EV charging
Can I install an EV charger myself if I buy the plug-in kind?
A plug-in charger still needs a 240 V receptacle on a dedicated circuit, and that circuit is electrical work that must be reported to the Electrical Safety Authority and carried out by an electrical contractor holding an ECRA/ESA licence. The receptacle type also has to match the charger's plug and the circuit rating, which is where most home-installed ones go wrong.
Hard-wired or plug-in?
Plug-in units top out at 40 A on a 50 A circuit and can be taken with you when you move. Hard-wired units can go to 48 A and are the only option for outdoor installs in most cases. For a garage with one car, either works; the circuit is sized the same way.
Will a charger raise my hydro bill a lot?
It adds whatever the car uses, at the rate you are on. Charging overnight on a time-of-use plan is the cheapest way to run it. The charger itself draws almost nothing when idle.
Do I need a 200 A service for a charger?
Not necessarily. Many 100 A houses with gas heat and a gas stove carry a 32 A or 40 A charger. The load calculation decides, and an energy management device can make a borderline case work. EV charging page.
Panels and service upgrades
How do I know what size my service is?
Open the panel door and read the number on the main breaker: 100, 125, 200. If there is no main breaker in the panel, there is usually a separate disconnect beside the meter. If you are unsure, a photo of the panel is enough for us to tell you.
My panel has no empty slots. Do I need a new service?
Not necessarily. A full panel is a space problem. If the load calculation says the service has capacity, a subpanel or a larger panel on the same service solves it at a fraction of the cost of a service change.
Is my old panel dangerous?
Age alone is not the issue. Heat marks, corrosion, double-tapped breakers, breakers that feel loose, or a panel type with a documented history of failing to trip are. Those are what an assessment looks for, and we tell you plainly which, if any, applies to yours.
How long does a service upgrade take?
Most of one working day for the swap itself, with the power off. The lead time before that is set by the Alectra Utilities disconnect date and the ESA notification, which we arrange.
Renovations
When should the electrician get involved in a renovation?
Before framing is finished, ideally at the drawing stage. Receptacle spacing, appliance circuits and lighting layouts are easy to settle on paper and expensive to move after drywall.
Does a kitchen renovation need its own permit?
The electrical work is reported to the Electrical Safety Authority, which inspects at rough-in and at finish. Whether the renovation also needs a building permit from the City of Vaughan depends on what else is changing, such as walls, plumbing or structure. Your contractor or the City can confirm that part.
Can you add pot lights to a finished ceiling?
Yes in most cases. Housings in insulated ceilings must be rated for contact with insulation, and the circuit load and box fill are checked before cutting. The layout and switching are agreed first so the result is what you expect.
Service calls and small jobs
Do you charge to come and look?
It depends on the job. Tell us what is happening and we will say up front whether a quote needs a visit and what that involves. There is no charge for answering a question.
Can you fix the one outlet that stopped working?
Yes. Small jobs are welcome. Dead outlets are often a tripped GFCI or a loose connection upstream, both of which are quick to find once measured.
Why do my LED lights flicker on the dimmer?
Most often the dimmer was made for incandescent lamps, or the fixtures are not dimmable. Matching the dimmer to the load fixes it. Flicker across many rooms at once is a different problem, likely at the panel or service, and should be looked at promptly.
Is this an emergency service?
No. If something is burning, sparking or smoking, switch the main breaker off if it is safe to reach and call 911. For everything else, contact us and we will confirm timing.
Permits, inspection and the utility
Does electrical work in Ontario need a permit?
Most work beyond replacing a like-for-like device needs a notification filed with the Electrical Safety Authority, which then inspects it. Panel changes, new circuits, EV charger installations and renovation wiring are all in that category. The contractor files it as part of the job.
Who is the utility in Vaughan?
Alectra Utilities. They are involved when the service itself changes, for example a 100 A to 200 A upgrade, because the supply has to be disconnected and reconnected. For most other work they are not involved at all.
How do I check an electrician is licensed?
Electrical contracting in Ontario requires an ECRA/ESA licence, and licensed contractors are required to display the number. Ask for it before work begins, and look it up on the Electrical Safety Authority's contractor search.
Still have a question?
Describe the job and the neighbourhood. We will answer plainly, including when the answer is that you do not need us.