When undertaking any electrical project, it's important to hire the right electrical installation company. Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 762,600 electricians were employed in 2022. Not all electricians, however, have the same specialties. In our experience, there are three main types of electricians -- residential, commercial, and industrial. While their skills may overlap, they each specialize in electrical systems for different building types. Here is a breakdown of each one.

Residential Electricians

For electrical work on your home, you'll need a residential electrician. A residential electrical installation company has training and expertise related to the electrical systems of single-family homes. Their common tasks include installing wiring and circuits during new home construction, upgrading electrical panels and switching to circuit breakers from fuses, rewiring existing homes and adding new outlets and lighting fixtures, troubleshooting minor electrical issues like flickering lights, and ensuring compliance with local and national electrical codes. Homeowners typically call residential electricians for remodeling projects, fixing electrical problems, or making upgrades to increase safety, efficiency, and comfort in their homes.

Commercial Electricians

For electrical projects in commercial spaces like retail stores, restaurants, offices, hotels, and other businesses, you'll need a commercial electrician. These professionals have specific skills and experience related to the more complex electrical systems found in these buildings. Their duties include handling electrical needs during new commercial construction, upgrading older electrical panels and systems, installing wiring and equipment for security, fire alarms, and IT networks, ensuring commercial spaces meet code compliance and safety standards, and providing maintenance and repair services. The scope of commercial electricians covers a wider variety of building types compared to just residential homes.

Industrial Electricians

Lastly, industrial electricians are the experts in the intricate electrical systems of industrial facilities like manufacturing plants, warehouses, and utility operations. Their responsibilities involve installing, maintaining, and repairing equipment like heavy-duty motors, generators, transformers, and control systems. They work on power distribution and supply systems for large-scale machinery and equipment. They also ensure outdoor lighting and communications systems are functioning optimally. Industrial electricians must stay up-to-date with National Electrical Code (NEC) requirements and standards specific to factories and industrial settings.

While there is overlap between these three electrician types, you'll benefit most by matching your specific electrical needs to the right specialist. This ensures you receive knowledgeable service, code compliance, and safety for any residential, commercial, or industrial electrical project. Our team offers all three types of electrical services. If you're looking to hire an electrical installation company, reach out to Mountain Valley Electric today.