What to do When Your Electricity Stops Working

When there is a fault with the electricity in your home, or office, there are a few things you can do. However, the best option is always to call a Vancouver electrician.

Most people in Vancouver have extremely busy lives, with work, families, fitness and hobbies. For many, or most of these activities, we need electricity. The offices in downtown Vancouver all need electricity, as do our many amazing restaurants. And of course, sometimes after a long day at work, school or the gym, you just want to sit down, chill out and watch a movie, but this can’t be done without electricity either. When this happens, we’ve put a forward a few tips that will help you decide what to do next. The first thing you need to do is decide on what type of electrical fault it is, such as:

Burnt out Light Bulb

If the light goes out, maybe a light bulb has blown. You can check this by seeing if the other lights in the house work. If this is the case, as long as it is a regular light bulb, then you should be able to replace it by yourself. You can buy light bulbs in most hardware stores and also in many supermarkets. If the bulb is unusual, bring the broken bulb with you, so you know exactly which one to get. It is always a good idea to pick up a few, so that you won’t have to head out the next time this happens.  However, if the new light bulb blows pretty soon after replacing it, then there could very well be a problem with the electrical system and it is worth calling a Vancouver electrician.

Breaker overload

If a power outlet isn’t working, or if all of the power outlets in a particular area of your home have stopped working, then something has likely tripped a breaker. You can see in your home’s power box if there is a switch that is facing in the opposite direction to the rest. Simply flip this and the power should return to your outlets. You should also think carefully about what caused the breaker to flip. Perhaps you were using a new appliance where the voltage does not match your home. This can often happen with electrical items bought in different countries. If you can’t figure it out then there could be a problem with your wiring, especially if it is old. If this is the case you should call a Vancouver electrician to have a look at it. 

How to avoid getting a shock from an electrician in Vancouver

We all know the familiar feeling of switching the on button for an appliance or light switch, but nothing happens. We wait a few seconds, gazing confused at the button, flicking it a few more times for good measure before conceding that something has broken.

Conducting any sort of electrical work yourself is extremely dangerous, and should only be attempted if you are a fully qualified electrician who knows exactly what you are doing. Sadly, not everyone follows this advice and there are injuries and fatalities every year relating to electrical shocks.

Finding an electrician in Vancouver can be a daunting and time consuming business, but we are here with some tops tips on how to avoid getting a shock.

1. Ensure they are licenced

Before handing over any money, signing anything or even verbally agreeing to an arrangement, make sure that the electrician in Vancouver has shown you the documentation that they are currently licensed to conduct the work.

Don’t be afraid to ask and if anything does go wrong you will be in a far better position knowing that they are legitimate and that you have followed the correct safety procedure.

2. Search for feedback

Utilize the internet to search review websites for electricians in Vancouver, or wherever your local area is. While some feedback may be erroneous, or even fake, it should be able to give you a good indication of the level of service that the company or tradespeople provide.

3. Compare prices

After searching for feedback, it is useful to compare prices between the company or trades people. This is invaluable in gaining a rough estimate of how much the job should cost, while allowing you to pick the best deal that suits you.

4. Try to be present when the work is done

Lastly, although this may seem more hassle than it’s worth, do try to be present when the electrician in Vancouver is carrying out the work. This will allow you to keep track of how much time they are spending on the job and will reduce the chances of any problems that may occur.

In Summary

Finding an electrician in Vancouver may seem a daunting task, but by following the tips above it should be a speedy and painless process.

Why should you hire a licensed Electrical Contractor?

There are many reasons of why should you opt for a licensed electrical contractor. Starting from satisfactory servicing, efficient functioning of electrical appliances & systems installed, insurance related problems etc., there are many different aspects which would be beneficial for you just with the single step of yours for hiring a professional & licensed electrical contractor for all the electrical needs of your home or office.

The following are the key reasons of why a licensed electrical contractor in Vancouver should be chosen:

No benefits from insurance companies

The statistical data recorded by the Canadian Fire Administration shows some uneven results. It states that around 20,000 electrical fire accidents occur on an annual basis which causes damage of billions in terms of property & loss of highly valuable lives. It is also being added that most of these incidents occur because of wiring disorders or overloading cases. You may have your house or office building charred completely, still you may not get insurance returns just because of the fact that no licensed electrical contractor was chosen for the electrical needs. You can’t even blame the insurance companies as they have this clause which you hadn’t considered at the time when you required electrical services for your place.

An electrically safe life

If you have a licensed electrical contractor whose staff is highly knowledgeable & experienced in providing electrical services, it ensures that you can enjoy all the electrical provisions installed in your place safely. You should know that if you have your house that hadn’t gone through electrical servicing for years, the outdated wiring may harm you at any point of life. There has been a lot change in the way electrical fittings had once taken in use. In fact, electrical needs have been changed. To continue making use of the best resources available in the best possible way, it is equally important to follow safeguards.

Your electrical service provider should have knowledge, experience & license to work effectively for your benefits. Otherwise, the loss is all yours to handle.

Hiring the Services of a Qualified Vancouver Electrician

Are you among the many who hire just about any local electrician for your electrical needs? Whether it is your home or office, you scan the market and hire the services of an electrician based on the price offered by them? You are definitely missing out on one crucial aspect of hiring a professional then! A seasoned electrician not only has the skills but also the understanding of working on a critical electrical issue.

What is an Electrical Emergency?

Any electrical problem which cannot be controlled and needs professional intervention can be termed as electrical emergency. It could be a break in the electric circuit, fire caused by an electrical fault or shock or rescue needs. An electrician plays a key role in an electrical emergency. Situations such as exposure of electrical wire to water, outbreak of fire due to electrical reasons, fire due to unplugged appliances, circuit faults etc can result in emergencies that need the knowledge and skill of a qualified electrician.

 

Electrical Needs at a Property

Each property, commercial or residential have some electrical needs. Whether it is repairing an electrical fault, replacing faulty appliances or installing light fixtures, the skills of a professional electrician are required. A qualified electrician is well trained to work on a variety of electrical needs and with complete ease. He has the understanding of different electrical situations and has dealt with various situations in the past.

A professional electrician is well-trained, skilled and knowledgeable to provide you with the best electrical services that ensure that you and your property is safe and free from electrical problems.

Before hiring the services of a local electrician, it is important to ensure that they are licensed, experienced, insured and have certain certification with them.

Installing Light Fixtures-

In case your current residence is undergoing a Complete Renovation, you may need a helping hand to install light fixtures up in the ceilings. If you wish to do it all by yourself, you should know which tools should be taken in use & how they should be used.

Household electrical tasks can be an inevitable activity that anyone may have to cope up with at some point of their life. A call to an Electrician in Vancouver would not be needed if you know a little about how to handle it by yourself using the right tools. Also, you need to be very careful from being electrocuted & pose dangers to your life. 

To start playing by yourself, here are few things about electrical wiring that you should know:

• All the current & power reaches your home through a Breaker Panel. If it is made off, it means that there is no power reaching the wires & instruments of your house.

• Color code of wiring says Black or Red is the current wire, White is neutral, while Green or copper is ground.

• Never play with the electrical sockets & open wirings no matter how daring you are in your life.

Things you’ll need:

• A voltage meter to check for the amount of voltage supplied.

• Screw Driver

• Light fixture which you want to install.

• Wire strippers to strip off insulated coating from the wires.

The final installation task

• Shut the Power Panel off: The first thing to be done is to power off the mains from the Breaker point & use voltage detector to check there’s no voltage supplied in the wirings.

• Make connections of the wires from the Light fixtures to that of the main wiring.

• Fix the light fixture up against the ceiling or wall using its back plate & screws After you had done your part to mount the fixture, install a bulb & make use of it.

Safety tips to avoid Electrical Mishaps-

If you feel yourself capable of handling every household disturbances & needs, it is strictly advised not to play your hand in Electrical servicing. Electricity is an important resource that can satisfy a major portion of our needs. But, it is equally powerful & dangerous that it can pose serious threats to life. You can utilize its positive aspects, but you better don’t try your hand with its negatives. Even a single act of mischief with the electrical installation may cause serious damage to your home & your life. It would be better to call for an electrician for your help in the region of Vancouver.

The recorded statistics show that electrical mishaps including fires & electrical shocks take away the lives of thousands of people, while the count for less-fatal injuries is higher than that. Not only human’s Unnecessary Involvement causes such damage but the technological failures as well. A large number of such accidents occur because of destructive electrical wiring & overloading. To avoid such accidents, electrical repairs should be taken in use which can be easily available in the region of Vancouver.

Tips to avoid such Accidents:

• Use GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) to shut off electrical power towards any appliance in connection when it comes in contact with water. This will avoid leakage of electricity & provide protection from harmful electrical shocks.

• Keep an eye on the cuts & breaks of chords used in Electrical appliances which can cause Overheating, Sparking & other Electrical damages.

• Overloading of Wall Sockets & extension Cords should be avoided when you want to plug in too many appliances at once. Have more sockets installed in your home & use them correctly.

• Check if your wall sockets & switches get heated after longer continuous use. If they does, replacement of such switches/sockets is mandatory to avoid sparking of wiring & electrical appliances.

• Do not try to ON/OFF an electrical appliance connected to a switch with wet hands.

• No intelligence should be used to extinguish electrical fires with water. Instead, use fire extinguishers for that purpose.

Why Electrical Panel Upgradation should be done?

There is a predefined path with which electricity flows through your home. And if there is a path, there must be a starting point from where it starts. To specify & determine that start, Electrical panels are used. After following the path maintained by the Electricity departments, the power should pass through these panels which act as local electricity distributor of your home. In addition to this, the electrical panel also serves as a protective gadget against higher current values that may sometimes reach your home & can cause serious damage.  They turn themselves to the off mode automatically & don’t allow the current to move ahead. Thus, with the use of Electrical panels, fire disasters & overheating of loads can be avoided.

What if the electrical panel fails to serve you with its advantage? What will you do then? If it is not good in terms of safety issues or it cannot accommodate the current power requirements, it needs upgradation.

How can you check yourself if your panel needs an upgradation?

You can easily look for signs when does your panel demands maintenance. The most familiar of these signs is frequent tripping of Circuit Breakers. If you have made recent renovations to your home that requires an extra amount of power to be taken from the same Electrical panel, this can be considered a valid reason to make a call to your electrician for this purpose. Upgradation may either include additional circuit installation to your initial panel or its complete replacement with respect to the power needs. This will increase the power capacity of your panel & can bring in larger packets of electricity to compensate needs.

 Newer Versus Older Technology

In older homes, Fuse Box was used for electrical safety purposes. In comparison to modern technology, they weren’t much safer. A fuse box has a metal wire, generally of copper that melts down due to excessive heat produced by higher amounts of current, thus breaking the connection. A blown fuse requires immediate replacement to avoid spontaneous electrical hazards.

It is thus, advised to make regular inspections of your Electrical panels in order to avoid threats to your life.