Does your Las Vegas home include a detached garage, a shed, or perhaps a separate building that you use as a studio or a workshop? If so, how are you providing electrical power to your detached building? If you’re getting by with extension cords run from the house to the building, or another kind of simplified power supplied from your home, you should be aware that you’re violating Nevada’s strict building codes. Why should you care?

Preparing for the Unexpected

Let’s say there’s a problem with the make-shift power supply from your home’s electrical panel to your garage or workshop. (It could be a short from rodent damage, a frayed or weather-damaged extension cord, or any other of a number of unforeseen reasons.) If the worst-case scenario occurs — an electrical fire, not only is your detached building in danger, but your entire property could be seriously damaged, including your home. Worse yet, if your electrical system doesn’t conform to Nevada state and local building codes, your insurance company could deny coverage under your homeowner’s policy. And the trouble doesn’t end there. You could also be opening yourself up to legal trouble in the form of steep fines or other legal penalties.

While the scenario we’ve outlined above might seem far-fetched, it’s impossible to say with any certainty that it couldn’t happen to you. Electrical fires are among the most dangerous and damaging fires there are, so don’t tempt fate by trying run wiring yourself, or make do with a system that won’t pass code. Deciding to go that route is something you could end up regretting, to say the least!

Do it Right and Breathe a Little Easier

Why risk everything you own versus the relatively small cost of hiring a licensed electrician to do the job correctly by obtaining a permit and adhering to Nevada’s strict building codes. An electrician who’s licensed in the state of Nevada knows exactly what code requires when it comes to a detached building, and will properly install everything needed to power up your garage, shed, workshop, studio or guest house. You’ll feel better too, knowing that everything’s safe, legal and correctly executed.

Then, you can confidently run your power tools, recharge your batteries, or do anything else that requires electricity without worrying about something going wrong. In other words, the money you spend on hiring a professional is buying you more than a safe “above-board” power supply — it’s also buying you peace of mind which, as a certain credit card ad points out is “priceless”!

What to Look for in a Licensed Electrician

Before you hire an electrical service company, there are a few things that you should look for:

  • Are they bonded and insured?
  • Be sure they’re actually licensed by verifying their Nevada contractor’s license.
  • Do they provide 24/7 emergency service?
  • Are they dependable? (Customer reviews should be available.)
  • How long have they been in business?
  • Do they provide repair services or do they just do installations?
  • Do they present themselves in a professional and courteous manner?
  • Are their rates reasonable compared with their competitors?
  • Do they offer free service quotes?

Doing your research and hiring a professional, well-run electrician service will ensure that your job is done correctly and with the expertise you have a right to expect.

Penny Electric meets all of the criteria listed above and serves all of Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, Green Valley, Boulder City and surrounding Southern Nevada areas. Because we’re a small, family owned business, we value our reputation, our customers and our community. We’re a full-service electrician that serves both residential and commercial customers in the region, and we’ve built a reputation for honesty and dependability among our many customers.

Contact us any time to request a free service quote. You can be confident that the price we quote is the price you’ll pay, and if anything unexpected arises that threatens to raise the price, we’ll always get your approval before we proceed!