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Tuesday, February 20th, 2018
You have purchased your home and upgrading your light fixtures
You notice that your home has Aluminum Wiring
Aluminum is still considered safe, unless and until homeowners change lights or plugs and use the wrong fixtures.
Hire a Qualified Electrical Contractor experienced in repairing aluminum wiring to do a thorough inspection of the electrical system,
even if the insurance company does not request one.
Wurch Electric has worked with many Insurance Company on Aluminum Wiring
Making sure that everything is safe
Contact Wurch Electric if you have any symptoms of this including receptacle discoloration,
flickering lights, the smell of hot plastic insulation and sometimes an electrical-induced static noise on the radio and/or television.
Follow the link to E-mail Wurch Electric
Information that is being provide is for Educational Purpose, Any electric work that is needing to be done, should be done by a Licensed Electrician.
Tags:Aluminium wiring posing a problem, DIY, don wurch electric, Electrical, Electrical repairs, electrician, HomeReno, HomeRepair, upgrades to your home, wurch electric.
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Monday, March 20th, 2017
Here is some important electrical safety information from the Technical Standards and Safety Authority.
Electrical systems are designed to carry electricity safely throughout our homes. Overloading an electrical circuit by plugging in too many electrical items draws more electricity through the system than it was designed to carry. This can create overheating and result in fire.
Avoid overloading:
- If fuses frequently blow or circuits frequently trip, this is a sign the system is overloaded.
- Always use the correctly rated fuse. For example, don’t use a 30 amp fuse to replace an existing 15 amp fuse.
- Using multi-outlet extension cords can lead to plugging too many items into a single circuit.
- Avoid overloading circuits. Fuses that frequently blow or circuit breakers that trip can be a sign of overloading on the circuit.
- When replacing outlets contact a licensed electrical contractor if you are uncertain of the load rating for your home’s wiring.
Damaged or deteriorated wires can present shock or fire hazard and are signs you should be concerned with your home’s electrical system.
Avoid potential hazards by:
- Watching for dim or flickering lights, which can be a sign of a loose connection in a lighting circuit, fixture, or your electrical service.
- Check for overheated plugs or outlets which can indicate overloading or possibly faulty electrical wiring or equipment.
- Remember, if you have Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets they should be tested monthly, as per manufacturer’s instructions, to ensure they are operating properly.
Thanks to the TSSA for this information.
Source : DaveCorner.ca
Information that is being provide is for Educational Purpose, Any electric work that is needing to be done, should be done by a Licensed Electrician.
Tags:circuits frequently trip, don wurch, don wurch electric, Don Wurch Electrician, electrical circuit, electrical items draws more electricity, fire hazard, fuses frequently blow, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter, licensed electrical contractor, use the correctly rated fuse, wurch electric.
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Thursday, December 10th, 2015
A house electrical service upgrade can be messy and expensive, but the cost to upgrade electrical service is necessary to protect the value of your home.
Not having enough power isn’t just an inconvenience — voltage drop-offs may actually damage sensitive electronics, so having plenty power is important to electrical home safety. Even with enough power, you may need additional outlets to avoid relying on a tangle of power strips and extension cords — a potential safety hazard.
The cost of upgrading electrical service
The standard for household power used to be 60 amps. But modern homes may need as many as 200 amps to run air conditioners, computer equipment, high-definition televisions, and high-tech home automation devices.
The cost of upgrading your existing electrical service panel to a 100- or 200-amp panel is $800 to $3,000.
New wiring: open your walls (and your wallet)
To handle increased electrical loads, it’s likely you’ll also need to upgrade electrical wiring, especially if your house is more than 40 years old.
Upgrading your electrical wiring is a big job because the wires are located inside of walls, where they are difficult to get at without opening up walls. The price for a whole-house rewiring job—including opening up walls, running new wires, connecting switches, outlets and fixtures, and then repairing the mess—is $3,500 to $8,000 for an average-sized home.
For a larger home, or a house with restricted access to a crawlspace and exterior walls, the cost may reach $20,000 and more for labor and materials.
Rewire when the time is right and save
Rewiring can be a messy and expensive proposition, but with a little upfront planning you can minimize the disruptions and even turn the job into an opportunity to add features that will increase the value of your home.
The best time to rewire is during a remodeling project, such as renovating your kitchen or adding a family room, when subcontractors are opening up your walls anyway. That way, your electrician has easy access to the walls, and refinishing walls will be part of the larger remodeling project—not just the rewiring.
Plan ahead for your future power needs
Structured wiring is a smart investment and may be a marketing advantage if you should decide to sell your home. Structured wiring is a generic term for any heavy-duty electrical and data cables designed to handle the latest entertainment and communication devices—and those yet to be invented—including phones, Internet, and household heating and lighting systems.
One way to estimate the cost of structured wiring is to determine the square footage of your house. Multiply that figure by $2.
While a standard electrical upgrade essentially maintains the value of your home, adding structured wiring can increase it. According to a 2009 study by the Consumer Electronics Association and the National Association of Home Builders Research Center, almost 50% of homes built in 2008 included structured wiring, a sure sign of its growing value to home owners.
Information that is being provide is for Educational Purpose, Any electric work that is needing to be done, should be done by a Licensed Electrician.
Tags:don wurch, don wurch electric, Don Wurch Electrician, New wiring: (and your wallet), New wiring: open your walls, Plan ahead for your future power needs, Rewire when the time is right and save, The cost of upgrading electrical service, wurch electric.
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Wednesday, August 27th, 2014
Here’s one thing you might want to do if you’re going away for the long weekend.
  Unplug those vampire electronics. Computers, printers, phone chargers, gaming consoles and DVD players all eat away at your energy bill even if they are turned off. This is something you should always do, not only if you go away, as it could save you money on your electric bill. For more energy efficiency tips check out these posts.
Source: 
Tags:Computers, dvd players, gaming consoles, phone chargers, printers, saving money on electric bill, wurch electric.
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Monday, January 20th, 2014
(NC) As the chill of the fall and winter seasons set in Canadians seek warmth – turning on the furnace and turning up the thermostat. Unfortunately this often results in higher energy bills.
Dave Walton, Director of Home Ideas at Direct Energy, has worked with thousands of homeowners to combat this challenge, providing energy-saving tips and advice about when to implement efficiency upgrades.
Here are some of the most effective ways Dave suggests for saving money on your energy bills this season:
• Furnace maintenance – Clean or replace your furnace filter every three months to save as much as five per cent off your heating bill. Also, most homeowners might not realize that if you own an older, conventional burning furnace, it operates at 60 per cent efficiency. That means that 40 cents of every dollar you spend heating your home goes right up the chimney. If your furnace is 17 years or older, consider upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace that could save as much as $565 per year on heating costs.
• Invest in a programmable thermostat – Knocking the temperature down and leaving it around 20 degrees at night and during the day when nobody is home can save as much as three to five per cent on heating bills.
• Sealing leaks – Up to 20 per cent of the heating and cooling costs in a home can be lost through poorly fitted windows and doors. Caulking and weather stripping around existing openings or installing new energy-efficient windows can save home owners as much as $150 a year on their energy bills.
More information is available online at www.davescorner.ca.
Source; www.newscanada.com
Information that is being provide is for Educational Purpose, Any electric work that is needing to be done, should be done by a Licensed Electrician.
Tags:electric, electricial contractor, Furnace maintenance, Invest in a programmable thermostat, Sealing leaks, wurch electric.
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Tuesday, January 7th, 2014
(NC) Every neighbourhood has at least one: a house on the street that lights up in splendour throughout the holiday season. Decorations are in abundance both indoors and out, and just seeing the house brings on a smile. But as beautiful as it might be, that home may also be a safety risk if the decorator hasn’t followed precautions, like these offered by CSA Group, a leader in public safety testing and certification:
Creativity is key but not at the cost of safety – Let your inner designer shine, but be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when arranging electrical items, such as lights or electronic decorations. Be sure to turn off the electricity to the supply outlet before working with outdoor wiring and never run an electrical cord through a doorway or under a carpet indoors.
Fakes are no laughing matter – Your next door neighbour dressed up as Santa is funny. Counterfeit decorations are not so funny. Look for the mark from an accredited certification organization (such as CSA Group) on animated displays, light strings and extension cords. Ensure decorations are marked and certified for outdoor use and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep the mood light but not fiery – Choose flame-resistant decorations and don’t place open flames or candles near flammable materials, such as wreathes, trees or paper decorations. Never nail or tack lighting strings to a wall as this may damage insulation and create a shock or fire hazard. Use insulated fasteners to hold light strings in place, rather than metal nails or tacks that could damage wiring.
Cozy up – Keep warm by the fireplace but be sure your gas appliances are in good working order. If the pilot light or flame goes out, turn the gas off and wait five minutes or longer (see the manufacturer’s instructions) before attempting to relight. Be alert for unusual odours or flames when your gas fireplace is on, often indicating that the fireplace is not operating properly. In such cases, contact your dealer or licensed technician for servicing.
Overload on food, not watts – Don’t overload extension cords. Use heavy duty extension cords for high wattage decorations and large electronically-animated displays.
For extreme decorators, make sure your house is capable of handling the electrical load of multiple lights and décor. If in doubt, contact a licensed professional to inspect your electrical system.
Source: www.newscanada.com
Information that is being provide is for Educational Purpose, Any electric work that is needing to be done, should be done by a Licensed Electrician.
Tags:Cozy up, Creativity is key but not at the cost of safety, don wurch, Fakes are no laughing matter, Keep the mood light but not fiery, Overload on food - not watts, wurch electric.
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Monday, November 4th, 2013
If your house was built more than 40 years ago, replace old electrical wiring for safety.
An outlet is ungrounded, and should be updated, if it only accommodates two-prong plugs. Image: Liz Foreman
Old wiring—even knob and tube wiring that dates back to the early 20th century—isn’t inherently dangerous, but unless you were around when the house was built, you can’t be sure the electrical system is up to code. Plus, materials such as wire insulation can deteriorate over time.
Safety issues with old wiring
Faulty wiring is the leading cause of residential fires, according to a 2009 study by the National Fire Prevention Association. And the older your house is, the greater the chances that old wiring might be outdated or unsafe.
If you don’t know the condition of your wiring, it’s worth paying a licensed electrician to inspect your electrical system. Expect to pay $150 to $300 for this service.
A good reason to consider replacing old wiring, aside from electrical home safety, is that some insurance carriers may refuse to insure houses with older electrical systems, or they may insist owners pay higher premiums.
Warning signs of outdated, old wiring
- Breakers trip or fuses blow regularly.
- A tingling sensation when you touch a wall switch, appliance, or receptacle.
- Dimming and flickering lights.
- A burning smell in a particular room or from an appliance.
- Discolored outlets and switch plates that are warm to the touch.
- Ungrounded outlets throughout the house (ungrounded outlets accommodate only two-prong plugs).
- A lack of ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets in your bathrooms, your kitchen, and other areas that may be exposed to damp and wet conditions.
- Your house was built more than 40 years ago.
Dangers of aluminum wiring
Some houses built in the 1960s and early 1970s have aluminum wiring instead of the standard copper wire. Aluminum wiring is considered a safety hazard because wiring connections may loosen up over time. Tiny gaps between the wiring and connectors may lead to overheating and possibly fires, especially when appliances and lighting fixtures are plugged into them.
A qualified electrician can inspect your home’s wiring to determine if it’s OK to leave your existing wiring in place. The addition of copper connectors, called pigtails, at circuit breakers and receptacles usually resolve potential problems with older aluminum wiring.
Upgrading to newer receptacles and wall switches also help prevent problems.
Pat Curry Serial remodeler Pat Curry is a former senior editor at Builder, the official magazine of the National Association of Home Builders, and a frequent contributor to real estate and home-building publications.
Information that is being provide is for Educational Purpose, Any electric work that is needing to be done, should be done by a Licensed Electrician.
Tags:Electrical, Fire Safety, Maintenance & Repair, Preventative Home Maintenance, Winnipeg Electrical Contractor, wurch electric.
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Thursday, October 31st, 2013
(NC) If you could save money this fall and winter with just a few simple solutions, you would – wouldn’t you? It’s impossible to know what the colder seasons will bring this year, but instead of waiting to find out, prepare yourself now with an easy, do-it-yourself project: home weatherization. Follow these few quick fixes to ready your home – and keep your heating bill down in the cooler months ahead.
• Winterize windows: With so many edges and gaps, windows are a prime spot for energy loss. For an inexpensive fix, use a plastic window film to keep the cold air out. Crystal-clear Duck brand Roll-On Window Kits come with a pre-taped top edge for easy installation, and they’re easy to remove. When the warm weather returns, simply pull them off.
• Avoid door draft:. Cracks and gaps around doors can let cold air in and warm air out. To block out the winter wind, install an insulating door seal made of rubber or foam. For interior doors, one solution is the Double Draft Seal from Duck brand, which has a patent-pending design that hugs the door from both sides for two levels of protection against drafts. For interior or exterior doors, try the brand’s Triple Draft Seal. Its inner seal helps retain room temperature, an outer seal blocks drafts and bottom fins help keep out moisture and water. For the perimeter of the door, use a seal made of heavy-duty EPDM rubber – these won’t freeze or crack in extremely cold temperatures.
• Look for hidden air leaks: Electrical sockets and light switches can be an unexpected source of drafts through walls. Install flame retardant, Duck brand Socket Sealers behind socket and switch covers to keep cold air out.
• Check your outdoors: Don’t forget to make sure you backyard is also prepared. Cover patio furniture to prevent rust, store the grill in the garage if you can and make sure you have plenty of shovels and salt for when the snow falls.
With a simple weatherization approach, you can stay warm and save on your heating bill when fall and winter roll in. More information is available at www.duckbrand.com
Source: www.newscanada.com
Information that is being provide is for Educational Purpose, Any electric work that is needing to be done, should be done by a Licensed Electrician.
Tags:Avoid door draft, Check your outdoors, Look for hidden air leak, Winnipeg Electrical Contractor, Winterize windows, wurch electric.
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Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013
(NC) Lithium-ion batteries have taken their rightful place as the most common rechargeable battery type on the market.
Due to their low weight, very good lifecycle and higher capacity (a lot of energy can be stored in them), the lithium battery has become a staple of entire power tool lineups, say specialists in this field. A prime example is the Ryobi ONE+ system of power tools.
“Since its inception in 2004, the ONE+ collection delivers the widest range of cordless tools powered by the same interchangeable battery and charger system,” says Becky Yan at leading manufacturer, Ryobi. “Now including more than 50 different tools in all – from hedge trimmers and leaf blowers to drills, impact drivers – and even a cordless brad nailer that is tough enough for construction pros, every 18-volt tool runs on every other 18 volt battery. The lithium-ion and the new higher performance lithium+ batteries even fit into our company’s first cordless drill introduced in 1997.”
Yan points out that all Ryobi’s lithium-ion ONE+ tools are coloured green, and they’re completely interchangeable with the nickel cadmium-powered, blue-coloured tools and older Ni-Cad batteries. You get maximum performance from Lithium+ with up to 4amp/hours of runtime or greatest economy with nickel cadmium batteries. It’s up to you. Any tool, any battery, one charger.
Source: www.newscanada.com
Information that is being provide is for Educational Purpose, Any electric work that is needing to be done, should be done by a Licensed Electrician.
Tags:18 volt battery, battery charger, cordless drills, cordless saws, hedge trimmers, impact driver, leaf blowers, Lithium-ion batteries, wurch electric.
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