Active Electric are Trusted Regina Electricians and they get it right the first time, delivering all electrical services including installation, upgrade, and repair solutions.

Active Electric are your TRUSTED REGINA ELECTRICAL EXPERTS

Experiencing Power Outages?  Active Electric Shares A Tip on Why You Should Install a Generator

When most people think of generators, they tend to think about things such as construction sites and those who are turning to off-grid solutions for everyday living. The fact is, however, that more and more people are choosing to install generators in their homes and businesses.

A generator will power your home through power outages caused by storms, other weather, or man-made problems.  Generator installation is on the rise, be a part of the community and be prepared.  Below are a few reasons home generators can be a practical, cost-effective solution at your home or business.

Emergency Preparedness

Storms not only have damaging wind and rain that can knock down power lines, in some cases, but they also spawn tornadoes that can do even more damage to the power grid.  Power generators ensure you have access to electricity in emergency situations. Storms, rolling blackouts, and damage to power lines are just a few of the things that can come about when you least expect them. Having a power generator in place before these problems occur means you never have to worry

Furthermore, if a disaster were ever to occur, scrambling to find a power generator may be the last thing you want to do.

Backup Power For Home Appliance & Medical Devices

When the power is out, appliances shut off. Usually, worst-case scenario is having to reset clocks and power devices back on when electricity becomes available. Some appliances however have consequences. Food storage for instance can constitute a problem if refrigerators and freezers become inoperable for any substantial amount of time, as many items can spoil in just a few hours at room temperature.  

A much more serious reason to have a power generator on standby is the need for home medical devices. Equipment such as a CPAP machine for those suffering from sleep apnea, electrical hospital beds and chairs for those with mobility issues, heart monitors, dialisis machines and more are all dependent on electricity without fail. When you depend on one of those, you cannot tolerate the risk of a power outage.

Using a generator in a storm can preserve food, it can keep damaging mold from growing in your house from a lack of air-conditioning. A generator can let you operate pumps to keep your home from succumbing to water damage from flooding. It can allow your business to keep running during a power outage and prevent profit losses.

In cases where these devices are present, it is a good idea to have a power generator on standby that is dependable and will not let you down. This is a situation where you will want a professionally installed system that you know you don’t have to worry about.

Safety and Security

As many security experts in Regina will tell you, one of the first things many home intruders often do with the increasing presence of home cameras and security is cut the power of a home. In the absence of backup power or batteries, this will not only turn off the lights but shut down cameras and alarms preventing anyone home or away from that there may be an intruder.

Permanent power generators that automatically turn on with power loss can mitigate these concerns, and ensure continued security and monitoring in the event of a blackout or loss of power.

What type of generator do you need?

If you are only interested in keeping a refrigerator going and perhaps a few small appliances, a portable generator is the best. If you have a home or business and want to keep the air conditioner and all the electric powered items going, then a stationary (standby) generator is best. This generator should be installed by a licensed electrician to ensure it works correctly when a power outage occurs.

Portable Generators

These types of generators are much less expensive than their permanent counterparts. However, they are completely dependent upon your presence.

You have to manually start the generator and, if you have to use it for any length of time, monitor the gas consumption. 

Furthermore, a portable generator must be no closer to your home than ten feet, because of the carbon monoxide emissions. At the same time, you will want to house it in an enclosure that keeps it safe from the elements but also allows for free movement of air.

If you are using a portable generator in an emergency situation, it’s likely that it will only be able to power the most important appliances in your home. They simply are not big enough to handle the brunt of everything from appliances, televisions, lighting and everything else. Plan to downplay your energy output if you will be depending on a portable.

Permanent Placement Generators

You can find these in many different sizes, but all in all the expense will be more. The main reason for this is that you are paying for more peace of mind. Should you need to leave your home for vacation or business for a few days, you can rest assured your generator will take care of any random power outages. 

They are very quiet, much safer than a portable generator and, should you decide to sell your home, they can bring about 50% of their original cost in the sale.

The downside to permanently placed power generators is that they need maintenance every two years. However, with that maintenance, the reliability can be determined, and if there are needs such as medical equipment involved, the peace of mind is absolutely priceless.

If you are considering a home generator, and need assistance with electrical or infrastructure to ensure the safety and reliability of your investment, feel free to contact us for cost estimates and recommendations. 

If you are ever uncertain about a potential electrical issue in your home please contact Active Electric and one of their qualified professionals would be happy to help.  They also provide Free quotes! 

ACTIVE ELECTRIC are TRUSTED REGINA ELECTRICIANS -  Check out his listing here in REGINA ELECTRICIANS on the Regina Directory of excellence!

Active Electric are Trusted Regina Electricians and they get it right the first time, delivering all electrical services including installation, upgrade, and repair solutions.

Whether it's hanging a ceiling fan, installing a custom-designed landscape lighting system, installing a state of the art home theater system or rewiring a commercial structure, or other electrical services, you can call Active they are here eager to help and no job is too small! Customer service is always their top priority and they should be your first call for a Regina Electrician! 

Active Electric are your TRUSTED REGINA ELECTRICAL EXPERTS

Why Do My Breakers Keep Tripping?

There are a variety of causes that could trigger a circuit breaker. Some of these causes are fairly harmless but others could be putting your home in danger. For this reason, it is important to know the common causes of a tripped circuit.

Breakers can trip for a variety of reasons, and it is always important to know the cause of a tripped breaker. If your breakers are continuously switching, make sure that you contact an electrician. Some of the most common causes of tripped circuits include:

Overloaded Circuits

The most common cause of a tripped circuit breaker is an overloaded circuit. Circuit breakers are designed to trip when too much power is being drawn, as this can cause overheating and lead to a fire or damage all of the electrical devices plugged into the circuit. When something is plugged in that draws too much power or when multiple appliances are plugged in that overload the circuit, the breaker trips. If your breakers are tripping, check to see what is plugged in. 

Problematic devices could include vacuums, air conditioners, space heaters, hairdryers, and corded tools.

Short Circuits

A short circuit occurs when a hot or live wire comes in contact with a neutral wire somewhere in the circuit. This usually occurs at an outlet, light fixture, or switch. Short circuits can be incredibly dangerous, as they create massive amounts of heat. 

Short circuits are the most common cause of electrical fires.

Ground Fault Surges

Similar to short circuits, ground fault surges occur when two wires cross when they are not supposed to. When a hot or live wire comes into contact with a ground wire, the edge of the box, or any other grounded source more power than the circuit can handle will begin to flow through the system and a ground fault surge occurs. 

If not handled properly, this can lead to electrical fires and electrocution, so a licensed electrician should always be called.

If you are ever uncertain about a potential electrical issue in you home please contact Active Electric and one of their qualified professionals would be happy to come out and take a look.  They Also provide Free quotes! 

ACTIVE ELECTRIC are TRUSTED REGINA ELECTRICIANS -  Check out his listing here in REGINA ELECTRICIANS on the Regina Directory of excellence!

As homeowners we all wonder what questions to ask a contractor to avoid a potentially horrible situation.  We have all heard  nightmare stories of home renovations gone wrong but how can anyone be sure this wont happen to them?   At Trusted Regina we believe we can help.  Trusted Regina was formed to help the public find local businesses you can TRUST.  In this article we share some of the ways we research businesses to ensure we have the best local contractors.  Giving you peace of mind knowing you have hired someone you can TRUST to do the job right.  

Requesting proof of insurance is one of the first steps in searching for a quality and Trusted Regina contractor.  

Are they Insured ? Any good contractor should carry liability and worker’s compensation Insurance this is something you should always require a contractor to have.

Contractor Liability Insurance

This will protect you if a contractor creates damage to your home, neighboring properties or injury to a third party that may occur during the renovation.  Ask to see a Certificate of Insurance; it should state the name and address of the contractor, the amount of general liability, including coverage for bodily injury and property damage, and the effective and expiry dates of the policy as well as the date of issue of the certificate.  Once you know the contractors liability coverage take it to your Insurance provider to ensure you are fully covered during the renovation as a renovation may require you to increase your coverage for a period of time.   

Workers Compensation

Except for single-person companies, Contractors are required by law to pay WCB premiums on behalf of their employees in the event of a workplace injury. Hiring a contractor that is not in compliance makes YOU the homeowner the project manager and liable for ANY injuries occurred during the renovation. Request a letter of good standing to ensure their premiums are paid up.  

Ask for references 

When anyone applies for a job they are required to provide references.  Why should a contractor be any different!  At Trusted we ask for so many references it's borderline obscene... it is A LOT and we call them all!. We don't anticipate you calling the number we do but we do think it is always a good idea to request references and that you call them.  Typed references or letters of recommendation are ok but a voice and a person are always best. 

There are two types of references you should request.

Client References:

Gaining a list of people who have used there service is extremely helpful and an indication of the amount of jobs they have done.  Asking if they did a good job is not always a good indication of the quality of their work and dedication to customer service.  Dig deeper. here are some suggested questions. - How did you find the contractor? how many jobs have they done for you?  Would you hire them again?  Would you recommend them to a family member? Did they finish the job on time?  Did they charge you the price quoted?  We have the 5 Trusted Guarantees and all of our contractors have to uphold them these are only some of the questions we ask. 

Supplier references

Though not always foolproof, supplier references are very important and help give some insight as to weather or not the contractor pays it's suppliers on time.  Which may in turn help you protect yourself from creditor liabilities.  Builders lien's are something you should know about and try to avoid!.  Here is a great article on how to avoid a builders lien.  

Check their online rating and memberships 

Another way to check and see if a contractor is worth hiring it to check sources like Trusted Regina to see if they have been put through a process of ensuring that they are who they claim to be. This is also are a very strong indicator of a company's commitment to professionalism. You should also search to see if any complaints have been made about them online and how they dealt with those complaints.  From time to time mistakes can happen.  But it is how a company deals with those mistakes that can show a great deal about how they would deal with you.  

Experience, education and certification 

Trade licencing requirements 

A contractor should easily be able to tell you how long they have been in business and have a valid business licence.  Beyond that there are other things you should ask.  Depending on the type of work you want done there are licencing requirements for different trades in Saskatchewan.  Ensuring that each trade has the proper licencing can prevent major issues down the line.  In Saskatchewan there are four compulsory apprenticeship trades. Electrician, Plumber, Refrigeration Mechanic and Sheet Metal Worker. To work in a compulsory apprenticeship trade you must have a journey person certificate or be registered as an apprentice with the SATCC. If one of the trades your contractor has working on your project claims to be a professional in this area ask for their certification. 

Ask for Examples of their work

Most contractors have tons of images of work they have done in the past.  See examples of their work can give you a good indication of the type of work they can do.  We do caution you however that sometimes that though they may be very lovely images you can't always be sure of the quality of the underlying work!

More info...

We hope this article helps you find the right contractor for your renovation project. We always hope you choose one of our Trusted Regina Contractors for any of your projects.   

If you are looking for more information about hiring a contractor we have several other articles that can help steer you in the right direction.

• The difference between a General Contractor vs Builder
• 5 Tips to Surviving a Renovation
• 10 Questions to Ask an Electrician Before Hiring
• Contractor and Renovators tip on hiring a Contractor - PART 1
• Contractor and Renovation expert shares a tip on hiring a Contractor - PART 2
• Renovation Expert shares a tip on Hiring a Professional
• 7 Smart Strategies for Bathroom Remodeling
• What is Trusted about and why do businesses want to be Trusted?

ACTIVE ELECTRIC REGINA IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL WORK. 

Active Electric are Trusted Regina Electricians and they get it right the first time, delivering all electrical services including installation, upgrade, and repair solutions.

Whether it's hanging a ceiling fan, installing a custom-designed landscape lighting system, installing a state of the art home theatre system or rewiring a commercial structure, or other electrical services, you can call Active they are here eager to help and no job is too small! Customer service is always their top priority and they should be your first call for a Regina Electrician! 

Active Electric are your TRUSTED REGINA ELECTRICAL EXPERTS

Whether you require a hook-up for your new appliance, hot tub or full house renovation, we have the experience to get the job done right and on budget.

Active Electric has a variety of services to help you with all your electrical needs:

• Complete Home Renovations

• Garage development electrician Regina

• Basement Development

• Panel and Service Upgrades

• Lighting Upgrades

• Device Upgrades

• Home entertainment

• Intercom systems

• Emergency generators

• Pools and Hot tubs

• Outdoor Security and sensor lighting

• Seasonal Lighting

Check out his listing here in REGINA ELECTRICIANS on the Regina Directory of excellence! 

http://www.trustedregina.com

Active Electric Regina Electricians get it right the first time, delivering all electrical services including installation, upgrade, and repair solutions. Active Electric are your TRUSTED REGINA ELECTRICAL EXPERTS

When you picture a counterfeit product, the first thing that probably comes to mind is money. Criminals try to pass off counterfeit bills for the real thing so they can purchase products and disappear without a trace. But did you know electrical products can be counterfeit as well? In fact, consumer electronics comprise the single largest category of counterfeit commodities seized by US customs, making up 22 percent of all items seized each year.

What makes an electrical product counterfeit, and how can you spot it? Use these tips any time you shop for electronics to protect your home and family from counterfeits.

What are Counterfeit Electrical Products?

When shopping for electronics, you may stumble across a product with a price far below what competitors are selling their products for. If this happens, you have probably spotted a counterfeit electrical product. Don’t be tempted to purchase the item just because it costs less. After all, while many types of products can be impersonated, counterfeit electrical products are particularly dangerous because:

• They have not undergone testing by an independent laboratory.
• They likely don’t comply with industry safety standards.
• They can cause electrocution or start a fire.
• Since product origins are often unknown, the manufacturer can’t be held liable if products cause property damage or physical harm.

How to Avoid Counterfeit Products

The potential dangers you face from purchasing counterfeit electrical products are clearly not worth the lower price you might be asked to pay. To ensure you don’t face any unnecessary dangers when purchasing electronics, follow these tips:

• Only shop at reputable retail locations. Established vendors only purchase their goods from legitimate distributors and manufacturers.
• If you see any grammatical errors or typos on the product label, that’s a sign the product is not professionally made.
• Look for the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) logo on the label, indicating the product has undergone proper testing.
• If the product is legitimate, you should see the name and contact information for the manufacturer on the label.
• Avoid purchasing unknown brands or products that display no brand affiliation of any kind.

How to Report a Counterfeit Product

The prevalence of counterfeit products has risen over 10,000% in the past 20 years. During this time, counterfeits have become increasingly harder to spot as unscrupulous manufacturers get better at deceiving customers via the internet and tempting low prices.

If you accidentally purchase a counterfeit product, report it to the brand owner. This alerts the brand owner to investigate the suspected product and remove it from the marketplace if it’s indeed counterfeit. If you don’t know the product’s brand, contact the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, which will disseminate the information to the appropriate parties and work toward removing the product from the market.

By taking an active role in reporting counterfeit products, you help put an end to this illegal industry, the revenue from which can often be traced to organized crime and terrorism. Demand for counterfeit electrical products would decrease dramatically if everyone reported the imitation devices they accidentally purchased.