The key to hiring the right people to tackle your home renovations
Call licensed electrical contractors to get the job done correctly and safely
As our houses have become our workplaces, classrooms, gyms and backyard retreats, it’s no surprise home renovations have risen during the pandemic. Whatever project you choose to tackle, asking to see the licence of any electrician working in your home is a crucial first step.
“As certified trades professionals, they will be proud to show you their licence, as they have invested considerable time in both on-thejob and classroom training and passed an exam in order to be able to do the work safely and effectively,” says James Barry, executive secretary treasurer of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Construction Council of Ontario.
Master electrician Todd Eby, owner of Eby Electric Inc. in southwestern Ontario, says he and his crew installed more hot tubs last year than the previous four years combined. While he was proud to help homeowners enjoy staycations, he’s even prouder knowing each of those hot tubs was installed safely.
“There are always people who can do these jobs on the side, but they aren’t always the most qualified, which could result in repairs down the road,” says Eby, a member of the Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario (ECAO). ECAO members are licensed electrical contractors with a contractual relationship with the IBEW.
A licensed electrical contractor is one of the only businesses legally authorized to do electrical work in your home in Ontario. In keeping with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, the contractor will file a notification of work with the Electrical Safety Authority and provide you with a certificate of acceptance once the work is complete. You should keep this certificate on file for insurance purposes.
ECAO member Tim Birnie of Birnie Home Safe residential electrical services, a division of Birnie Electric Limited in Mississauga, has also seen a dramatic increase in renovations, especially kitchens and home offices. “We saw the floodgates open as consumers wanted to upgrade their homes to be able to work better and safer at home.”
Birnie Home Safe has adopted new technologies to improve indoor ventilation to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases like COVID-19, including ultraviolet lights that destroy viruses. The company has also seen increased demand for hands-free light switches and back-up generators.
“As we see an increase in home renovations, we urge the public to look to using qualified, licensed IBEW ECAO contractors to do the work safely and to the highest standards,” says ECAO executive director Graeme Aitken. “Our members and their employees follow the most rigorous safety protocols, including health and safety, whether for electrical, COVID-19 or any other potential harm.”
For more information and to find a licensed electrical contractor,
visit www.ecao.org