Electrical repair: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering electrical repair

Electrical repair is diagnosis work, and the customer pays for the time it takes to find the fault and prove the fix. Electricians who win this work explain what they found and why, and they leave the home safer than they found it.

What customers ask

  • Why does this breaker keep tripping, and how do you know it is not the breaker itself?
  • Is this outlet dead because of the outlet, or because of another spot on the circuit?
  • Can you fix the flicker without opening walls?
  • Is my wiring safe, or is this a sign of something bigger?
  • Do I need a permit for this repair?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask what the symptom is, when it started, and which devices or appliances set it off. Repeat the answers back so the customer knows you heard them.
  • Bring a multimeter and a receptacle tester to the first visit, and show the customer the reading that points to the fault.
  • Quote the diagnosis separately from the repair when the cause is unknown, and say what you will check first.
  • Test the circuit under the same load that caused the problem, and record the load and result on the invoice.
  • Show the customer the failed part and the failure mode, such as a loose terminal that heated or a backstabbed connection that opened.
  • List every other issue you saw on a separate sheet with photos, and let the customer choose what to schedule.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of a repair, with the failed part photographed next to its replacement
  • The diagnostic tools you use for this work, such as a load tester or a thermal camera
  • The fault types you handle most, such as tripping breakers, GFCI failures and flickering circuits

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer to check the other circuits in the home if the fault came from an older run of wire
  • Explain GFCI or AFCI protection for the circuit, and say what each one protects against before the customer decides
  • Suggest a panel inspection if the trips point to a voltage or connection problem at the service

Licenses and permits

Electrical repair work is commonly done under an electrical contractor license, and permits are often required for wiring changes. Check with your state or local licensing agency for the rules that apply before you take the job.

Questions

Should I charge for diagnosis separately?

Charge for diagnosis when the cause is unknown and the search could take longer than a quick check. Say so before you start, and tell the customer whether the diagnosis is credited toward the repair if they book it.

What if I find a problem outside the job?

Document it with photos and show the customer. Do not add it to the repair without approval. Let the customer decide the timing.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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