Advice & tips from Kelowna Electricians at Epic Electric

Adding a secondary suite or addition to your property is a popular way to add income and pay down your mortgage faster. Many clients are moving elderly parents back into their homes or desiring a rental suite for students and responsible tenants. Epic Electric in Kelowna can help you tune up your electrical panel to handle the increased load of that additional washer, dryer, dishwasher and kitchen appliances. Ensuring your suite is up to code is vital for permit approval and preventing dangerous electrical issues including fire.

Never Ignore Water Damage Around Your Electrical

Many older homes in Kelowna have poorly sealed electrical panels. This can be a huge source of heat loss for your home or office. Commonly located in the basement, many homeowners do not visually inspect their electrical panel until a fuse blows and they have to attend to it. Epic Electric recommends monitoring your electrical panel closely to notice if any dangerous exterior water is seeping anywhere close by. Houses and foundations can settle over time and cracks can occur. Look for pooling water or moisture and call us right away if you detect any signs of water damage. Your safety is our top priority.

Avoiding Electrical Overload in the Okanagan

Regardless if you are adding a single room, a garage or shop or an entire basement suite, any addition will cause extra energy consumption that needs to be accounted for. Our experienced team can walk through your blueprints and provide you with a logical estimate of what to budget for your electrical upgrade. We are happy to hear what your upcoming project entails and provide you with answers to all of your questions. Adding a new hot tub or pool to your property or creating that bonus room above the garage for your growing family needs to be properly accounted for to ensure your home retains a safe and healthy environment.

Signs Your Electrical Panel Needs a Spring Tune-Up

Are you experiencing frequently flickering lights in your residential or commercial space? Perhaps breaker switches are tripping far too often. Malfunctioning or defective electrical panels can lead to smoke or fire and be extremely hazardous. Never ignore a smoky or burning rubber smell. Be aware of any of the following:

• Crackling noises heard outside of the breaker box
• Corroded or rusty breaker switches
• 2-pronged outlets that are not grounded in a home older than 25 years old
• Warmth radiating from inside the breaker box when you open it
• Experiencing frequent, unexplained power surges
• Noticing a significant power reduction when more than one appliance is utilizing the same outlet
• You rely on extension cords to compensate for a circuit that is not properly working
• Your older home uses a split-buss or fuse block panel

Don’t hesitate to call Epic Electric in Kelowna today if you have noticed any of the above issues. Time is definitely of the essence when you are dealing with any electrical issue. We would love to help you implement your residential or commercial upgrade as well. Sleep soundly at night knowing that you and your family are safe and secure. We look forward to working with you soon!

Contact Epic Electric for Residential, Commercial or Industrial Electrical Services