How to choose a contractor for your next project

Good Electric - Steilacoom

Your home is your most valuable asset and your biggest expense. Choosing the right contractor is essential to keeping thing working properly and making sure things are done correctly and safely.

Key Factors to Consider When You Choose a Contractor

I see posts on social media almost weekly about homeowners getting screwed over by contractors; shoddy work, incomplete projects, unsafe work, etc. It happens way too often and has effected how homeowners view contractors. We start off with a bad reputation before we set foot in your house, but it’s not necessarily an undeserved reputation. There are many shady contractors out there and there are many underqualified or simply inept contractors as well. Just because someone makes a good craftsperson doesn’t meat they are a good businessperson.

There are a few steps that you can take to help make sure you are finding qualified contractors and to ensure you are getting fair work for the price.

Verify

First and foremost, verify that your contractor is properly licensed for the work. General contractors are not typically licensed to do electrical or plumbing work. It’s best to contact your local city to get an idea of where to start. Here in Washington state, our licensing for trades is governed through the Department of Labor and Industries and they even offer a nice contractor verification tool here: https://secure.lni.wa.gov/verify/

Permits

Yes, permits are almost always required for the work. Some things can be done without permits but more often than naught, it’s a good idea to get the permits and inspections to make sure the work was done correctly. Also, with permits you have more legal recourse with the contractor if something does go wrong.

Reviews

Reviews are a great way to find out about your contractor, but sadly they can’t always be trusted. Google, Yelp, Angie’s List, Thumbtack, Home Advisor and even the Better Business Bureau are little more than marketing companies. Businesses pay to be on those sites and can pay to have bad reviews either hidden or removed. The best way to use reviews it to search through a few different sites and always look at the bad as well as the good. Google reviews can be bought to give a company a nice five star rating, but they reviews are typically pretty vague. Yelp tends to have more honest reviews although they can be overly negative even for good companies. The BBB does little more that the rest, it only acts a mediator for disputes but even a company with lots of complaints can still maintain a positive rating simply because they pay for that.

In the end, you have to put in a little work to find out about the company. Asking for recommendations on Facebook groups or Nextdoor is a good place to start, but even then, some of the people recommending the companies are the employees or family.

Contract

If your project is over a couple thousand dollars, you really should have some kind of contract in place that states the scope of the project, what is included in the price and what is excluded. There should be a clearly written payment schedule with clear milestones that the contractor must hit for the progress payments to be made. Final payment should never be made until the project is completed.

Most importantly, you should ask lots of questions. You should feel comfortable with the contractor and the project. Understand, too that if it’s a large project a contractor may charge for some of this paper work because it can take a considerable amount of their time to put all of it together.

Red Flags

If the contractor you talking to won’t give you their business info or contractor license number, that is a red flag. You need to be able to verify they are who they say they are.

If they say you don’t nee permits, that’s a red flag. They should be able to explain clearly why or why not. They should be able to offer code references.

Conclusion

Your home is a valuable asset as well as the roof over your head. Take the time to make sure things are being done well and correctly or it may be costly. Understand that it will always cost more than you want but doing things the right way is rarely the cheapest but it is the best.

You should trust your contractor, they will not only be working in your home, they will be working on it.

Good Electric - Steilacoom

How to Clean and Maintain Your Cadet Heaters for Safe, Efficient Heat All Winter Long

If you rely on Cadet heaters or any type of forced air wall heater to keep your home cozy during the Pacific Northwest’s chilly winters, a little routine care can go a long way. These electric wall heaters are reliable, but dust buildup and neglect can affect performance and even create safety hazards.

Cadet heater

Download Cadet Manual

Here’s how to clean and maintain your Cadet heaters the right way — safely and effectively.

Step 1: Turn Off the Power

Before doing anything, turn off power to the heater at the breaker panel. This is the most important safety step. Never clean or open a heater that’s connected to power.

Step 2: Remove the Grille

Use a screwdriver to remove the front grille or cover. Most Cadet wall units are easy to open — just a couple of screws. Set the cover aside and vacuum any visible dust.

Step 3: Vacuum the Interior

Use a vacuum with a brush attachment to gently clean dust and pet hair from the heater’s fins and fan blades. Avoid touching the heating element directly — it’s delicate.

If buildup is stubborn, use compressed air to blow debris out carefully.

Step 4: Wipe the Grille and Exterior

Clean the grille with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Avoid harsh cleaners — they can damage paint or plastic. Make sure everything is completely dry before reinstalling.

Step 5: Inspect for Wear

Check for:

Frayed wires or loose connections
Bent fins or rust
Unusual discoloration

If you notice any of these, stop and call a licensed electrician. It’s better to fix small issues before they turn into big repairs.

Step 6: Schedule Regular Maintenance

For most homes, cleaning twice a year — once before winter and once after — keeps heaters in top shape. Homes with pets or lots of dust may need more frequent cleaning.

At Good Electric, we also offer professional heater inspections and repairs to make sure your units are operating safely and efficiently.

Bonus Tip: Upgrade to Modern Thermostats

Pairing your Cadet heaters with modern thermostats can improve comfort and save energy. Smart thermostats allow you to schedule heating times, ensuring warmth when you need it — and savings when you don’t.

Need Help?

If your Cadet heaters aren’t heating evenly, make strange noises, or trip breakers, it’s time to call the pros.

(253)391-8222

Good Electric proudly serves homeowners in Steilacoom, Tacoma, Lakewood, Gig Harbor, and Olympia with expert heater repair, maintenance, and replacement services.

Schedule your heater maintenance today!