5 Electrical Systems to Check Ahead of Winter

17 December, 2022 Hi-Lite Electric Inc.

We are all familiar with the blues Canadians start to feel when winter is approaching, and everyone starts taking bets about how much it will snow this year.

Although some parts of winter can certainly be nice, the short, cold, and icy days can be hard to get through sometimes, especially when you have to spend 20 minutes just putting on all of your winter gear to walk outside, or you have to spend all morning digging your car out from a pile of snow to get to work.

You and your car are not the only ones that take a beating during Canadian winters; your house does, too. Or, at least, it can if you fail to prepare it for the colder months.

There are a number of things that are important to take care of when you are getting your house ready to take on another winter season. One of the most important parts of this process is doing a thorough check of your electrical system.

After all, when the snow starts to come down harder, and temperatures drop, the electrical systems in your home typically need to work a lot harder, and if there are any issues with it heading into winter, you could be in trouble.

How to Ensure Your House’s Electrical Systems Are Ready for Winter

1. Test and label your electrical panel

It is crucial that you have a certified electrician test your electrical panel before winter begins so that they can alert you if there are any problems with the circuit.

While they are testing your electrical panel for issues, it would be wise to get them to label it for you if it is not already labeled.

That way, if you ever do run into any problems, such as a tripped circuit, the labels will allow you to quickly determine which circuits to turn on and identify various parts.

2. Test your wiring and prepare your surge protector

If there are any worn or frayed wires in your home, it can put you at risk of experiencing short circuits. Even when some wires are not exposed, you can still tell if they have defects by watching for certain signs, such as burns or black spots around your sockets.

Wires can become frayed as the result of a number of factors, such as aging, corrosion, or physical damage, and could even be a sign of problems with electrical connections.

Since stormy weather is more common in the winter months, there also tend to be higher instances of power surges. Such surges can damage your appliances or electronics, which is why it is important to install a surge protector to prevent power interruptions and failed electrical equipment.

Although you may not need a surge protector for all of your electronic devices, it is a good idea to get them set up for expensive items that have intricate microprocessors, like computers, televisions, and stereo systems.

3. Check on your backup generator

Since backup generators often go for long times without being used, it would be a good idea to check on the condition of yours every once in a while, and before winter is the perfect time. You can do that by running it for half an hour or so to ensure it does not have any problems.

If you happen to have a power outage in the winter and you have electric heating, your house could get super-cold super-fast if your backup generator does not kick in.

Since extreme temperatures can affect the efficiency of your generator, it is essential to pay attention to its location. Low pressure and oxygen deficiency can also be particularly significant problems for a generator in the winter.

Therefore, the best place to keep your backup generator in the winter is an enclosure with heating.

4. Inspect your heating system and thermostat

Another important item when it comes to getting your home electrically ready for the winter is inspecting both your heating system and thermostat.

Your HVAC system is important for keeping you comfortable through the winter months, but keeping it functioning smoothly is also essential to the safety of your home’s pipes.

If your furnace stops working and your pipes are exposed to freezing temperatures, they could burst, leading to a significant amount of damage and a major headache for you to deal with.

Check your thermostat’s batteries before the start of the winter, and have an electrician calibrate them for optimal efficiency.

5. Consider your lighting needs

With each day growing shorter into the winter, it is quite important that you ensure your lighting situation is taken care of. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a pitch-black house for what may feel like the majority of the day every day.

Having an electrician evaluate the condition of your light fixtures can help you avoid having to deal with that issue.

Since low temperatures can also impact the functionality of traditional light bulbs, decreasing their output by up to 50%, it may be a good idea to make the transition to LED light bulbs, as they will not have the same issue.

Not only will LED lights keep their strength through the winter, but they are also more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and durable.

How Hi-Lite Electric Inc. Can Help You Get Your Home Winter-Ready

Have you been having trouble with your home electrical system and would like to schedule a repair? Or, are you just erring on the side of caution and want to ensure everything is ready before the winter months, so you would like to have your house checked out by a professional?

In either case, Hi-Lite Electric Inc.’s team of skilled electricians in Mississauga can be of assistance!

We make it our responsibility to ensure the comfort and safety of your home, which is why we include a complimentary 12-point home electrical safety check in every home that we visit.

The years of training and experience that each of our electricians has helps them to spot electrical issues right away when they walk into a house.

Not only will they be able to detect immediate problems, but they will also let you know if you are at risk for experiencing an electrical problem in the future based on the current state of things in your home system.

So, if you want to guarantee you will not run into any unexpected problems with your home electrical system this winter, you should give us a call as soon as possible so we can help put your mind at ease.

We offer same-day repairs and can even help out in emergency situations. Thus, no matter what your needs are, you can be confident that we will be there to get you through it quickly and efficiently.

For more information about our home electrical services, call High-Lite Electric Inc. at 416-800-5536 (in Toronto), 289-236-1333 (in York), or 289-236-1347 (in Peel), or contact us here.