Whether you own a home or rent, at some point you might find yourself tempted to try residential electrical troubleshooting when a problem occurs. A word of caution. We cannot stress this enough. DO NOT fall into the trap of thinking you can fix a small (or even any) residential electrical problem yourself. Always hire…
Like most homeowners, you probably know where the circuit breaker panel in your home is. You know what the circuit breaker box looks like. You know the circuit breaker box is the first port of call when something electrical in your home trips. And you know how to check the circuit panel and flip the…
Contrary to popular belief, there are many different types of extension cords. Different applications may require different amperages so it’s good to have a basic understanding of how electrical cords differ and how they should be used.
Canada wiring colours, as regulated by the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), are quite similar to the National Electrical Code (NEC) in the United States. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist – or an electrician – to know and understand, that the specific colouring of the electrical wires in your home means something. In…
Types of Electrical Outlets In the Home The average North American home has over 75 electrical outlets and various types of outlets in use. A myriad of different types of electrical outlets are available, including 2-prong, 3-prong, GFCI, USB, AFCI, FBI, and CIA. (Okay, okay. We definitely made those last two up. Big Brother is…
Do you hear an intermittent low-grade humming or electrical buzzing sound in your house? Are your electrical appliances emitting strange noises? Do your walls seem to be buzzing at you? No, you’re not going mad and most likely you don’t have hornets setting up home in your walls/sockets/ceiling fan. You could most likely have an electrical…
GFCI outlets help make the home a lot safer but when a GFCI outlet won’t reset, what can you do? We use electrical outlets every day but when they don’t work it can be really inconvenient. When older outlets stop working, it could be a sign of potential danger, possibly even a fire hazard. Always…
Do you know how to put out an electrical fire? Are you unsure what, exactly, constitutes an electrical fire? The answers to both these questions are crucial to the safety of your home and family. Fortunately, we have those answers for you below, as well as how to prevent electrical fires altogether. Knowing if the…
Most likely, many of us are thinking about a window AC unit as we inch towards summer and remember 2021’s heat dome. Window air conditioners have since gained in popularity – they are a quicker, easier, and more affordable fix to sweaty summer nights than installing central air conditioning. The question remains, however, are window…
BC Hydro used to have live “meter readers,” employees who visited more than 1.9 million customers to take an electric meter reading. Now that BC Hydro has fully transitioned all customers over to “Smart Meters,” in-person electric meter readings are no longer necessary. However, do you know how to read an electric meter? In this…