If the question is, “Can an unlicensed handyman do electrical work in Arizona?” the answer is yes. You and your Uncle Bud can do electrical home upgrades and installations. But it’s the wrong question.
The question to ask is, “Should a handyman do electrical work?” And the answer is unequivocally, no.
Electrical Work Is Shockingly Dangerous
Electricity is uniquely unforgiving. –CPSC
Professionalism is about accountability. When you hire an unlicensed person to do electrical work, the odds are 50-50 (or less) that the job will be completed safely and effectively. The unlicensed handyman is not responsible if the work leads to property damage or worse. You are. If your insurance company deems the property damage occurred because of hiring an unlicensed electrician, it may deny coverage.
It’s just not worth it.
7 Electrical Statistics
Arizona has a handyman exemption. Any home improvement under $1,000 doesn’t require professional licensing or supervision. That danger causes the Electrical Safety Foundation International to urge you to partner with electrical professionals for even the smallest home improvement project.
Home fires and deaths in addition to hundreds of electrocutions are important statistics:
- An average of 4 people die from an at-home electrocution every week.
- Most electrical accidents are preventable.
- Only 50-300 electrical injuries per year are caused by lightning.
- The most common type of electrical injuries are external and internal burns, and some electrical burns lead to organ damage. Approximately 5% of all burn unit patients are there because of electrical injuries.
- There are about 30,000 nonfatal electrical injuries every year.
- There are approximately 30,000 non-fatal shock injuries every year.
- There are between 500-1,000 deaths from electrical injuries every year.
You Are Responsible: Find a Licensed Electrician
If you hire an unlicensed handyman, you are assuming responsibility for the work. If a neighbor’s family member is hurt during your electrical project, your insurance liability may not cover the costs of injury and damage.
- A professional electrician must be currently licensed in Arizona. Go to https://roc.az.gov/contractor-search and search for the company or electrician’s name. If the electrician or company isn’t found on the state’s website, you are assuming responsibility.
- Ask for proof of insurance. Any worker on your property should be protected by liability insurance. If she or he is injured, you won’t be held responsible.
- Without liability insurance, if the worker is injured at your home, you are responsible for the handyman’s costs associated with the injury. If an unlicensed worker breaks something or damages your home, you are assuming responsibility.
- If your handyman doesn’t have a website, that’s a red flag. Most service-company websites have positive reviews but go outside a company’s site (Yelp, for example) to read what clients have to say.
Turn It On Electric holds Angi’s 2021 Super Service Award and Home Advisor’s Best recognition. But the most important thing you need to know is this: Our company’s electrical professionals are well-trained and receive continuing education. We know how to work with technology to make your home smarter and more energy-efficient. We care about our community and your family because we live here too.
To learn more about electrical work in your neighborhood, contact TIO Electric.
