Finding an Electrician
Whilst many of us enjoy doing a spot of DIY in and around the home, there is quite a difference between doing electrical work and wiring, compared with something like putting up a shelf.If you don't know what you are doing, then working with electricity is inherently dangerous - electricity is a potent form of energy and therefore if something goes wrong then the last thing you want is current flowing through you which can be extremely dangerous, and infact lethal. Not only that, but faulty wiring may not become apparent at the time but can strike when you least expect it, putting your whole family at risk.
Therefore it is essential that for any work involving the electrics you get a professional in, and now all electricians in the UK must be trained and qualified.
There are three ways to find an electrician. One is through word of mouth and you certainly should not discount this method. The second is to look through something like the yellow pages or equivalent and phone around a few local electricians to get price quotes. The only thing here is that you won't be able to get a good idea of the quality of their work potentially.
A third option is to go through a body online that has a search tool to find qualified electricians; those who are members of a professional body and therefore will do a good job. There are various standards and certification out there, so you should ensure that to get a competent electrician they are registered with one of these bodies.
To read more on ensuring that you get a competent electrician, there is useful information and links on the directGov website, which can currently be found at this web address on their website explaining how many accidents occur each year due to faulty or bad wiring; a sobering thought: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Planning/ChoosingTradersAndServiceProviders/DG_4018096
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