Category: Residential Services
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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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Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Electrical Problems?
Now that we’ve looked at some electrical issues you might see when you’re buying a home, it’s time to talk about insurance—the ultimate “just-in-case” purchase you make when it comes to your health, car, and even home! Home insurance is absolutely essential for any homeowner, as it can help cover the costs of many incidents…
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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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Why Are My Lights Flickering?
Flickering lights are a common phenomenon in many homes and commercial buildings, but not a particularly welcome one. Many people find flickering lights distracting and off-putting—some even wonder if they can be dangerous. Don’t worry; we’re going to show you some common reasons why electric lights flicker (and no, none of them involve ghosts). Read…
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Electricity Supply to Your Home Office
This past summer, CTV published an article reporting that upwards of 45% of Canadians are now working from home, with business owners intending to offer their employees a work-from-home option even after the pandemic. The sudden, drastic shift to home offices last year left many people scrambling to organize a workspace at home. Now that…
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Keeping Your Winter Electric Bill Low
Unlike other places in the world, the winter season in Alberta lasts several months and loves to hold on for as long as possible. It’s hard to know when we’ve seen the last of the snow, so that means our heat and light-making systems are always on call. Unfortunately, this constant vigilance can have an…
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Choosing Great Lighting for Your Garage Workshop
This year has been an interesting one, to say the least. It has given many of us the opportunity to start new hobbies or pick up old ones. For some of us, that means long hours spent in the garage, whittling away at projects. If that sounds like you, this week’s article is right up…
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Carbon Monoxide: Keeping Your Family Safe
Carbon monoxide is often referred to as the silent killer. Any building that burns natural gas, oil, coal, charcoal, and even propane has the potential to produce it. Colourless and odourless, it can travel virtually undetected through your home. Due to its invisible nature, it’s no wonder that over 50 Canadians die every year from…
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Electrical Considerations in a New Home
There’s something special about building your new home. Every aspect of the new space can be tailored to your needs. It’s true that all the customization can be both exciting and overwhelming. One of the most common regrets that homeowners have after living in their freshly-built home is not paying enough attention to their electrical…