Also known as home electricians, residential electricians are the tradespeople who repair and install various electrical systems at home. This job could include lighting, panel changes, surge protection, and more.
The job isn't for everyone, though; for example, becoming a residential electrician in Rockwall TX involves specific licensing requirements. At Rockwall Electric, all of our technicians meet education and licensing specifications, so you can count on us to get the job done right.
Residential Electrician Job Description
Electricians are skilled, licensed professionals who work in customers' homes. They inspect, install, repair, and maintain critical electrical systems throughout the house. Depending on the technician's experience, she might also lead entire teams and diagram projects.
Typical duties include:
Interpreting blueprints and technical drawings
Installing new wiring and lighting
Inspecting components to ensure safety and correct installation
Maintaining home electrical systems
Replacing broken parts
Diagnosing critical problems in the home
Fully understanding local and federal regulations for safe electrical systems
Beyond the role itself, we classify electricians by their training and experience:
Apprentice: These technicians train under an experienced professional's supervision for a few years before advancing to the next tier.
Journeyman: After completing an apprenticeship, a technician approved as competent in their trade officially becomes a journeyman electrician.
Master: Journeymen who gain years of experience and, throughout, demonstrate high competence become master electricians.
Licensing Requirements
Becoming licensed as a residential electrician in Rockwall TX begins with a high school diploma or GED.
Qualifying as an electrician requires gaining a certain number of hours on the job. In Texas, you'll need 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and experience to become a journeyman electrician. There are two ways to gain this experience: apply for an apprenticeship program, or enroll in a trade school and transition to such a program.
Approved trade schools in Texas provide the ability to complete 48 weeks of classroom training before transitioning to an apprenticeship program. At school, you'll learn about:
Electronics for electricians
Grounding electrical
Tech electrical
Programmable controllers
Fiber optic electrical
Electrical code
Fire alarm and security
Conduit bending for electrical
Standard first aid
In a trade school, you'll also have the opportunity to gain supervised on-the-job training. With a licensed professional, you'll maintain systems, install new components, and complete wiring while learning about the various systems commonly found at home.
Skills Needed
As much as trade schools can provide, there are some necessities to the job that they can't teach in the classroom. The following skills help ensure your safety and the safety of those around you:
Mechanical aptitude: If you grew up taking things apart around the house and putting them back together again, you might be a great fit as an electrician. Confidence and comfort are musts when it comes to electrical work.
Problem-solving skills: Most of the job involves diagnosing and repairing problems with the electrical system. After the apprenticeship, you're on your own to complete these tasks. Understanding how to investigate and overcome wiring problems is critical to succeeding as a home electrician. Likewise, it's essential to know how to identify alternative solutions.
Reading comprehension: Most work orders arrive in written format, whether by email or paper. The ability to interpret these orders is crucial to the job, and being able to summarize your work helps make it easier for electricians who may work on the system after you.
Business skills: Many electricians in Rockwall and the rest of the country become independent contractors, and you can pick up the necessary business skills along the way. To summarize, you'll want to know how to invoice, track your inventory, manage teams of employees, and plan with a strong strategy.
Customer service skills: Most electricians have to interact with customers daily. Naturally, it helps to be able to talk to them and keep them feel reassured that you can fix their electrical problems.
Work Environment
Maintaining electrical systems is a surprisingly physical task. Though you'll usually work indoors, air conditioners and solar panels are two examples of equipment found outside in potentially brutal heat. Sometimes, you'll have to work in cramped spaces, and you'll need to lift objects occasionally. Protective eyeglasses and clothing also help protect against burns and shocks.
Few electricians work part-time. It's not uncommon to have to drive out on a night or weekend for emergencies. Texas weather can also lead to working overtime, especially with new construction.
Tools and Duties Involved
The tools of the trade truly help define what it means to be an electrician. Let's pull an example from a real day at Rockwall Electric where our electricians wire a new house. Each one follows the same sequence while adhering to regulations that consider code, aesthetics, and safety:
Primary connection to the building, such as the overhead or underground lines
Light fixtures, closet lighting, exterior lighting, switches in each room
Electricity powering ceiling fans, air conditioning, and ventilation
Power outlets and ground connections
Circuit for HVAC units
Water heater circuits
Washing machine, dryer, and stove, which each need their 220-volt circuits
GFCI on outlets where water may splash
Breaker box
Low voltage wiring for cable/video, data, and voice
Finally, electricians install components to the multitude of systems according to electrical theory. These concepts, which you'll learn at trade school or in an apprenticeship, include:
Voltage
Grounding
Resistance
Current
Circuitry
Amperage
Conclusion
As long as the world runs on electricity, it will need electricians. We meet the licensing requirements and keep ourselves aware of local, state, and national codes. Choose Rockwall Electric as your residential electrician and schedule your service today.