With many parts of British Columbia receiving record breaking amounts of snow and extreme weather conditions this winter, it is important to review some proper power outage protocol and safety measures. Although most power outages only last a few hours, it is always important to be properly prepared for outages lasting longer. The licensed electricians at Expert Electric have put together some helpful tips on how to prepare for power outages and power failures.

Before a power outage or power failure occurs, it is important to have a plan that everyone in your home is familiar with. The plan does not have to be overly complicated but it should address some of the most important protocol and information such as the location of an emergency kit and additional supplies such as candles and food.

Having an emergency kit for power outages and power failures is critical. There are many different types of emergency kits on the market. Many people also choose to build their own emergency kits which is totally fine as long as they include the essentials. BC Hydro recommends including some of the following items in an emergency safety kit:

It is important to remember that these items are only the basics. The amount or volume of each item is dependent upon how many people are living in the household at the time of the power outage or power failure.

When a power outage occurs in British Columbia, the licensed electricians at Expert Electric recommend checking the BC Hydro website  as soon as possible to determine the size and scale of the outage. If it does not appear as though BC Hydro is aware of the outage, they can be notified directly at 1 800 BCHYDRO. Once you have a better understanding of the potential duration of the power outage, it is much easier to determine whether or not your emergency kit will need to be used. During power outages, it is a good idea to keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed at all times in order to prolong their temperatures.

Installing a standby emergency generator is one of the best ways to prepare for a power outage or failure. It will allow you to power all of your home’s appliances during a power outage and keep your home at a preferred temperature. There are many different types of emergency generators available. If you are interested in installing a standby emergency generator in your home, talk to the professionals at Expert Electric first.

For more information on how to prepare for power outages and power failures, please contact the licensed electricians at Expert Electric. We offer various residential and commercial electrical services including standby emergency generator installations, motion sensing lights, electrical ballast replacement and more. Call us today at 604-681-8338 or book a service appointment through our website.

Even if you like shopping around and looking for the best deals, it’s always preferable to have all electrical services for your home or building handled by one company. It makes your life much easier. You wouldn’t need to worry about tracking down different providers every time a new issue comes up with your electrical system. However, this convenience comes along with even more importance placed on the company you choose. If your electrical company isn’t reliable, you could be in for a world of headaches with them attempting to handle all your needs.

A powerful advantage of getting your electrical services from one company is the ability to save time. If an electrician is called out to check your outlets one day, he might inspect your electrical panel and the other components of your system as well. If another issue arises, this time something related to the panel, he would already be familiar with your system upon his arrival. Instead of needing to figure out the various aspects of your electrical setup, he could get right to work.

Not all electrical companies are created equal, and some might be a better fit for you than others. When you’re unsure about the reliability of a provider, you might be reluctant to put too much faith in them. On the other hand, the right company can take all the stress out of maintaining and fixing your electrical system, regardless of what might be wrong.

If you think that all thermostats are created equal, think again. With a Nest thermostat, you can easily set different temperature programs, and your thermostat will learn your heating and cooling habits to make energy-saving adjustments. You can also set your thermostat remotely if necessary, and you’ll get alerts of issues that could lead to problems, such as temperatures low enough to warrant concern. Plus, you can get updates on energy usage via reports, information which can help you to tweak your habits in order to further boost energy savings.

Fires and CO exposure are among the biggest dangers to homeowners today. Not only does the Nest Protect CO + Smoke detector last up to a decade and feature and industrial grade smoke detector, but it also tests itself automatically. You can hush it from your phone, should you have a false alarm, and you can also receive alerts via your phone. If you are serious about keeping yourself and your family safe, this is a product well-worth your consideration.

Modern life is hectic, and you may be away from your home more than you’d like. Don’t worry about what your pooch is getting up to or about packages sitting out all day any longer, though. Get a Nest Cam, and keep an eye on your home with a 24-7 feed. Set yourself up for alerts as well, for added peace of mind.

Weather is so unpredictable, even trained weather people struggle to accurately predict storms and the strengths of those storms. It just makes sense to prepare for anything in order to keep your life as normal as possible. Power outages and power surges are very common during high winds, heavy rainfall and of course thunderstorms. A Pasadena electrician can help you protect your appliances, computers and televisions with the installation of a whole home surge protector. If you have never heard of one of these devices, give The Electric Connection a call to discover how they can save you hundreds of dollars by preventing damage to your electronics.

Every single day, there are power fluctuations in your home. This may be caused by large appliances like a refrigerator or air conditioner kicking off and on or things that are happening around the area. These minor power surges are not always noticeable, but they are damaging the sensitive electrical components in each of your devices. This can shrink the life expectancy of certain high-dollar appliances like your refrigerator, well pump, freezer and even the stove. More sensitive devices like computers, smart TVs, and gaming systems are easily damaged by these minor power surges.

Large surges can wipe out a computer board in an instant. Every electrical device has a board. When this happens, the appliance or gadget is ruined and will likely cost hundreds of dollars to repair. All of this can be avoided with a surge protector installed at the electric panel by an electrician. Pasadena homeowners can purchase a whole home surge protector for a couple hundred dollars. The investment could save hundreds, possibly thousands of dollars in damaged electronics. Lightning and power surges are part of our world. It makes sense to spend a little money now to prevent a lot of damage and hassle in the future. Give The Electric Connection a call today to schedule your installation.