October 29, 2024
Can a General Contractor Do Electrical Work? Your Guide to Hiring a Qualified EV Charger Installer
5 Min. Read
Purchasing an electric vehicle (EV) is an exciting investment that offers both financial savings on fuel and vehicle maintenance and a reduced environmental footprint, and with 80% of EV owners benefiting from the convenience of at-home charging, you’ll likely want to plan for and install a Level 2 EV charger at home.
However, before you can begin work on installing this high-powered appliance, it’s crucial to ensure your home is properly equipped with the necessary electrical upgrades to safely support a Level 2 EV charging station.
As you plan your EV charger installation, you’ll likely consider factors such as cost and quality while reviewing quotes from contractors.
While cost is a significant factor, determining who is most qualified for the job can help you save more money in the long term and ensure the safety and efficiency of your at-home EV charger for years to come.
Can a general contractor do electrical work? It depends. While a general contractor may be able to do simple electrical work, here’s why EV charger installations require specialized expertise for quality, safety, and compliance reasons.
Can a General Contractor Do Electrical Work?
While you can hire a general contractor to complete minor electrical projects, when it comes to EV charging, you’ll need someone with unique skills and understanding.
In fact, even general electricians are often not equipped with the specialized knowledge required to safely install a Level 2 EV charging station as it requires different techniques and the right materials.
Specialized Knowledge
Level 2 EV chargers are widely considered the best option for at-home charging due to their quicker charging speeds and compatibility with residential electrical infrastructures.
Installing a Level 2 charger is very different from most electrical projects since these chargers run on dedicated 240V circuits that handle continuous high-voltage loads. With your EV charger drawing a continuous electrical load between 15 and 80 amps, it’s important that your electrician performs a load calculation prior to beginning any work to fully understand the impact installing an EV charging station will have on other pre-existing circuits.
Additionally, they can also offer recommendations before you buy an EV charger, helping you understand which models will best fit your needs with a deeper understanding of current chargers available on the market, the maximum EV charger amperage your electric vehicle can manage, your charging habits, and the available capacity of your electrical panel.
Traditional electrician education on its own isn’t enough for this complex work, so you’ll need to hire an electrical contractor who is a qualified EV charger installer with an EVITP certification. These professionals have additional training in electrification and other energy transition technologies that ensure a safe and compliant EV charger installation that a general contractor can’t guarantee.
Additionally, an electrical contractor specializing in EV charger installation and other electrification services will have a deeper understanding of the materials needed to withstand the continual, high-powered currents that will run through the EV charger. Using the right type and appropriate material quality for your EV charger installation will mean an EV charging station that can safely power your vehicle for years to come without worries of melting wires, electrical fires, or other hazards resulting from inadequate components.
Safety Considerations
Using a certified and trusted installer ensures your at-home EV charger is installed safely. On the other hand, opting for an underqualified contractor or cutting costs with cheaper materials might help you save money on upfront costs, but can jeopardize both safety and compliance, costing you more in the long run.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) sets specific compliance requirements for at-home EV chargers to reduce the risks of overloading your electrical infrastructure and creating a fire hazard. While it is important to ensure any electrical work is compliant with the latest NEC requirements, the technology is changing even faster than the code, and an electrical contractor with the latest training and education can help overcome any gaps in the code.
In addition to creating potential risks in your home, hiring someone who isn’t properly licensed to install an EV charger or attempting to do it yourself with a DIY EV charger installation can void your home insurance, leaving any damages to your electrical infrastructure, personal property, or even medical injuries resulting from any electrical hazards that arise completely uncovered.
Code Compliance
Installing a Level 2 charger is considered a significant home upgrade that often requires a permit to install an EV charger from the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), in addition to an inspection by a local building department official once the work is completed.
A professional electrician specializing in EV charger installation will ensure the installation is compliant with NEC and any local code requirements, if applicable. They will look at key details, such as the gauge of the wiring used, the presence of a shutoff switch if your charger has a capacity of 60 amps or more, and generally ensure the overall safety of your charger.
A certified EV charger installer will be familiar with all these requirements and can save you time and money on potential upgrades that might be needed if the installation doesn’t pass the inspection.
The Risks of Using a General Contractor for Electrical Work
So, if you’re still wondering can a general contractor do electrical work such as an EV charger installation, the answer is no.
While a general contractor may be suitable for smaller and more standard or simplistic electrical projects, hiring a general contractor to install an EV charger can lead to costly problems and repairs.
First, a non-compliant installation will violate building and electrical codes and potentially result in fines. Secondly, a poorly executed installation can lead to performance issues with slow charging times and added wear and tear on the equipment. As a result, you’ll likely see higher maintenance costs and a reduced lifespan for your charger.
Find a Specialized EV Charger Installer With Qmerit
Are you looking to hire an EV charger installer? Qmerit can find you a certified professional in your area who has the expertise to ensure a safe and reliable EV charger installation.
In fact, when it comes to EV charger installations, no one is more trusted or recommended than Qmerit.
Every Qmerit electrician is fully licensed, background-checked, insured, and properly trained in EV charging station installation so you can rest easy in knowing your installation is done right and backed by the Qmerit Peace of Mind Guarantee.
As North America’s largest network of certified EV charger installers, with over 450,000 EV charging stations installed across the U.S. and Canada, no one is more experienced in energy transition technologies than Qmerit.
Contact Qmerit today and complete our online EV assessment for your customized EV charger installation estimate and discover why we’re the #1 installer recommended by automakers, EV charger manufacturers, utilities, businesses, and homeowners alike.
Learn more about how Qmerit can help make your next electrification project easy today!
