 The Shock Doctors Progressive Electrical Services Ltd
ECRA/ESA #7001377 |
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Writing your Prescription for Electrical Safety Nov 2010 |
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 Doc's Club
Membership - 3 year plan
- Annual electrical check-up
- Front of the line service
- Waived dispatch fee
- Annual Complimentary smoke/CO battery change
- 10% savings
- $357 for 3 yrs only 33 cents per day for total peace of mind!
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"News You can Use around Your Home". 
EVERYTHING eventually wears out. From your air conditioner to to the mortar holding the stone of your front walk together, everything has a failure point - and the more aware of this you are the less likely you are to be caught off guard with a huge repair.
Do you know who must be licensed or certified to work in your home? This month, let's review the basics of hiring a contractor for home repairs.
Terry Carman RME  |
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| Do your Homework Proactively | | |
Tradesmen that you may need in your home include electricians, plumbers, residential air conditioning systems mechanics (HVAC), gas fitters for heating and hot water repair, roofers, appliance service technicians, landscaping, carpentry and cabinet making, brick and stone masons, tile and marble setters, to name a few.
Avoid picking a contractor or repair man because an emergency repair is needed. Your best defense is to check for problems before they crop up. You'll have time to carefully pick someone for the job instead of saying "You can repair the septic tank tomorrow? Oh thank God!" and then hoping for the best.
Make a list of all the "systems" in your house and how old they are. Electrical and plumbing equipment are usually good for 25 years; heating, air conditioning, hot water tanks and roofs are usually good for 15 years. All need annual maintenance both predictive and preventative.
When was your roof installed? How old is your furnace? When was the air conditioning unit last serviced? That 25 year old furnace might still be going strong today but it is well into its end of life. A checkup from a qualified professional on the major parts of your home like the roof and the heating/cooling system is radically cheaper than an emergency visit when they fail.
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| The Pro's - Mandatory Certification | |
Electricians, plumbers, refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanics and gas fitters are mandatory regulated trades in Ontario. Certification is regulated by the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act and is compulsory.
Remember, it is important to understand, a journeyman, a master and a contractor are three entirely different creatures.
A Journeyman has passed the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities examinations and completed a 5 year apprenticeship. A journeyman is licenced to be employed in his trade.
A Master is a person has been a journeyman for at least two years and and has successfully challenged a specific exam that covers job planning, safety, supervision of journeymen and regulations pertaining to the trade.
A Contractor has a license which is provided to a corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship who engages in the business of contracting. They must hold 2 million of general liability insurance and employ at least one master tradesperson.
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| Voluntary Certification | | |
Certification is voluntary for brick and stone masons, roofers, appliance service technicians, drywall finisher and plasterer, tile and marble setter, general carpenters, cabinet makers and landscape construction. While it may be beneficial for these tradesmen to be certified, it is not mandatory and other methods of assessment, such as references and experience may prove more valuable. |
| Avoiding the Fly-by-Night Contractor | |
Get recommendations or references from at least 3 recent customers and follow them up. A reputable contractor should be able to show you their current WSIB (worker compensation board) certificate, proof of liability insurance, and in the case of mandatory trades, their License, Certificate of Qualification and Contractor's Licence. WSIB must be within the last 60 days to be current.
You absolutely cannot afford to have someone doing work on your home without insurance. If a worker gets injured or destroys your property and they aren't insured, the bill comes to you.
Set a high standard from the beginning. A good rule of thumb is if you don't receive a return call by the second attempt, it is time to call someone else.
What is your first impression? Is the vehicle the technician arrived in clearly marked with the company's logo, and phone number? Is the technician wearing a uniform? This would indicate that he works for a company that cares about professionalism and company image.
A written quote is imperative.
Trust your instincts and decline the technician's services if something just doesn't seem right. |
| Ask the Doc | | |
Dear Doc:
I'm having a deck built and I'm planning to install a hot tub on it. The carpenter says even though he's not a licenced electrician he knows how to hook up hot tubs and can save me some money. He says the $150 for an inspection fee is only a formality and not necessary. I'd like to save the money, but it sounds a little fishy to me.
-Frugal, Yet Concerned.
Dear FYC:
Frugal is good, but in this case you are right to be concerned. The only person that can do unlicensed electrical work in your home is YOU and you must take out a permit with the Electrical Safety Authority and have it inspected. Although your deck meister means well, he is setting you up for some bad stuff. When someone is hurt in your uninspected, amateur installation you are personally liable with no insurance coverage.
In Doc's terms letting your deck builder do electrical to save money is like letting your massage therapist do a kidney transplant to save money.
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| Do you have a question for the Doctor? | |
 If you have a question about the health of your electrical system or would like to investigate a little "plastic surgery", ask the doctor: Click and send your question to info@theshockdoctors.ca.
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Technology is constantly changing. There are many capable, reliable tradespeople who dedicate time and energy keeping current with these innovations.
 | | ECRA/ESA
# 7001377 |
Yours for finding competent, trustworthy contractors, Cheri
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$$$ Tip-Change your furnace filter at the beginning of each month during heating season!
(If you heat with baseboard, gently vacuum them for dust)
 We are proud to offer AIRMILES® reward miles on all electrical work. Make your home safe and reward yourself at the same time! | | ® TM Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Inc.and Progressive Electrical Services ltd. |
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