3 Tips Our Electrical Contractors Want Toronto Residents To Know
Electricity is a phenomenal substance that flows through the veins of houses and businesses and brings warmth, light, and protection to our everyday lives. However, electricity is also highly volatile, requiring expert, experienced electrical contractors when being handled. Whether you’re consistently dealing with power problems, keen to upgrade your home electrical system, or interested in learning more in general, this is the blog for you!
From saving money to staying safe, the electrical contractors at Toronto Wiring have compiled the top three home electrical tips they think all Toronto residents should know.
#1 Low Voltage Does Not Equal Low Risk
Now, we’re not going to scare you into thinking you can’t handle low-voltage systems or wiring. They are not as dangerous as working on your electrical breaker box. However, that doesn’t mean that they are not dangerous at all. In fact, low-voltage systems can cause injury or even death in extreme cases if caution is thrown to the wind. Voltage is not what you should be worried about – it’s the current that’s harmful. If low-voltage wiring has an unusually high current, you could easily get hurt. And sometimes neither the voltage nor the current gets you, but the shock that causes you to fall from your ladder or the spark from a poor low-voltage connection that causes a fire.
#2 Beware Of “Vampire” Devices
At Toronto Wiring, our electrical contractors often get call-outs from Toronto residents who complain of high electricity bills but no obvious cause in sight. Sure, sometimes insulation issues and energy-inefficient light bulbs can be the culprits. However, there are lesser-known power-hungry suspects that homeowners often overlook – vampire devices! Appliances and devices with ‘standby’ mode or remotes need to turn on quickly and maintain a steady stream of power to do so. These devices drain your home of its electricity – especially when they join forces with charging devices which continue to consume power even without being plugged into your phone or laptop.
#3 Protective Gear Only Protects When Properly Made
Rubber is an excellent insulator against electricity – but not just any old rubber! This is something that all Toronto residents need to know. Wrapping yourself in rubber gloves and boots before tackling a tricky electrical problem may give you the confidence boost you need, but you are not safe from electrocution. Unfortunately, household rubber manufacturers mix in additives to cut costs and increase durability, meaning it is no longer pure rubber and you are not fully insulated from an electrical current looking for the path of least resistance to the ground. Rather, get your hands on professional safety gear designed for electrical work or, better yet, don’t take the risk at all and let our professional electrical contractors handle it for you.
As you can see, there are several things the everyday homeowner like yourself is yet to understand about electricity and electrical safety. That’s why our electrical contractors in Toronto continue to try to educate the Toronto public on their electrical systems and how to save money and stay safe while using them. If you are ever faced with an electrical problem, come to Toronto Wiring – you know we’ll put your safety and savings first.
4 Signs You Need A New Toronto Electrical Contractors
After filtering through hundreds of electrical contractors in Toronto and finally finding the right one for your needs, it can be incredibly frustrating when they start dropping the ball.
They probably showed signs of inadequacy quite early on, but it’s difficult to simply stop doing business with someone you’ve trusted for so long and start the process of finding a replacement again.
However, you need to know that it’s necessary. Electricity is a dangerous, destructive substance in untrained hands. And in unlicensed hands, it’s downright illegal in Toronto and Ontario as a whole.
Whether licensed or unlicensed, however, this highlights the necessity of working with experienced, professional, and quality electrical technicians
To help you make your decision, here are four signs that you need a new one!
#1 Unconcerned With Safety
If your electrical contractors ignore simple safety measures, such as wearing safety gear or adhering to COVID-19 regulations, there’s no guarantee that he doesn’t do the same when performing electrical services.
Is he using up-to-date equipment when performing safety checks? Has he bothered to let you know that your switchboard is in dire need of safety switches? Is he turning off the power when working with live wires?
You can’t be sure.
Any electrical contractors worth their salt considers their reputation, as well as your and their own safety, a top priority – and you deserve one that does!
#2 Unreliable
Is your electrical technician always late? Do they take days to return your calls, if at all? In this case, it’s a sign that you cannot rely on them when you desperately need their help.
Suppose you suddenly experience an electrical emergency, like smelling burning metal or water damage. How can you be sure they’ll answer your call, let alone arrive in time to prevent it worsening? You can’t. And that, in my opinion, is not a risk I’d want to take.
#3 Untimely
Maybe your electrical technician is arriving randomly, with no warning signs, and leaving just as abruptly. This is a sign that more shady things are going down.
Firstly, it shows that they do not respect your time nor the business you’re giving them, which is worrying to say the least.
Secondly, it’s likely that they’ve become greedy and are juggling as many jobs as possible, giving high promises, and sneaking off to other jobs to make good on them (as well as popping over to you whenever they see fit to get those extra hours in).
#4 Secretive
If an electrical technician provides high-quality workmanship, you would struggle to shut them up about it!
If yours doesn’t advertise their services on mainstream channels or is refusing to divulge simple business information, this is a worrying warning sign that they may not be licensed, insured or ethical – or all three.
Some shady electrical technicians have been known to refuse to give out a phone number or even make up fake names. This helps them disappear when faulty work causes costly problems!
If you’re dealing with any one of these problems with your electrical technician, please feel free to contact our team at Toronto Wiring for advice or our specialist electrical services.
As Toronto’s leading technicians, you can be confident you’ll enjoy unrivalled transparency, experience, and electrical solutions – our reputation depends on your happiness!
Check out our testimonials to see the level of service you can expect, or contact one of our electrical contractors to calm any qualms.
Choosing The Right Electrical Contractors For Maintenance
Toronto’s search results are saturated with hundreds of so-called ‘specialist’ electrical contractors. But are they licensed to offer these services? Do they have experience and insurance? What about their past customers?
A lot goes into being an experienced, sought-after electrical contractor – much more than a beautiful website and top spot in Google’s search results.
But, before we delve into the factors you should consider when choosing an electrical contractor for your business’ maintenance, let’s start with the little voice in the back of your mind whispering “you can do it yourself.”
Why You Need A Master Electrical Contractor
Today’s businesses rely on electricity and technology – and your business is likely no different. From surveillance cameras to complex security systems, smart lighting, and energy-saving tech, a lot is riding on your electrical system’s health, and a lot can go wrong.
Maintaining each interconnected component on such a large scale leaves room for dangerous failures and profit-destroying downtime if you don’t know what you’re doing. Something as simple as incorrect wiring can spark a fire and all the legal issues that come with it.
On top of that, something as simple as neglecting to upgrade your switchboard with safety switches can result in a fatal fire too. A master electrical contractor will not only have the training, certification, and experience to work with your electrical system easily and safely, but offer proactive maintenance to eliminate hazards and risks too.
They will identify and remedy potential safety hazards whilst providing ongoing maintenance to keep your electrical system healthy and up-to-date. They’re also particularly useful for strata units and large-scale commercial properties, as they can work on advanced, interconnected commercial electrical systems while ensuring business continuity too.
Their services will include:
- Repairs
- Installations
- Maintenance
- Inspections
- Safety testing
- Preventative maintenance
If that’s not enough to silence that little voice, then this will be. DIY electrical work is straight-up illegal in Toronto. It’s considered to be unlicensed electrical work, and thus deemed dangerous and illegal in the eye’s of the government.
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Toronto Electrical Contractor
For this section, we decided to get our customers’ insights to help you. After doing a survey, we found four common factors our customers considered before coming to us for commercial electrical maintenance.
Are They Licensed?
To avoid any legal issues and fines, as well as be sure that your chosen contractors have up-to-date training and certification, you should make sure that they are licensed.
Are They Insured?
Insurance is crucial, and any contractor who is confident in their skills will have it. Without it, you could be left with faulty work that your insurance won’t cover or—god forbid—injury compensation fees or lawsuits when fault work becomes dangerous.
Are They Experienced?
Maintaining the complex, large-scale electrical systems of commercial properties takes more than electrical expertise. You’ll want to choose a contractor who specializes in commercial properties to ensure business continuity.
Are They Renowned?
If your chosen contractor has all of the above and supposedly provides exceptional workmanship, then he’ll have plenty of references confirming this. Ask for three recent references (and check their online reviews for good measure!).
With these factors in mind, you should have no problem finding a contractor to trust with your business’ electrical maintenance after some time.
Or, you could skip some steps and come straight to Toronto’s leading master electrical contractors, Toronto Wiring!
You’ll enjoy access to our team of highly trained, licensed, and insured technicians, as well as the wealth of insights they’ve gained over the years servicing commercial properties. From large-scale solar to switchboard upgrades, we specialize in all manners of commercial maintenance in Toronto
5 Worrying Reasons Why Licensed Electrical Contractors Are Essential For Your Toronto Home
Since the COVID-19 crisis, many homeowners are sacrificing their satisfaction and safety for savings, opting for dodgy deals with unlicensed electrical technicians.
With a licensed electrician in Toronto that offers cost-effective solutions, you’ll enjoy safe, successful home services that will easily suit any budget.
Here’s why!
#1 Savings
Electricity is complicated. The slightest mistake and you could be left in the dark for days!
If an electrician doesn’t have a license, you have to ask yourself why. Surely, if they had a respectable business, they’d want to make it official?
There’s usually a reason for their lack of certification – and this can translate into being untrained, unprofessional, and untrustworthy.
If their work is faulty, it’s unlikely that they’ll take responsibility or make good on their guarantees (if they even have any) – and you will pay the price!
But, if you hire a trained professional, you can be confident that any electrical problems will be solved the first time, leaving no mess or malfunction behind.
And if something does go wrong, you’ll be protected by the guarantees and warranties that their company and reputation rely on!
#2 Timely Turnarounds
With any unlicensed electrical contractors, there’s no guarantee that they know what they’re doing.
And considering home electrical systems are so complex and interconnected, it’s easy to make mistakes, cause more problems, and be stuck struggling for days without the right training or experience!
Not only will their hourly rates start accumulating, but so will your frustration.
A licensed professional, on the other hand, will identify, resolve, and double-check any electrical issues in half the time!
#3 Legal Work
Unlicensed electrical work – including DIY jobs – are illegal in Toronto, and Ontario as a whole.
With a licensed electrical contractors on your side, you will have peace of mind knowing that their work will be legal, up to code, and your highest expectations!
Why? Because to get licensed, they must undergo rigorous training and testing for certification purposes.
#4 Complete Cover
As electricity is such a volatile, dangerous medium, it’s easy for electricians to injure themselves – especially if they lack the appropriate training and experience!
Any licensed electrical contractors is not only less likely to get hurt, but will also be able to get insurance to protect themselves and you in the event of an accident.
This ensures you won’t be slapped with hefty medical bills and sued for compensation – ouch!
#5 Assured Safety
Armed with a license and verifiable training, a professional electrical contractor will be able to ensure your safety too!
Wrong electrical work is not only dangerous; it can be devastating as well!
From sparking electrical fires to unexpected electrocution, a highly trained professional is essential for the safety of you, your family, property, and possessions.
With any unlicensed electrical contractors, you’re inviting the potential for grave mistakes!
But, which electrical contractors in Toronto should you hire for your home?
Look no further than Toronto Wiring!
Our team of highly trained electrical contractors offer more than just safe, successful, and licensed work. With our customer-first focus and family values, we know precisely how pricey home life can be. That’s why we offer cost-effective solutions to exceed your expectations – not your budget.
Contact us today for strategic, sustainable electrical services!