Category: Electrical Safety
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What Separates a Qualified Electrician from a DIY “Expert”?
Not everyone who offers to upgrade your electrical panel or replace your aluminum wiring is necessarily a qualified electrician—and hiring someone who doesn’t have the proper skills or knowledge to do safe electrical work is a risk you should never take. But how can you tell the difference between a reliable electrician and a DIY…
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Smoke and CO Detectors: They Save Lives!
Smoke and carbon monoxide inhalation can be deadly. Over 300 deaths and 200 hospitalizations occur in Canada each year as the result of carbon monoxide poisoning, and one in every seven unintentional fire-related deaths in residential buildings is due to the absence of a working smoke alarm. Those numbers are scary, but they illustrate an…
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Is Aluminum Electrical Wiring Safe?
Many different materials go into building a home, and as time goes by, technology and standard practices are always evolving. When it comes to electrical wiring, different conductors perform on different levels. In today’s new home construction, copper is king when it comes to electrical wiring. Aluminum wiring can provide a path for electrical current…
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Why Do Electrical Outlets Stop Working?
For most people, the intricate maze of wires behind their outlets is a mystery. We just expect to plug in our devices and magically have them work. So when your phone doesn’t charge, your alarm doesn’t go off, or you can’t get your morning coffee fix, it’s important to know the reasons why. And important…
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How Do I Ground a 3-Prong Outlet?
Ungrounded outlets in your home can cause big problems. This includes damaging appliances, electrical shock, and potentially even fires. Grounding your 3-prong outlets properly can ensure safety and efficiency within your home. There are different ways to spot an ungrounded outlet, which we’ll discuss in this blog. Properly diagnosing, repairing, and testing outlets is best…
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Can I Do My Own Home Electrical Wiring?
Whether you’re upgrading your home’s lighting, doing a full-on renovation, or adding a hot tub to the backyard, you’re going to need to modify the electrical wiring. For many jobs, the choice to call a professional electrician is your own. Although some electrical tasks always require a certified electrical expert. If you are planning to…
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What Do I Need an Electrician For?
Home renovations in DIY projects are always exciting. And there are lots of things you can do yourself or learn to accomplish when it comes to home improvements. But your home’s electrical system is one of the things that requires a professional. Not every single electrical function in your home needs a certified pro. But…
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Should You Replace Old Electrical Outlets?
Homeowners depend on electrical outlets to power most of their appliances and gadgets, from refrigerators to phone chargers, yet most don’t pause to consider them until there’s an issue. The Canadian Electrical Code (NEC) advised that all homes built after 1962 must have 3-prong, grounded outlets, and some older homes may still have 2-prong outlets. …
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Electrical Problems to Watch For When Buying a House
Purchasing a new home can be an exciting, yet stressful process! It’s challenging to remain practical about safety and budget constraints when you’ve fallen in love with what appears to be the perfect place. At 4-Star Electric, we recommend looking past the aesthetics of your possible new home, and diving right into details about the…
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10 Signs of Electrical Issues & How to Fix Them
Electrical fires account for about 3,000 structural fires in Canada every year, so electrical problems need to be taken seriously and addressed as soon as they become apparent. That means homeowners need to get better at recognizing electrical problems before they can become significant hazards. But where should you start? Right here, that’s where. We’ve…