Electrical Maintenance in Spring: 7 Tips & Tricks for a Safer Home

15 March, 2024
Electrical maintenance in spring: 7 tips & tricks for a safer home

Spring is a time of new beginnings! The flowers are blooming, the weather is warming up, and you start to see life coming out from hibernation. Spring is the season when you do your spring cleaning as well. So, it is a great time to do a safety check on your home, particularly the electrical side.

Remember to keep your living spaces safe from electrical hazards. You can enjoy checking out the spring blooms in Etobicoke or anywhere else in the GTA guilt-free and in an uninterrupted state of zen. So grab a comfy seat and an iced tea, and let us journey through some easy and effective ways to keep your electrical system running smoothly this spring.

1. Inspect your outlets and switches.

Let’s start with the very basics! Your outlets and switches are the entry points of electricity into your home. You should check them first to ensure they are in good working order.

The first thing to check is whether they are functioning and powering devices. Secondly, make sure they are not cracked or broken. You don’t want any exposed wiring sticking out, which can be extremely dangerous, especially if you have pets and young crawling children.

Speaking of which, you should look into buying electrical outlet covers so that your little ones don’t stick their tiny fingers inside them (as they definitely will try to).

2. Test your GFCIs.

Next, let’s give some love to the GFCIs (ground-fault circuit interrupters). These nifty gadgets look exactly like your normal electrical outlet, except if it is a GFCI, it will have a red button and a reset button in the middle.

That red button is the circuit interrupter. If pressed, it will turn off any device connected to the outlet. You must press the reset button to turn the device back on. If those steps worked as intended, you’re good to go.

3. Declutter and dust off

Spring cleaning is a great opportunity to clear out things you no longer need and ensure all your electrical appliances and devices don’t have anything blocking them. This fact is accurate for your main electrical control panel. You don’t want your main electrical panel to be hard to reach in emergencies when you need to shut off power to your whole house.

Also, ensure big electrical appliances, like fridges and air conditioners, don’t have junk around them that could be blocking their vents or the free flow of air around them.

4. Limit extension cord use.

We all use extension cords in our homes. Yet, did you know there is a certain protocol for using them? This means you can’t just plug in any device you want willy-nilly. Do not connect high-power consumption devices to extension cords. You should read the label on the extension cords to see the maximum wattage they can handle.

Small, low-power devices like phone and laptop chargers are ok, but avoid using extension cords with hair dryers or electric kettles. So, go around your house this spring and check the devices connected to them.

5. Upgrade your lighting to LED.

Switching to LED lights is a genius move for many reasons. They’re not just good for our planet and our wallets, but are also safer. You have many options when you’re replacing old-fashioned bulbs with LED lights. You can get plain old regular LED bulbs that work through your electrical switch in the wall.

You can also use Wi-Fi-controlled, smart LED bulbs you can control with your phone. With those smart ones, you can set schedules and timers for LED bulbs and even see the power consumption record.

6. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

This one’s a biggie but often gets overlooked. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are lifesavers, but we don’t even pay much attention to them. A broken or battery-less detector can be the difference between life and death (not to sound too dramatic, but it’s true).

You should go around your home and test each detector to ensure it has fresh batteries. If even a single one is broken, get it replaced ASAP. Maybe you can get a newer energy-efficient model and won’t have to replace its battery too often.

7. Schedule an annual electrical inspection.

Consider this as the annual health check for your home. Have a professional electrician in Etobicoke come out and examine your electrical system so they can spot any problems. The electrician will make sure your home meets the current electrical standards and put your mind at ease.

This is vital, especially if you live in an old house. Your electrical wiring, switches, circuit breakers, and other electrical system components might be faulty or need upgrading. Spring is the perfect time to have this annual checkup done.

Wrap Up

Spring is all about fresh starts, so what better time to ensure your home is safe? Keeping up with these simple seven tips and tricks ensures you and your loved ones are safe in all seasons, not just spring. Remember, electrical safety isn’t just a once-a-year thing, but spring is the perfect time to start on the right foot.

Are you looking for an electrician in Etobicoke to help with your spring electrical maintenance? Our licensed and certified electricians are ready to ensure your home is safe, secure, and free from electrical hazards.

Don’t wait for a minor issue to turn into a big headache! Call Hi-Lite Electric Inc. at 416-800-5523 or contact us for all your electrical needs!



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Riaz Jilani
Riaz Jilani
2024-06-05
I had another electrician which not giving me time and then I search on google and found Hi Lite with good reviews so I decided to try them. I send massage on their website and after 30 minutes I got call from them they booked me different time which was not suitable for me. I requested them and they change according to my convenient.electrician came on time complete the job also advised me some unseen problems also fixed perfectly and my satisfaction . First time I really impressed I recommend them they are trouble free and with good reputation
Michael Butler
Michael Butler
2024-05-10
Stove wasn't working. Stove people said it was an electrical issue. Steven came over, showed me what was wrong. Now I know more about electricity. 5/5 would electricity again.
Heather D
Heather D
2024-05-10
Excellent service. Matt came out after hours to resolve an emergency situation where an outlet in our garage caught on fire. He was here within the hour and completed the work efficiently. In addition he communicated clearly all the necessary steps needed. We will definitely be calling him back for additional assistance in the future if the need arises.
Amrik Bhogal
Amrik Bhogal
2024-04-29
Excellent service! We had a problem with some receptacles in a couple of rooms in our house. Tried the usual resetting the breakers and GFI plugs, but to no avail. Called Hi-Lite Electric based on a recommendation from a friend. Matthew from Hi-Lite come over, diagnosed and fixed the problem quickly and efficiently. He was very knowledgeable and kept me in the loop as what he was doing. His estimate was very accurate. I would highly recommend HiLite
Roy Thompson
Roy Thompson
2024-04-29
Matthew and Steven did a fantastic job added two lights in my bedroom, prior to that their was no lights in my bedrooms. i would highly recommend them.
Izabella Hansen
Izabella Hansen
2024-04-23
Had a great experience with Matthew, a licensed electrician. He explained everything I needed thoroughly. Worked efficiently, was professional and curteous. I highly recommend this family run company.
Jo Persad
Jo Persad
2024-04-19
Excellent service. We had a problem with our house wiring and Matthew diagnosed and fixed the problem quickly and efficiently. He was very polite and pleasant and informative. We would highly recommend HiLite.
James Danakas
James Danakas
2024-03-27
The service we received from Matthew and Luciano was excellent and our problem was solved in a timely matter. Great customer service! Highly recommend!
Corrado Di Rosa
Corrado Di Rosa
2024-03-26
Excellent customer experience! Matthew is always on point with his recommendations and makes sure the issue is solved. Highly recommend Hi-Lite.
Funk Roberts
Funk Roberts
2024-03-18
I recently had the pleasure of having Matt from HiLite Electrical come over to replace my smoke alarm, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the service provided. From the moment Matt arrived, it was clear he was not only highly skilled but also incredibly personable and professional. His attention to detail was impeccable, ensuring that the job was done efficiently and effectively. What truly set Matt apart was his commitment to going above and beyond. He was punctual, arriving right on time, which is a rarity these days. But more importantly, he took the time to explain the process, what the problem was, and why we couldn't get the unit from the foundation in the first place. He was also amazing to talk about in general (especially fitness, training and combat sports, relationships, and other things), and ensured everything was working perfectly before he considered his job done. I highly recommend Hi-Lite Electrical to anyone in need of electrical services. Their team, from speaking with Ang on the phone to set up the appointment (Happy Angela Day..that's an inside joke) to Matt getting it done, Hi-Lite exemplifies the kind of professionalism and expertise that is all too rare. Trust me, if you want a hassle-free, high-quality service, look no further than Hi-Lite Electrical. A big thank you to Ang and Matt for not just meeting, but exceeding my expectations! Super Happy Customer! Funk Roberts

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