Did you know that the majority of Canadian houses were built in the 1970s? This means that most of our homes are over 50 years old! A lot has changed in 50 years, and your home’s electrical needs are no different.
There are on average 19,000 house fires every year in Canada, causing hundreds of fatalities and thousands of injuries. And with electrical fires being among the top 5 most common causes for a house fire, preventive measures should be taken seriously.
Learn to notice the warning signs of a potentially overloaded electrical system:
- Constant breakers tripping or fuses blowing
- Discoloring around outlets
- Buzzing sound coming from switches or outlets
- Appliances not functioning to full capacity (seeming underpowered)
There are various ways to ensure you do not end up overloading your house’s electrical system:
- Utilize energy-efficient appliances & devices to reduce your electrical load
- Ensure your electrical panel is labelled accurately & clearly to better understand the different circuits in your house
- Have your house inspected by a qualified electrician if it is older than 40 years; OR if you have had a large appliance installed (heat pumps, hot tubs, etc).
- Hire a qualified electrician to install a new circuit for any high energy-use devices being added to your house
For more information, contact an electrician with Totally Electric today!