Electrical Contractor In Toronto Explains Your Outlet Options

While you might not spend a great deal of time thinking about electrical outlets, there are actually many different types of outlets and if your outlets are about 15 years old or older, you might consider asking an electrical contractor in Toronto to upgrade your outlets. Here is a quick look at just a few of your outlet options.

1. GFCI Outlets
These outlets, also known by their longer name – ground fault circuit interrupters, include two plug outlets as well as a reset and test button. These are required by law to be installed in all kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and any other room where the outlet might come into contact with water. If you have a wet bar, a swimming pool or a spa, you will need GFCI outlets near these items as well. Additionally, any outdoor outlets you might have need to be GFCI outlets as well as crawl spaces and in your garage. Your electrician in Toronto can install these outlets anywhere that you might need them.

GFCI outlets greatly reduce the possibility of electric shocks by monitoring the electrical current that flows in or out of an appliance, such as a hair dryer or a microwave oven. Each opening in your outlet and each prong of a plug is connected to a different wire known as a hot wire, a neutral wire and a ground wire. The hot wire brings current in to the appliance, and the unused current goes out via the neutral wire. The ground wire also serves as another path for unused current. Your GFCI outlet will prevent current from flowing if it senses that there is a discrepancy between the current flowing in and out of an appliance. A circuit in your main electrical panel also will “trip” if there are issues with electrical current, but the GCFI is your first line of defense, essentially tripping the circuit immediately so that you won’t get a shock. You also can install AFCI outlets, which stands for arc fault circuit interrupter. These outlets prevent electrical current from “jumping” from one wire to another wire. An AFCI outlet needs to be installed by your main electrical panel and this will help protect all of the circuits on the panel.

2. 15 & 20-Amp Outlets
These look much like GFCI outlets, but they don’t have the reset and test buttons. The will have three prongs for the hot, neutral and ground wires. 15-amp outlets are perhaps the most common type found in our homes, unless you have an old home. In some homes, you will find outlets with just two prongs, which need to be replaced as they do not meet Toronto fire code requirements and definitely pose a danger for fires and electrical shock.

A 20-amp outlet can be a good option to use for devices that need a good amount of electricity to run, such as some appliances. It is important to note that if you do want 20-amp outlets, we will need to provide you with some rewiring services, as these outlets use thicker wiring to accommodate the extra current.

3. 30 & 50-Amp Outlets
These outlets are black and circular and look much different from a standard wall outlet. The prongs also are quite different from a regular outlet, with the hot and neutral slots at an angle. These are used primarily for large appliances such as your washer, dryer and range, as these items might need more current than a 15-amp outlet or even a 20-amp outlet can handle.

3. USB Outlets
These days, we all could use a few USB outlets. These include outlets for anything you need to plug in as well as a few USB slots so that you can charge your phone or tablet without needing a plug. You also can install outlets that contain just one plug and four USB ports or perhaps simply an outlet that only features USB ports.

4. Smart Outlets
If the idea of being able to control an outlet from anywhere on earth sounds appealing, you might be the perfect candidate for a smart outlet. These can be controlled using a smartphone and allow you to turn outlets on an off as you please. For instance, if you are away on vacation, you can switch off an outlet to ensure that a computer or perhaps your DVR aren’t using power when you aren’t at home. You can switch on outlets at different times of the day to turn lamps on or off so that it appears as though you are still at home.

When it comes to outlets, this is just the tip of the iceberg, as there are plenty of other interesting and useful options. While there are many excellent outlet options, any electrician in Toronto will tell you that the wiring behind the walls means more than the outlet. You need to have up-to-date, up-to-code wiring that can truly handle your electrical needs. You cannot simply install a powerful outlet onto older wiring and expect for this to work properly or safely.

Upgrading your wiring and upgrading your electrical panel is highly recommended for anyone with a home that is about 25 years or older. If you notice that your circuit breakers trip frequently or perhaps your lights become a bit dim when you turn on some appliances, this could mean that you need to upgrade your wiring and panel. If you need new outlets installed or any electrical upgrades, be sure to contact a professional electrical contractor. Toronto-area residents can call us at any time to schedule upgrades or schedule an electrical inspection so that we can determine the best upgrades for your home.