In many of our past electrical safety articles we have talked about electrical fires. The reason we warn homeowners so frequently about the threat of an electrical fire is because of the danger it poses to your home and your family’s lives. Electrical fires can result from poorly managed electrical wires or equipment and result in huge damages and health hazards. It’s important that you have taken the necessary steps to avoid this.

Electrical fires are fires that start as a result of electrical wires that are hot, overloaded, or sparking. Electrical wires run throughout your home, next to hundreds of feet of wood. If a circuit is overloaded or damaged it can become extremely hot and product a spark. If your circuit breaker does not detect this and fails to shut it off quickly the wires can heat up the surrounding wood structure and start a fire. The biggest problem with these types of fires is their location. The fire has now started behind the wall, out of sight. By the time the smoke is visible through outlets or vents, significant damage can already be done. By the time you notice the fire, call the fire department and they arrive to extinguish the fire, there will already by substantial damage to your home. This situation can be even worse at night while you and your family is sleeping. The fire can creep up on you and spread behind the walls before you notice. You may even find yourself in your home and unable to prevent the fire from overtaking the entire structure.

Some common causes of electrical fires are:

To prevent electrical fires ensure that your electrical circuit panel is properly organized and up to date. If your electrical panel is old and not properly organized, it will not detect overloads and do its job of protecting your home. We recommend having your home inspected every 10 years. Some problems you will not be able to identify on your own. Our electricians will be able to identify areas that need to be upgraded and brought up to code. There are some precautions that you can take on your own. Check on your appliances, electrical equipment, and extension cords to ensure they are not frayed or have exposed wiring. If you notice that one of your electrical devices is very old, it may be time to repair it. If you are not sure contact your local Expert Electric.

To schedule a home inspection or receive more information about keeping your home safe from electrical fires, contact Expert Electric at 604-681-8338. We are your neighbourhood’s electricians committed to keeping you safe.

Question:  How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?

Answer:  Only one…but the light bulb has to really WANT to change.

Maybe you’ve heard this joke before.  And, maybe you are tired of hearing light bulb jokes in general.  But, like it or not—Change is inevitable and the LED light bulb is leading the way.

Nearly a day goes by that we do not hear about light emitting diodes (LEDs) and the changes taking place in the lighting industry.

And, for good reason.  LED is changing the way we see the light.  The latest ceiling pendants, mini chandeliers, task lamps and outdoor light fixtures are accepting these new bulbs with tremendous gusto.  The lighting effects are becoming more versatile and redefining our vision of elegance.  The price of LED lamps is even coming down.

As LED light fixtures become more affordable and user-friendly, the choice of which bulb to use in your next lighting design will be clear…or frosted or soft white or blue…but it will be LED!

1.  LEDs lasts up to 50 times longer and use 80% less energy than old standard incandescent light bulbs.

2.  LEDs burn out slowly over time, so the dreaded pop and bulb blow out will be a blast from the past–something to tell your grandchildren about!

3.  LEDs radiate little to no heat and they hold up extremely well in harsh winter weather conditions.

4.  LEDs are eco-friendly; they do not contain toxic gas or emit harmful IR/UV radiation.

5.  LEDs are also referred to as “solid-state” lighting  (SSL) because they use semiconductors and are solid light sources; they are shatter-resistant and durable.

Embrace change. Learn the facts and put LED to work in your home or office environment.

√ Buy from a reputable dealer.  All LED bulbs are not created equal.  Through a process of “binning,” LED chips are sorted according to the quality and degree of luminescence.  Cheaper LED bulbs may be equipped with a lower quality chip that will not provide the brightest light and may burn out prematurely.

√ Look for Energy Star®-ratings to find LEDs of the highest quality.

Some of the latest LED innovations include designer mini pendants and ceiling fixtures from ELK Lighting.