Absolutely not. Although aluminum wiring has many safety concerns, you do not need to re-wire your home. When properly installed, aluminum wiring is safe; however, it is very unforgiving of improper installation and is subject to some problems that can be rectified. The main problem with aluminum wiring is a phenomenon known as “cold creep.” When aluminum wiring warms up, it expands. When it cools down, it contracts. Unlike copper, when aluminum goes through a number of warm/cool cycles it loses a bit of tightness each time. To make the problem worse, aluminum oxidizes or corrodes when in contact with certain types of metal, so the resistance of the connection goes up, which causes it to heat up and oxidize more. Eventually, the wire may start getting very hot, melt the insulation or fixture, and possibly cause a fire. It is very important to have a qualified electrician check your system if you have aluminum wiring.

An arc is the “jump” in an electrical current from one medium to another. An arc fault is an unintentional jump along an unplanned path. These arc faults can lead to electrical fires and other emergencies. Arc faults can be caused by:

• Damaged wires
• Worn electrical insulation
• Loose electrical connections
• Overheating or stressed wires
• Short wires
• Wet connectors or conduit
• Damaged or misapplied appliances

An arc fault circuit interrupter is a special electronic technology that monitors arcing conditions. An AFCI can distinguish between safe and dangerous arcing conditions by detecting overloads and short circuits. The circuit interrupter prevents dangerous arcs from occurring.

AFCIs are mandatory for most residential receptacle circuits. The safest homes install AFCIs in multiple rooms and circuits. Contact our team to inspect your home and maximize your safety with AFCI installations.

The simplest way to improve the safety of your home and protect children from electrical injuries is with Tamper-Resistant Receptacles (TRR). Also known as child-safety outlets, these receptacles require that a 2-blade or grounded plug is inserted, using a closed shutter system to prevent foreign objects from entering only one receptacle. TRRs are mandatory in all new home construction.

Tamper-resistant receptacles are much safer than outlet caps or sliding wall plates. Children can easily remove caps and expose themselves to injury. Sliding or shutter wall plates may create heat build-up and unintentional arcing.

Find your electrical circuit breaker panel and look for the breaker lever that isn’t in the ON or OFF position. Push the lever all the way to OFF and then back fully to the ON position. This should restore power from an overload. If not please contact 4-Star Electric for an evaluation.

Most commonly, a circuit will trip due to overload. This can happen when you have too many electrical appliances running off the same circuit (same outlet or room). It could also be a short circuit caused by faulty wiring or a damaged appliance. After resetting a circuit breaker, try reducing the electrical load on that circuit. If problems persist, call 4-Star Electric to take a look.

When a dimmer switch operates at its full capacity, it is normal for the switch to heat up. Some switches may even have metal fins for heat dissipation.

However, an incorrect dimmer switch installation can heat up for the wrong reasons. Dimmers are rated for maximum wattage. Excess of this maximum is a fire risk. If your dimmers constantly feel hot and you are unsure of the installation, let our electricians take a look.

The Canadian Electrical Code calls for a minimum of 100 amp electrical service in new construction. Older homes may have only a 60 amp service. It is not required by law to upgrade your service size, but many insurance companies do require a 100 amp minimum.

We strongly recommend a 200 amp service size to handle all of today’s common electrical appliances and devices where possible.

Yes! We have partnered with Financeit! Through Financeit, we offer very affordable and flexible payment plans and a speedy approval process. This will help you get the repair or replacement when you need or want it. Call us today for more info!