Dead outlets may be a sign that you have overloaded the circuit with too many appliances, or that your breaker panel has become old or damaged. If using the outlet trips the breaker, you will need to call a certified electrician to inspect the electrical panel and make any repairs or add additional circuits.

If the outlet appears stained black or brown you should not touch it; even if the other half of the outlet still works, you should call a certified electrician immediately to inspect the circuit and replace the outlet.

Three-way switches allow one fixture (often an entryway or bedroom light) to be controlled by two switches. When one of the switches becomes faulty, the other will often continue to work, but the cause of the problem should be investigated. We have seen this occur when homeowners install their 3-way switches themselves or when a nail or screw has pierced the wiring for one of the switches. Pierced wires pose a safety risk and should be addressed by a qualified electrician immediately.

If your recessed lights are turning off and then coming back on again, the likely cause is overheating. This problem is most common with fixtures equipped with halogen bulbs which burn at a higher temperature. If they get too hot, they will automatically switch off and turn back on again when they cool down. Make sure you are using the correct wattage bulbs.

If the bulbs are of the correct wattage and the problem persists, the insulation in the ceiling may be too close to the lamp, or your fixtures may have been installed without adequate clearance. You should call an RJL Electrician to investigate the source of the problem.

Lights may go dim for an instant when certain appliances first come on. Refrigerators, air conditioners, power tools, and even vacuum cleaners draw a significant amount of electricity when they first switch on. This draw causes a sag in power to the rest of the house and can cause lights to dim temporarily or to flicker. These sags are followed by a very brief but large spike/surge in power that can be damaging to electronics and shorten the life of other appliances.

If you have expensive electronics or newer appliances that run off of circuit boards, consider having a surge protector installed right at the electrical panel.

Exposed wiring is a common problem with DIY renovations and other home improvement projects. Exposed wires can cause severe electrical shock and are a fire hazard. Wires must be spliced and covered according to the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. All hanging wires should be supported or attached directly to structural framing. Give us a call and we can quickly clean-up even the messiest batches of wires to finish off your project and ensure that you keep your family and pets safe and your home up to code.

There are several reasons your lights that your bulbs are burning out too often. The most common is that you are using too high a wattage bulb for the fixture. Try using a lower watt bulb to see if that rectifies the problem. If the problem persists, there may be bad wiring on the circuit or mains, or a dimmer switch may have too much total wattage on the circuit.