environments. They may end up working in factories, schools, hospitals, shopping centres, and similar large buildings.
The Benefits of Hiring a Commercial Electrician in Gloucester
There are many reasons you should consider hiring a commercial electrician. Gloucester commercial buildings need a qualified technician and you’ll find that there’s a good reason for this.
It’s the Safest Option
Safety is important. It’s also one of the main reasons you want a trained professional. Commercial buildings have a lot of power in them and if you aren’t sure what you’re doing, it’s easy to create a short circuit or electrocute yourself. This is why it is vital that you hire someone who is aware of what they’re doing.
It’s also a big part of making sure your building is protected. Poorly done work can result in a short circuit which could cause a structural fire. You want to avoid this, so hiring a professional is a good choice.
Guarantee Good Quality Wiring
With an electrical contractor, you want someone who is qualified and certified. They will be able to guarantee the work they do. If you don’t want to constantly have issues and need frequent repairs, it’s a good idea to hire commercial electricians. Gloucester has plenty of electricians but far fewer who are qualified and certified for this type of heavy duty wiring.
Get Professional Advice
You may have a specific type of wiring in mind, but someone who has done this job for years will be able to give you tips and advice on moving forward. They know what works and what doesn’t, after having seen it in multiple buildings. This means you get the benefit of their experience and can use it to create a better building overall.
Often, contractors are the best at determining what needs to be done, even if something has been missed in the plans. It can be invaluable to have this additional advice.
More Experienced
The commercial electricians that you hire to work on your building should have plenty of experience. This will help you if there are any challenges in the building. When something doesn’t work properly, you want a contractor who is able to troubleshoot the issue and sort it out without huge delays.
There’s a lot to be done in a commercial electrical job, so it makes sense that there will need to be multiple electricians on the job. It’s also essential that they all have experience, but particularly the contractor in charge. They will be responsible for the job and the finished product.
Get Peace of Mind
While you don’t necessarily need insurance, the contractor should be insured. This can give you plenty of peace of mind because you know the work is going to be done and done well. It’s a lot of responsibility to manage all the electricity in a building, but those electricians who have trained for this and have worked in the industry will be ready for the challenge. If their work causes fire or other damage, you are covered by their insurance.
Save Money
You may be able to hire a cheaper electrician to run all the wiring and manage the electrical work, but this is not a good idea. You won’t save money, because most of the work will need to be redone. Anything that has been poorly designed and is dangerous will need to be replaced. In the long run, this ends up costing much more. If there’s a fire, you stand to lose even more than if you just had to replace the wiring with a more efficient and trained electrician.
How to Find the Right Electrician
There are electricians everywhere and a quick Google search for “commercial electrician Gloucester” or “electrical contractors Gloucester” will turn up plenty of results. How do you narrow these down to find the perfect match for your needs?
First, you should look for local electricians. Gloucester-based Mitchell’s has exactly the professionals you need and should be first on your list. It’s helpful to have someone who knows the area because they will already be familiar with the local regulations and rules. You also want a company that is near enough they can provide emergency services if there is a problem.
Check for references. Whether you’re asking friends and colleagues for recommendations for a good electrician or looking online for reviews, you’ll find that other people’s opinions are worth a lot. This can provide you with plenty of information on what to expect from the electrician or contractor company.
You should also look for an electrician who has plenty of experience. They will be certified in everything necessary, but will also have years of practice to back up all their theoretical knowledge. This can be invaluable when you’re trying to manage a massive job like a commercial building. Look for a good contractor who can manage it all for you. They should have at least a few years of working in commercial buildings so they can provide you with the necessary skills.
If you are looking to connect a commercial building, no matter the size, you will need a commercial electrician. Gloucester can be a good place to find the right person or company for the job, but you’ll still need to do some research to ensure you have the right one.
Commercial electricians are trained to handle higher power levels and are more used to working on very large jobs. While this may seem intimidating, it’s actually very useful and you can really benefit from hiring them.
Ready to hire a reliable commercial electrician? Visit Mitchell’s Gloucester offices or contact us to get a quote on your project.