There are governing bodies that develop building codes to dictate how a house is built and what is installed to ensure the safety of homeowners. In addition, the National Electrical Code (US) and the Canadian Electrical Code focus on the safety of electrical installations. Always hire a licensed electrical contractor for any electrical work you’re doing in the house. Why? Because they are the experts and can help make sure everything is done safely, to code, and know to pull the needed permits. Do you know where in your house you should have GFCIs? Do you need to replace your knob and tube wiring? An electrician will have the answers.

In this podcast episode, I’m joined by Erik Drost, Loyalty Manager, Eaton USA as we talk about Electric Codes vs. building codes, the difference in codes between the US and Canada, and doing electrical work safely. We also talk about how to find a Licensed Electrical Contractor and what the ECCN is. Plus, we have a few shocks and laughs looking at the electrical fails that you’ve sent in. Tune in to find out all about it.

Sherry Holmes was 21 years old when she first joined the trades, and was one of the few women involved in construction. She loves that she gets to call herself a woman in construction and that she has the chance to constantly learn new skills! From flooring to tiling and design she's been able to wear a lot of hats, but it was not an easy journey. In fact, she says she never saw any women on sites. It was a daunting experience at first, but over the years she has seen a change in the trades with more and more women getting into construction.

Hosting this episode of the Holmes On Homes Podcast, Sherry, joined by co-host and daughter Oaklyn, talks with Ellie Cobb, Lead Marketing Analyst (Loyalty Programs) and Helen Veldhuis, Director of Manufacturing Operations from Eaton Electric about what it means to be a woman in the trades. They share our stories of how they made it to where they are today, some of the challenges faced, and advice to younger girls considering the same path. This is one empowering episode you don’t want to miss.

I get a lot of questions about electrical all the time. If I bought an older house how do I know if I have bad electrical? Can I do electrical work myself? How do I know if I need a panel upgrade? Do I need a permit to do electrical work? A lot of these questions can easily be answered by hiring the right professional. In this case, it’s a Licensed Electrical Contractor. They’ll be able to assess your current electric infrastructure, advise you on the electrical work that needs to be done to meet your needs and your home’s, and do the work safely. Electric work is not something you want to take a risk with, because if DIY electrical work is done incorrectly it can result in electric fires or fatal electric shocks. This can not only damage your property but it can endanger you and your loved ones as well. 

In this podcast episode, I sit down with Electrical Safety Authority’s (ESA) Emily Larose, Vice President of Regulatory and General Counsel and Trevor Tremblay, Technical Advisor. We discuss everything from electric permits, to the importance of hiring a Licensed Electrical Contractor and what to do if you fall victim to an unlicensed contractor. We also answer your questions that you’ve sent in and share a few electric fails along the way showing you what NOT to do. Don’t miss this episode.

For more behind-the-scenes content head to MakeItRight.ca/podcast-s3-ep4-diy-electrical/