Light bulbs burn out for a variety of reasons, but the most common cause of a burnt out light bulb is simply the passage of time. All light bulbs have a rated lifespan, which is the amount of time they are expected to last under normal operating conditions. Once a light bulb reaches its rated…
Why Electrical Grounding Is Important Not all electrical connections have a ground wire. In this article, our electricians at Premium Electric will discuss what an electrical ground wire does, what it means to be grounded and why proper grounding is required. We promise to keep it simple and not get too technical.
Like most homeowners, you probably know where the circuit breaker panel in your home is. You know what the circuit breaker box looks like. You know the circuit breaker box is the first port of call when something electrical in your home trips. And you know how to check the circuit panel and flip the…
Contrary to popular belief, there are many different types of extension cords. Different applications may require different amperages so it’s good to have a basic understanding of how electrical cords differ and how they should be used.
Canada wiring colours, as regulated by the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), are quite similar to the National Electrical Code (NEC) in the United States. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist – or an electrician – to know and understand, that the specific colouring of the electrical wires in your home means something. In…
Types of Electrical Outlets In the Home The average North American home has upwards of 75 electrical outlets and there are various types of outlets in use. There is a myriad of different types of electrical outlets available including 2-prong, 3-prong, GFCI, USB, AFCI, FBI, and CIA. (Okay, okay. We definitely made those last two…
Do you hear an intermittent low-grade humming or electrical buzzing sound in your house? Are your electrical appliances emitting strange noises? Do your walls seem to be buzzing at you? No, you’re not going mad and most likely you don’t have hornets setting up home in your walls/sockets/ceiling fan. You could most likely have an electrical…
GFCI outlets help make the home a lot safer but when a GFCI outlet won’t reset, what can you do? We use electrical outlets every day but when they don’t work it can be really inconvenient. When older outlets stop working, it could be a sign of potential danger, possibly even a fire hazard. Always…
Do you know how to put out an electrical fire? Are you unsure what, exactly, constitutes an electrical fire? The answers to both these questions are crucial to the safety of your home and family. Fortunately, we have those answers for you below, as well as how to prevent electrical fires altogether. Knowing if the…
Most likely, many of us are thinking about a window AC unit as we inch towards summer and remember 2021’s heat dome. Window air conditioners have since gained in popularity – they are a quicker, easier, and more affordable fix to sweaty summer nights than installing central air conditioning. The question remains, however, are window…
BC Hydro used to have live “meter readers,” employees who visited more than 1.9 million customers to take an electric meter reading. Now that BC Hydro has fully transitioned all customers over to “Smart Meters,” in-person electric meter readings are no longer necessary. However, do you know how to read an electric meter? In this…
Almost everyone at some point in their lives will wonder, “Why do lights flicker?” Do you have flickering lights in your house? Perhaps it started with just one light flickering slightly, randomly, and was hardly noticed. But you may find more and more lights flickering in your house as time goes by.
One of the most common frustrations homeowners face is when the circuit breaker keeps tripping. Sometimes it can be really tough to find the source of the problem. If you are struggling with this dilemma, check out this guide to learn more about what causes a tripped breaker and how to remedy the situation.
Yes, changing a light switch is necessary because sometimes light switches do go bad. Light switches are a staple in every home to turn lights on or off. Given how vital light switches are and how often you use them, they can wear out over time. Unfortunately, most of us take them for granted.
What are compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL bulbs) and why you might not want to use them anymore. It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago when everyone started switching the lights in their homes over from incandescent to CFL light bulbs. But, like a lot of other things in our modern world, things…