902.802.2809
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Home Style Electric Qualified and Insured?
Yes. Home Style Electric is fully qualified and insured. Jamie Myatt is a trained and qualified red seal journeyman electrician. Home Style Electric is fully insured and has Workers' Compensation Board coverage. We are also a proud member of the Better Business Bureau and have an A+ rating.
Why Should I Hire a Qualified Electrician?
Like every profession, there is more to performing a task than may be evident. Often times it is what you don't know that can cause problems - especially with the electrical system in your home. It may be the safety of your family that you are putting at risk. Seemingly simple tasks must be completed correctly to ensure a safe installation and incorrect electrical installations can often cause further problems. Journeymen electricians have the training and the experience necessary to complete a job safely including securing a permit and/or inspection from Nova Scotia Power. Don’t cut corners on electrical work. Hire a qualified electrician like Home Style Electric who is familiar with the type of electrical work you want done. Amateur "electricians" don’t only risk their own safety when they perform electrical work, they also risk the lives of those who live in the home they are working on. A qualified electrician will have the expertise to assess the problem, provide a solution and complete the electrical task in a safe and efficient manner.
What Areas Does Home Style Electric Service?
Home Style Electric is a trusted, reputable and highly qualified residential electrical contractor who mainly services Dartmouth, Halifax, Cole Harbour, Eastern Passage, and Bedford. We provide electrical services all over the HRM.
My Insurance Company Says I Have to Change My Aluminum Wiring. What Does This Mean?
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, aluminum wiring was sometimes used in residential homes due to the sudden increase in price of copper. After a decade of use by homeowners and electricians, weaknesses were discovered in the metal that lead to its disuse as a branch wiring material. Although properly maintained aluminum wiring is acceptable, aluminum will generally become defective faster than copper due to certain qualities that are inherent in the alloy used at that time. Neglected connections in outlets, switches and light fixtures become increasingly dangerous over time. Poor connections cause wiring to overheat, creating a potential fire hazard. Aluminum wiring should be inspected by a qualified electrician, like Home Style Electric, who is experienced in evaluating and correcting aluminum wiring problems. Many insurers now require all aluminum wiring to be treated or "pigtailed" prior to issuing a new buyer proper home insurance, even though they may have insured the property all along. Once the "pigtailing" is done, the work is required to be inspected by Nova Scotia Power inspection authority. An inspection certificate will be issued once the work has been reviewed and accepted as having been completed correctly by an Inspector.
home style Electric
RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
How Do I know If I Need to Upgrade My Panel?
A panel needs to be visually inspected by a qualified electrician to determine if a change is necessary. There are many reasons that a panel change may be necessary but if your lights ever dim or appliances do not run at full power, you should call a qualified electrician, like Home Style Electric, immediately. A load demand calculation will be performed by the electrician which will deternine the amount of electrical current the house is pulling. This calculation takes into account the size of your home, the appliances served and the type of heating. If this amount exceeds the panel amount, a new panel will be required to bring your home up to code and more importantly, safe for your family. An overloaded panel is is evident if you have to consistently reset a breaker or replace a fuse in an older panel. Sometimes, the age of the house is also a good indicator that a new panel is required. While fuse panel and breaker panels perform the same function - they prevent short circuit or overload by disrupting electrical currents that channel to any connected devices. Fuses, however, are a one time use. When they detect that a current is running at too high of a level, the fuse will melt, interrupting the flow of activity. circuit breakers simply have to be reset. There is nothing particularly wrong with fuses but they are outdated. Fuses were designed for a time when homes didn't have so many things plugged into the electrical outlets not to mention that fuse panels have not been installed in homes for almost forty years! These days, fuses can actually pose a fire hazard and some insurance companies will actually refuse to insure a home that still uses fuses. If you are planning on installing a heat pump, hot tub, air conditioning, refrigerator or any other appliance that requires a lot of electricity, you must make sure that your electrical panel has enough power to safely run those items. The above only explains a few of the many reasons that a panel should be changed. If you ever have any concerns about your panel or the safety of the wiring in your home, you should consult a qualified and trusted electrician.