Canada
815 Roderick Ave,
Coquitlam BC V3K 1P
No Extra Chages for Nights & Weekends.
AT PTX Electric, we are going to cover some of the most frequently asked questions that we get about electricians and electrical contractors.
We know that electrical problems at home or at your office can be concerning because the consequences of an electrical fault can be devastating. We also know that you may have a lot of questions when it comes to these electrical issues, so we always recommend that you consult with an electrician that can answer all your questions in detail.
Nevertheless, we have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions that homeowners and businesses often ask in respect of electrical fault diagnosis, repair, and installations.
Electricians work in commercial, industrial, and residential settings, and some of their main duties are to install, repair, and maintain electrical systems in accordance with building codes and other regulations. They also prepare cost estimates and documentation for clients. So, whether it’s at your home or at your business and you need any of this done, you should hire a Vancouver electrician for this purpose.
The simple answer is that, without investigating what the exact issue is, we won’t be in a position to give an exact price in respect of the job. That’s why we always recommend that we diagnose the problem in person and that we give you a quote to complete the work. Although we can give estimates over the phone, they’re often not very accurate and by giving you a quote after an inspection, you know exactly what it’s going to cost, and we eliminate nasty surprises.
How long it will take to complete the work will depend on our workload, but we always aim to get to your home or office and get the job done as quickly as possible.
A simple way to answer this question is by using an analogy. Say, for example, that you have a thin piece of wood supported between two chairs. Now, let’s say you place a cup in the middle of the wood. It will bend, but it will support the weight of the cup. The more cups you stack on the wood, the more it will bend until it finally breaks.
Your electrical system works in the same way, and basically, if your electricity keeps tripping it could be that you have too many electrical appliances working from one socket. In simple terms, you then overload the socket just like we overloaded the piece of wood.
Although it may be inconvenient, this is a built-in safety mechanism that shuts off the power and prevents overheating or a fire from starting. Despite this safety mechanism, it’s always best to avoid connecting too many appliances or devices to one socket, so you should instead look at distributing them across two or more sockets.
If you do this and the problem persists, then you might want to hire an electrician to investigate the cause of the problem.
There are many things that can cause fuses to blow. It could be an overloaded circuit like the example above, or it could be that the fuse blows due to a power surge. It could also be that the fuse does not have the appropriate capacity for the device it’s there to protect. Another possibility is that the fuse is simply old, ineffective, and needs to be replaced. When fuses are constantly blowing, it’s always better to hire an electrician to investigate the problem and repair it if necessary.
Aluminium wiring was commonly used in the late 1960s and into the mid-1970s in many homes. Although the wiring itself does not pose a fire hazard, the issue with it is in faulty terminations in either receptacles, switches, light fixtures, and equipment.
This happens because of a combination of factors. Firstly, the conductor expands and contracts and, secondly, aluminum oxidizes over time. This causes heat to be generated at the points where the wiring is improperly terminated. If too much heat is generated it could ignite a fire. One of the main issues here is that, although the wiring may seem fine on face value, it may be deteriorating behind devices, and in the process, create a fire hazard.
If you’re concerned about aluminum wiring in your home or at your business, it’s always better to have an electrical contractor inspect it and advise you on the way forward.
Yes, it is still safe, provided that the original installation is maintained in proper working order and that the circuitry has not been changed. In order to maintain it properly, you should make sure that the insulation in the knob and tube wiring has not dried out or become stiff and brittle.
You should also make sure that you do not overload the system, because it was not designed for this load and, in certain circumstances, may pose a fire or shock hazard. Likewise, if any part of the original installation was changed, it should be replaced with up-to-date wiring. If you have any questions about your wiring, we recommend that you hire an electrician that will be able to give you the best advice.
We always recommend that you hire an electrician when it comes to electrical work. This is simply because they are professionally trained and the experts in diagnosing and repairing electrical issues. In other words, they know everything there is to know about electrical installations. Apart from that, when you sell your home your electrical system has to meet current codes and inspections which means that, if you did some of the work yourself, it could quite possibly be that your home won’t meet this requirement. This will then end up costing you more money.
There’s no job too big or too small. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service, so no matter what work needs to be done, you can always contact us.