Frequently Asked Questions
If your question is not here, call (647) 877-7168 — we would rather answer it than have you guess.
Prices and booking
How do I get a price?
For an EV charger, a panel or service upgrade, or pot lights, use our instant estimate: answer a few questions and the price comes up in about a minute. For anything else, call (647) 877-7168 or send us a message — a photo or two usually lets us give you a number without a visit.
Is the online price the final price?
It is an estimate from your answers. Send photos of your panel with it and we can usually confirm a firm price without visiting. Condos, apartments and commercial sites always need a site visit.
Do you offer any discounts?
10% off for seniors. It is not combined with other offers, so a senior combining a charger with a service upgrade gets one 10% discount, not two.
Charger + service upgrade, 10% off Ends
Combine a 200A service upgrade with an EV charger in one visit and take 10% off the total. The estimator shows it.
What are your hours?
Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm. Emergency calls 7 days a week, 6am to 11pm.
Where do you work?
Mississauga, Toronto, Brampton, Oakville, Etobicoke and Milton. See service areas.
Permits, licences and warranty
Does my job need an ESA permit?
Almost any new electrical work in Ontario does — new circuits, a panel, a service upgrade, an EV charger, new pot lights, a hot tub supply. Changing a light fixture or a switch like for like usually does not. We pull the permit when it is needed, the inspector checks the work, and you get the certificate. It is the document your insurer and a buyer's lawyer will ask for.
Are you licensed, insured, bonded and WSIB covered?
Yes. ECRA/ESA licensed electrical contractor #7015891 — you can look the number up on the ESA website. $2,000,000 commercial insurance, WSIB coverage, and bonded.
Is there a warranty?
Two years on all our work: workmanship, parts and labour on everything we supplied.
Panels and EV chargers
Can I put an EV charger on a 100A service?
Often, yes. It depends on what else the house runs — electric heat, a stove, a dryer, air conditioning. We run a load calculation to find out. If it does not fit, a load management device or a 200A upgrade solves it. See EV charger installation.
My panel is full. Do I need a new one?
Not necessarily. "Full" can mean no free slots — cheap to fix with space-saving breakers or a sub-panel — or no spare capacity, which slots will not fix. See panel and service upgrades.
How long does a panel or service upgrade take?
Most take 4 to 10 hours, on a working weekday, with the power off for much of it. We tell you which end of that range your job sits at before we start.
My insurer is asking about my panel or wiring. What do I do?
Federal Pacific panels, fuse panels, knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring are the usual ones. We can inspect and tell you what you have, and replace it under permit if needed.
Problems around the house
Why are my lights flickering?
One light flickering is usually the bulb or a loose connection at the fixture. Lights flickering across a room or the house — especially when something big switches on — points to a loose connection, an overloaded circuit, or a problem with the service. That second kind is worth a call.
Why is my light switch or outlet warm?
A dimmer can run slightly warm; that is normal. An ordinary switch or outlet should not. Warmth, discolouration or a burning smell means a poor connection or an overload — stop using it, switch the circuit off at the panel, and call.
How do I know if an outlet is burning?
Brown or black marks around it, a melted look to the plastic, a smell like hot plastic or fish, or a crackling sound. Switch it off at the panel and do not use it. If there is smoke or flame, get out and call 911.
What is a GFCI outlet?
A ground fault circuit interrupter — the outlet with the Test and Reset buttons. It cuts the power in a fraction of a second if current leaks to ground, for instance through a person. The Code requires them near sinks, in bathrooms, outdoors and in other wet locations. If several outlets go dead at once, look for a tripped GFCI first.
My breaker keeps tripping. Can I just reset it?
Once, yes. If it trips again, something is wrong — an overloaded circuit, a faulty appliance, or a fault in the wiring. Leave it off and call. See electrical repairs.
Other work
What kind of electrical inspections do you do?
For buying or selling a house, for insurance, before a renovation, or for peace of mind in an older home. See electrical inspection.
Can you help with energy-efficient lighting?
Yes — LED pot lights, LED fixture upgrades, dimmers, timers and sensors. See lighting.
Do you do smart home work?
The wiring side of it — smart switches and dimmers, smart lighting, and power for cameras, doorbells and hubs. See home automation.