09/13/2026
⚡ ELECTRICAL WORK IS NOT AN “ADD-ON” TRADE ⚡
Over the last several years, we’ve watched a growing number of plumbing and heating/cooling companies add “Electrical” to their list of services.
There was an understandable business reason for some of this. As New York pushed toward electrification—heat pumps, electric water heaters, electric boilers and other electric equipment—HVAC and plumbing contractors needed the ability to provide the electrical connections necessary for the equipment they were installing.
But connecting a piece of equipment and being an experienced electrical service contractor are two very different things.
Now we are seeing some of these companies expand further into electrical service work, troubleshooting, panel work and other electrical installations. Unfortunately, we’re also being called more frequently to troubleshoot, repair or correct electrical work that was previously performed by multi-trade companies.
That concerns us.
Electrical troubleshooting requires years of experience understanding not only what failed, but why it failed. Proper electrical work also requires a thorough understanding of grounding, bonding, overcurrent protection, conductor sizing, fault protection, AFCI/GFCI requirements, existing wiring methods, code requirements and countless other details that protect people and property.
And unlike many other trades, electrical licensing requirements can vary between municipalities. Before hiring anyone, homeowners and businesses should make sure the contractor is properly licensed for electrical work in the municipality where the work is actually being performed.
There’s another trend worth noticing.
Look at the names and advertising of many multi-trade companies:
Heating • Cooling • Plumbing • Electrical
Electrical is often the newest service—and frequently the last one added.
At Scherer Electric, electrical isn’t an add-on. It is what we do.
We have been an electrical contractor for more than 30 years. We are locally owned and operated—not an out-of-state merger or acquisition company—and our reputation has been built right here in Western New York.
There is certainly convenience in calling one company that claims to do everything. But being able to offer several trades doesn’t automatically mean a company has the same depth of knowledge and experience in every one of them.
There is nothing wrong with asking questions before allowing someone to work on your electrical system:
• Are you licensed to perform electrical work in my municipality?
• How long has your company actually been performing electrical service and troubleshooting?
• Is the person doing the work an experienced electrical technician?
• Who stands behind the installation if there is a problem years from now?
Electrical problems aren’t always immediately obvious. Something can appear to “work” while an improper connection, protection method or installation remains hidden for years.
That’s why electrical work deserves to be treated as a specialty—not simply another service added to the side of a truck.
This isn’t meant to scare anyone or criticize every multi-trade contractor. It’s advice based on more than three decades of seeing what can happen when electrical work isn’t done correctly.
Know who you’re hiring. Check their qualifications. Check their licensing. Ask questions.
When it comes to electrical work in your home or business, experience matters.
⚡ Scherer Electric
Putting ELECTRIC first for over 30 years.
Locally owned. Electrically focused. Here when you need us.