Category: Blog

The electrical panel in a home plays a crucial role as it houses all the circuit breakers or fuses, ensuring a safe and reliable power supply throughout one’s entire house. However, as a home’s electricity needs grow or the unit becomes outdated, the electrical panel one day will require an upgrade. 

Read More

In today’s homes, we use all kinds of appliances and gadgets to make life easier. But it’s crucial to understand how these things work so you use them safely and effectively. Certain appliances might need their own electrical circuits, so let’s find out which ones need that extra power.

Why Do Some Appliances Need a Dedicated Electrical Circuit?

Some appliances require a dedicated electrical circuit. One big reason is that some appliances need a lot of power to work properly. Another reason is that having a separate circuit can stop other circuits from getting overloaded. Overloaded circuits can cause fires, damage appliances, or trip circuit breakers. If you want to keep things safe, make sure your appliances work well, and follow electrical codes, find out which appliances need their own circuit below.

Appliances That Require a Dedicated Electrical Circuit

To ensure that certain appliances run safely, efficiently, and reliably, it is recommended that the following appliances have their own dedicated electrical circuit.

• Electric Range/Stove- Due to high power demands, electric ranges and stoves generally require a dedicated circuit. These appliances are operated on a 240-volt circuit.
• Electric Oven- An electric over typically will also require a dedicated circuit. These appliances are operated on a 240-volt circuit.
• Electric Dryer- To handle the demands of the appliance an electric dryer will require a dedicated circuit to safely dry clothes. These appliances are operated on a 240-volt circuit.
• Central Air Conditioner- The voltage requirements may vary based on the unit’s size and capacity, but for optimal performance, a dedicated circuit should be installed.
• Electric Water Heater- For the water heater to function efficiently and safely, it is recommended that a dedicated circuit be installed. Depending on the size, electric water heaters will run at a 240-volt circuit or a 120-volt circuit.
• Jacuzzi/Hot Tub- Jacuzzis and hot tubs are well known for their high power needs. To meet these demands, a dedicated circuit is necessary to power these relaxation appliances.
• Well Pump- The voltage requirements may vary, but it is definite that well pumps will require a dedicated electrical circuit to provide a consistent water supply.
• Sump Pump– Sump pumps used for basement or water drainage usually require a dedicated circuit. Especially during situations of heavy rainfall or flooding.
• Home Workshop Tools- Power tools may require a dedicated electrical circuit depending on the power needed.

How to assess your needs

You’ll need to evaluate the power demands of devices and the use cases to determine the required hardware.

How Our Electricians Can Help

To implement dedicated electrical circuits in appliances where it’s needed, it’s recommended to consult with a licensed licensed electrician to have them evaluate the situation and install dedicated circuits where needed. Keep in mind that electrical requirements may vary based on location and electrical codes, but you can rest assured that SiteTech Electrical is familiar with Ontario provincial electrical codes and can advise you accordingly. To consult with our team, give us a call at (647) 939-3239 today.

When it comes time to replace the pot lights in your home, our team at SiteTech Electrical would like you to consider upgrading to recessed LED lights – also known as LED pot lights. Renovations, repairs, or upgrades offer homeowners a chance to browse the market to explore options for replacements. 

Read More

Electrical services come in many forms, but one of the most common is that of residential electrical services. These services work to make a home function at its absolute best in terms of its wiring, power and electrical panels.  Read More

In every home lies an electrical system, and without an electrical system a home can not operate with any devices run by power. If one has an electrical system but it is either outdated or poorly maintained, the devices within the home will not operate effectively and there is a higher risk for bigger, more serious electrical issues. This often includes electrical systems that don’t have what is commonly known as an electrical panel directory.  Read More

Have you ever seen an outlet with two buttons in the middle? Did you know that these kinds of outlets have a name separate from average ones, as they offer different functions? These outlets are commonly known as GFCI outlets.  Read More

When you want to be certain that all of your new and improved technological devices are getting all the power they need, it’s important that you have a reliable electrical panel that can backup all of these systems accordingly. If you have been using the same old, outdated electrical panel for your home this can not only lead to a drop in efficiency but an increase in danger as well. After all, the older your electrical is, the higher the chance for a potential electrical fire/outage.

Read More

Problems with your electrical can be a huge downer. After all, nearly every device in today’s modern world relies on technology. 

Read More

While newer homes are often equipped with the newest, most efficient power solutions, older homes are usually not. This makes sense, as the technology and electrical systems developed 20-30 years ago are much less effective than the ones on the market now.   Read More

Light Emitting Diodes (LED) represent some of the greatest advancements in lighting in recent years. They’ve quickly grown in popularity, becoming the ubiquitous solution for home lighting solutions.

Read on to learn more about the benefits of LED lighting, and how this type of lighting can be installed into your home with the help of a licensed electrician. 

What is LED Lighting? 

In simple terms, LED lighting is a type of light known as light emitting diode. An LED is a semiconductor device that produces light through a process called electroluminescence.

You may be surprised to find that we have known about the tech behind LED’s many years before it was turned into the lighting source it’s currently known as today. As a matter of fact, LED tech has helped land an astronaut on the moon and worked to create portable radios! Crazy, right? LED lights date all the way back to the 60’s, where they were developed by a young scientist working for a popular electrical company. 

Fast forward to today, and LED’s are being constantly worked on to become better, brighter and stronger. Currently, people are working on what is known as the “third generation” of LED lights. This latest generation lasts longer, is more energy efficient and shines brighter than previous generations. 

The Advantages 

Now that we know a bit more about LED lighting and its conception, it’s time to talk about their benefits in comparison to other lighting options out there (because trust us, there are many!). Some of the many benefits include: 

• Longer lifespan- Compared to an average incandescent bulb that lasts around 1000 hours, LED lights last 50,000 hours on average. That’s 50x longer!
• Dimming capabilities- LED’s have the ability to work at nearly any power percentage ranging from 5% to 100%. 
• Flexibility in design- Since LED’s are much smaller than its counterparts, they are super easy to use in home designs and art designs alike! 
• Low heat emissions- Have you gone to unscrew a burnt out incandescent bulb, only to burn yourself on the surface of it? This is because these types of lights generate loads of heat. With LED’s, you get little to no heat generation, so your lights are cool to the touch. This also makes them less of a fire hazard. 
• High energy efficiency- LED’s also consume significantly less energy than traditional lighting options, making them a cost-effective and eco-friendly choice for your home.
• Colour options- LED lights are capable of offering illumination in various color temperatures, ranging from warm to cool. Many LED’s also offer the flexibility to change colours and illuminate in the colour of your choice.

With all these advantages, it’s no wonder that LED lighting is rapidly becoming the go-to choice for modern illumination needs.

How Our Team Can Help 

If you are considering updating the lighting in your home and require an electrical upgrade, our team at SiteTech Electrical is here to assist you. Our experienced and skilled team has been dedicated to helping our clients fulfill their LED lighting needs for many years. For service across the entire Greater Toronto Area and surrounding areas, get in touch with a licensed electrician from our team, please contact our staff at (647) 939-3239 today!