Homeowners depend on electrical outlets to power most of their appliances and gadgets, from refrigerators to phone chargers, yet most don’t pause to consider them until there’s an issue. The Canadian Electrical Code (NEC) advised that all homes built after 1962 must have 3-prong, grounded outlets, and some older homes may still have 2-prong outlets. […]
Electrical Problems to Watch For When Buying a House
Purchasing a new home can be an exciting, yet stressful process! It’s challenging to remain practical about safety and budget constraints when you’ve fallen in love with what appears to be the perfect place. At 4-Star Electric, we recommend looking past the aesthetics of your possible new home, and diving right into details about the […]
10 Signs of Electrical Issues & How to Fix Them
Electrical fires account for about 3,000 structural fires in Canada every year, so electrical problems need to be taken seriously and addressed as soon as they become apparent. That means homeowners need to get better at recognizing electrical problems before they can become significant hazards. But where should you start? Right here, that’s where. We’ve […]
Why Are My Lights Flickering?
Flickering lights are a common phenomenon in many homes and commercial buildings, but not a particularly welcome one. Many people find flickering lights distracting and off-putting—some even wonder if they can be dangerous. Don’t worry; we’re going to show you some common reasons why electric lights flicker (and no, none of them involve ghosts). Read […]
How to Tell If a Fuse Is Blown
Every once in a while, everyone will have to deal with a fuse being blown. This is a common occurrence for most homeowners. Recognizing and replacing a blown fuse can be simple if you are prepared and know the process. If you run into any difficulties, contact 4-Star Electric and one of our professional electricians […]
What Is a Short Circuit & Why Is It Dangerous?
Preventing short circuits can be quite simple if you know what to look for. Knowing the age of your house and electrical system is a great starting point and will illuminate whether or not you should be currently worried about short circuits. Annual electrical inspections are the key to electrical safety; you can book an […]
Electricity Supply to Your Home Office
This past summer, CTV published an article reporting that upwards of 45% of Canadians are now working from home, with business owners intending to offer their employees a work-from-home option even after the pandemic. The sudden, drastic shift to home offices last year left many people scrambling to organize a workspace at home. Now that […]
Electronic Recycling for Commercial Businesses
Computers, laptops, phones, tablets, printers, and fax machines are all commonplace in the work environment. Another thing these devices have in common is the fact they eventually expire and will need to be replaced. Getting new electronics is only half the battle, but have you considered what you will do with the outdated ones? Turns […]
Electric Heating: Is It Worth It?
In this modern world, home and business owners are constantly on the lookout for high efficiency, lower energy usage, and cost-effective systems. When it comes to heating, most Albertans have stuck to gas-powered furnaces. In fact, Statistics Canada reports that 97% of Albertan homes are heated with natural gas. In recent years, electric heating has […]
Standby Generators For Your Office
Backup generators aren’t just for your home, they can be incredibly useful tools for offices and other commercial spaces as well. If you’ve ever worked in Calgary during the summer, you’ve probably experienced a power outage. This could leave your entire building without electricity for hours or even days. Worse still, outages don’t care if […]