Electrical Advice re rewiring

misshappy26

Good afternoon all,

I have a question I hope some electricians can help with.

I recently had my home rewired and received the electrical certificate to go with it, all fine. The electrician also informed me that his work is guaranteed for six years.

I'd like some additional work done and for whatever reason I can't get hold of him. My question is, if I use another electrician does that invalidate my original electrician's guarantee?

Thanks in advance,

Xeorix

Best to get an electrician to validate this, but I'm pretty sure that isn't the case, however how on earth does an electrician guarantee work. Electrical circuits should never fail, the only parts that should fail are the fuses etc, and if these are a big problem, then the work would never have passed testing.

Out of interest, what work did they do for you?

zax47

I'll be honest - if you can't get hold of him then just what value is in his guarantee? Any verbal guarantee is absolutely worthless - as you've found seeing as you can't now contact the guy.

If someone comes along after me and works on one of my installations then the onus then falls on him. How do I know just what he's done? It's like an MOT - all that says is that at THE TIME OF TESTING everything was fine, beyond that then caveat empor.....

<I'm an electrician>

misshappy26

Thanks both. His work is fine, I guess he just doesn't need the additional work so isn't getting back to me. I just want some more stuff done.

I'll see what I can find out.

jordanjim

You can get any electrician you like to do extra work, it won't invalidate the original guarantee (as long as the second electrician doesn't alter the first electrician's work, obviously).

Also, the guarantee may not be with the electrician themselves, sometimes it's offered through their registered contracting body (ELECSA, NICEIC, NAPIT). If so you could always double-check with them about the specific work you want doing.

In any case, I wouldn't worry about it too much as guarantees often cover the quality of workmanship but not the materials. If any materials go faulty outside their individual guarantee periods then you may end up paying for replacements regardless. Workmanship guarantees are more a reassurance to the homeowner that the work has been carried out properly, since any dodgy electrician probably wouldn't offer one in the first place!