Question 1

How do I get a price?

Accepted Answer

Send the quote form with a short description and a few photos, or ring us. Small jobs can usually be priced from photos. Bigger jobs need a visit so the price is accurate.

Question 2

Is the price fixed?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for the work described in the quote. If we open something up and find a problem nobody could have seen, we stop, show you, and agree any extra cost before carrying on.

Question 3

Why is there no price list on the site?

Accepted Answer

Two jobs that sound the same can be very different once you see the house. Each service page explains what drives the cost so you know what to expect before you ask.

Question 4

How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

Payment details are set out on your quote and invoice. Ask when you enquire if you need a particular method.

Question 5

Will you turn up when you say you will?

Accepted Answer

You get an arrival window, and a call if anything changes. We do not leave people waiting in for a no-show.

Question 6

Will the power be off?

Accepted Answer

Usually only for part of the job, and we tell you roughly when and for how long before we start so you can plan around it.

Question 7

Do you clean up?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Dust sheets go down before we start, we hoover up when we finish, and old fittings and packaging leave with us.

Question 8

What is a Safe Electric completion certificate?

Accepted Answer

It is the certificate a Registered Electrical Contractor issues to confirm that work has been tested and meets the national wiring rules. Keep it with your house documents; you may be asked for it by an insurer or when you sell.

Question 9

How do I check an electrician is registered?

Accepted Answer

Search the contractor's name or number on safeelectric.ie. Only a Registered Electrical Contractor can legally carry out and certify restricted electrical work in a home.

Question 10

Are you insured?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Insurance details are on the About page and a certificate is available on request.

Question 11

Which areas do you cover?

Accepted Answer

We work across Leinster. The Service Areas page lists each county and the main towns. If you are near a county boundary, ask.

Question 12

Do you charge for travel?

Accepted Answer

Any travel charge is included in your written quote, so there is nothing added afterwards.

Question 13

Do you take on small jobs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A single socket or light fitting is fine. If we can price it from a photo, we will.

Question 14

Will I need a certificate for the work?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the job. New circuits, fuse board work and work in bathrooms are among the jobs that need a Safe Electric completion certificate. We tell you up front and issue it when the work is finished.

Question 15

Can you fit lights or appliances I bought myself?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as long as they are suitable for use in Ireland and for the location, for example the right rating for a bathroom or outdoors. If something is not suitable we will say so before fitting it.

Question 16

Do I need to be at home?

Accepted Answer

Someone needs to let us in and agree the work at the start. After that it is up to you. We will ring before we leave to walk you through what was done.

Question 17

Can you work outside trading hours?

Accepted Answer

Yes, where the job allows it. Tell us your hours when you get in touch and we will plan around them.

Question 18

Do you provide RAMS and insurance details?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Risk assessments, method statements and insurance certificates are supplied on request before work starts.

Question 19

Can you take over maintenance from another contractor?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We start with an inspection so we both know the condition of what we are taking on.

Question 20

When should I call 999 instead?

Accepted Answer

If there is a fire, or someone has had an electric shock and is injured, call 999 or 112 first. Do not touch anyone who is still in contact with electricity.

Question 21

The whole street is out. Is that you or ESB Networks?

Accepted Answer

A wider outage is a network fault. Check PowerCheck on esbnetworks.ie or ring ESB Networks on 1800 372 999. Fallen or damaged overhead lines are also theirs: stay well back and call them.

Question 22

What can I safely do while I wait?

Accepted Answer

If you can reach the fuse board safely, switch off the main switch. Keep away from anything wet, hot or sparking. Do not try to open sockets or the board yourself.

Question 23

My trip switch keeps tripping. Is that an emergency?

Accepted Answer

If it resets and stays on, it can usually wait for a normal appointment. If it will not reset, or there is heat, noise or a burning smell, ring us.

Question 24

Do I need to own an electric car to get the grant?

Accepted Answer

SEAI sets the rules and they change from time to time. Check seai.ie for the current terms before you apply. The key point is that approval has to come before installation.

Question 25

How fast will it charge?

Accepted Answer

Most homes in Ireland have a single-phase supply, which supports a charger of around 7 kW. That adds roughly 40 km of range per hour of charging, depending on the car.

Question 26

Can any electrician fit a charger?

Accepted Answer

The work must be done and certified by a Safe Electric Registered Electrical Contractor.

Question 27

I have solar panels. Can the charger use them?

Accepted Answer

Many smart chargers can divert spare solar generation to the car. Tell us what inverter you have and we will recommend a charger that works with it.

Question 28

Can I get the SEAI solar grant with you?

Accepted Answer

The grant requires a company on SEAI's registered installer list. Ask us for our current status when you enquire, and check the list on seai.ie.

Question 29

Do I need planning permission?

Accepted Answer

Most rooftop domestic installations are exempt, with some exceptions such as protected structures and certain areas near airports. We will flag it if your home looks like an exception.

Question 30

Will I be paid for electricity I export?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Once ESB Networks has your microgeneration notification, your supplier pays you for exports under the Clean Export Guarantee. Rates vary by supplier.

Question 31

Is a battery worth it?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how much you use in the evening and overnight. We model it from your bills and show you the numbers with and without one.

Question 32

Do smart switches work if the internet goes down?

Accepted Answer

The systems we fit keep working as ordinary switches at the wall. You only lose app and voice control until the connection returns.

Question 33

Can you add smart controls without rewiring?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes. Some smart switches need a neutral wire at the switch, which older houses may not have. We check before recommending anything.

Question 34

My LED lights flicker when dimmed. Can that be fixed?

Accepted Answer

Usually. Flicker is nearly always a mismatch between the dimmer and the LED driver. We test and replace whichever is at fault.

Question 35

How do I know if my house needs rewiring?

Accepted Answer

Signs include a fuse board with screw-in fuses or no RCD, sockets that are warm or scorched, lights that flicker, and round-pin sockets or old fabric or rubber-covered cable. An inspection gives you a definite answer.

Question 36

Can I just replace the fuse board?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes. A new board will only stay on if the circuits behind it are sound, so we test first. If circuits fail, they need repair before or with the board.

Question 37

How long does a rewire take?

Accepted Answer

It varies with the size of the house and whether it is occupied. A fuse board alone is usually a day. We give you a programme with the quote.

Question 38

Can we live in the house during a rewire?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes, though it is disruptive. We work room by room and restore power each evening where it is safe to do so.

Question 39

How often should wiring be inspected?

Accepted Answer

A common recommendation is every ten years for an owner-occupied home and more often for rented and commercial property. Insurers and lenders sometimes set their own intervals, so check your policy.

Question 40

I am buying a house. Is an inspection worth it?

Accepted Answer

Yes, particularly for an older house. A surveyor's report rarely tests the wiring, and a rewire is a significant cost to discover after you have the keys.

Question 41

Will you turn the power off?

Accepted Answer

For parts of the test, yes. We agree the timing with you and keep the off periods as short as we can.

Question 42

What happens if you find something dangerous?

Accepted Answer

We show you, explain the risk, and with your agreement make it safe before we leave, usually by isolating the circuit.

Questions, answered plainly.

Quotes and pricing

On the day

Safety and certification

Where we work

Residential electrical

Commercial electrical

Emergency electrician

EV charger installation

Solar and battery storage

Smart home and lighting

Rewiring and fuse board upgrades

Safety inspections and testing

Still have a question?