How to Choose an Electrician in Perth

Quick answer: To choose an electrician in Perth, check their licence, read recent reviews that mention the kind of job you need, ask what their guarantee covers, and get a fixed price before any work starts. Call a licensed electrician for anything involving fixed wiring, the switchboard or a safety switch that keeps tripping.

How do you choose an electrician in Perth?

Five checks make the difference. They take ten minutes and save a lot of trouble.

Check the licence.
All electrical work in WA has to be done by a licensed electrician working for a licensed electrical contractor. Contractor numbers start with “EC” and must be on their ads, vans and paperwork. Ours is EC12968. You can check any licence on the WA Government licence search.

Ask about insurance.
A proper electrical business carries public liability insurance. Ask before anyone starts work in your home.

Read recent, specific reviews.
Star ratings only tell part of the story. Look for reviews from the last few months that mention the type of job you need, turning up on time and explaining things clearly. Look at how the business answers the bad ones too.

Ask what the guarantee covers.
Guarantees vary a lot. Ask what’s covered, for how long, and what happens if something goes wrong later. Ours is a lifetime workmanship guarantee, as long as your system is serviced properly and on time.

Get a fixed price before work starts.
Avoid vague estimates that grow once the job is underway. Our site assessor comes out, looks at the job and gives you a fixed price before any work starts. There’s no call-out fee.

Our advice

A cheap hourly rate means nothing if the job takes twice as long. Compare fixed prices for the whole job, and check the licence before you compare anything else.

When do you need a licensed electrician?

Any job that touches fixed wiring needs a licensed electrician. That includes:

Call a licensed electrician for

Power points, light switches and light fittings
Ceiling fans and downlights
The switchboard, safety switches (RCDs) and circuit breakers
Hardwired smoke alarms
EV chargers, data and TV points, and security cameras
Any new wiring or extra circuits

Safe checks you can do yourself

✓Reset a tripped safety switch once

✓Unplug appliances one at a time to find the one causing a trip

✓Test smoke alarms with the test button

✓Replace a light globe with the power switched off

✓Check whether the neighbours have power

Which electrical problems need urgent attention?

Turn the power off at the switchboard if it’s safe to, and call an electrician straight away for:

Sparks, smoke or a burning smell from a power point, switch or the switchboard
Power points or switches that feel warm or hot
Exposed or damaged wiring
Water near power points, lights or the switchboard
A safety switch that trips again straight after you reset it
Buzzing or crackling from the switchboard

Power out in your home? See what to do in a power outage in Perth. We offer emergency electrical with same-day service, Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm.

How do you prepare for an electrician’s visit?

Before we arrive

✓Write down what’s happening and when it started.

✓Note which rooms, power points or lights are affected.

✓Clear access to the switchboard and the area we’re working on.

✓Keep kids and pets away from anything that looks unsafe.

✓Have any old certificates or switchboard paperwork handy if you have them.

What questions should you ask an electrician before hiring?

What’s your contractor licence number?
Are you insured?
Is the price fixed, and what does it include?
Will I get an Electrical Safety Certificate for the work?
What does your guarantee cover?
When can you start, and how long will it take?

An electrician should provide an Electrical Safety Certificate for most installing work. See electrical safety certificates in WA for what it covers.

Ready to book? Call 9407 2942 or book online. Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm. No call-out fee, a free on-site quote and a lifetime workmanship guarantee. 4,800+ Google reviews from Perth homeowners.

How to choose an electrician: FAQs

How do I check if an electrician is licensed in WA?

Use the WA Government licence search. Electrical contractor numbers start with “EC” and must appear on the business’s ads, vans and paperwork.

Can I do my own electrical work in WA?

No. Anything involving fixed wiring, power points, switches, lights or the switchboard must be done by a licensed electrician. You can reset a safety switch, change a globe and test your smoke alarms.

Should I choose the electrician with the cheapest hourly rate?

Compare the fixed price for the whole job. A low hourly rate can still add up to more. Check the licence, recent reviews and the guarantee as well.

When should I call an emergency electrician?

For sparks, burning smells, hot power points, exposed wiring, water near electrics or a safety switch that won’t stay on. Our emergency electrical service runs Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm.

Do you give a fixed price before starting?

Yes. Our site assessor comes out, looks at the job and gives you a fixed price before any work starts. No call-out fee.

Does Smartfix offer a guarantee?

Yes. A lifetime workmanship guarantee on every job, as long as your system is serviced properly and on time.