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Aluminum Wiring in Your Home: What Vancouver Homeowners Need to Know

July 18, 2025/in Blog/by Marianne Bernardo

When it comes to keeping your home safe and up to code, the type of wiring hidden behind your walls matters more than you think. One important part of our 20-point electrical safety inspection at Wicks Electric is checking for aluminum wiring—and here’s why that matters. What’s the Problem With Aluminum Wiring? If your home […]

Breaker Function Test: The Unsung Hero of Electrical Safety

July 17, 2025/in Blog/by Marianne Bernardo

When most people think about electrical safety, they picture sparks or overloaded outlets. But the truth is, the real MVP in your system is much smaller—your circuit breakers. At Wicks Electric, one of the key steps in our 20-Point Electrical Safety Inspection is a full breaker function test. This essential check keeps your home or […]

Aluminum Wiring in Your Home: What Vancouver Homeowners Need to Know

July 18, 2025/in Blog/by Marianne Bernardo

Breaker Function Test: The Unsung Hero of Electrical Safety

July 17, 2025/in Blog/by Marianne Bernardo

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Aluminum Wiring in Your Home: What Vancouver Homeowners Need to Know

July 18, 2025/in Blog/by Marianne Bernardo

When it comes to keeping your home safe and up to code, the type of wiring hidden behind your walls matters more than you think. One important part of our 20-point electrical safety inspection at Wicks Electric is checking for aluminum wiring—and here’s why that matters.

What’s the Problem With Aluminum Wiring?

If your home was built or renovated between the mid-1960s and late 1970s, there’s a good chance it may contain aluminum branch circuit wiring. At the time, aluminum was used as a cheaper alternative to copper—but over the years, it’s proven to be less reliable and more prone to overheating.

Aluminum expands and contracts more than copper when it heats up. Over time, this movement can cause loose connections, leading to sparks, heat damage, and even electrical fires. For homeowners, it’s a hidden risk that’s easy to overlook—but not something to ignore.

What Wicks Electric Looks For

During our professional electrical inspections in Vancouver, we check the main panel for signs of aluminum wiring. If it’s present, we’ll walk you through the next steps. The most common and effective solution is adding copper pigtails—short pieces of copper wire that connect the aluminum wiring to outlets and switches using special connectors rated for this purpose.

This approach improves safety and brings your system closer to modern electrical standards, without needing to rewire your entire home.

Why Trust Wicks Electric?

As one of the top-rated electricians in Vancouver, our team is known for doing the job right the first time—no shortcuts, no guesswork. We’ve worked in hundreds of homes across the Lower Mainland, helping homeowners upgrade their systems and sleep better at night knowing everything is safe, clean, and code-compliant.

Whether you’re buying a new home, updating an older one, or just want peace of mind, our aluminum wiring check is a simple but crucial step in keeping your electrical system safe.

Book a 20-Point Electrical Safety Inspection Today
Looking for an experienced Vancouver electrician to take a closer look at your home’s wiring? Contact Wicks Electric today and ask about our 20-point inspection service. We’ll help you stay safe, spot risks early, and give you real solutions that last.

Breaker Function Test: The Unsung Hero of Electrical Safety

July 17, 2025/in Blog/by Marianne Bernardo

When most people think about electrical safety, they picture sparks or overloaded outlets. But the truth is, the real MVP in your system is much smaller—your circuit breakers.

At Wicks Electric, one of the key steps in our 20-Point Electrical Safety Inspection is a full breaker function test. This essential check keeps your home or business protected from overloads, short circuits, and potentially life-threatening hazards.

What’s a Breaker Function Test—And Why Does It Matter?

Breakers are designed to automatically shut off power when something goes wrong. But like anything mechanical, they wear down over time or fail silently.

As part of this test, our skilled and reliable electricians in Vancouver inspect:

✅ Standard Breaker Function

We manually test each breaker to ensure it trips and resets properly. If a breaker sticks, won’t reset, or feels loose, it’s a serious safety concern.

✅ GFCI Breaker Testing (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)

We test all GFCI breakers—usually found in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and outdoors. These breakers protect against electric shock in wet areas. If they aren’t tripping properly, they’re not doing their job.

✅ AFCI Breaker Testing (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter)

AFCIs are required in many rooms and help prevent electrical fires caused by arcing. Our team tests these using proper devices to ensure they’re responding to faults as they should.

✅ Infrared Scanning (If Available)

When possible, we use infrared cameras to detect hot spots inside your panel, which may indicate an overloaded or failing breaker—even before visible signs appear.

What Happens When Breakers Stop Doing Their Job?

A faulty breaker can cause:

Overheating wires
Electrical fires
Expensive damage to electronics or appliances
Total loss of protection from shocks in wet areas

And the worst part? Most homeowners don’t realize a breaker has failed until it’s too late.

Why Choose Wicks Electric?

As an Excellent electrician in Vancouver BC, our team is trusted by homeowners, businesses, and property managers all over the Lower Mainland for a reason:

✅ Top-rated customer service
✅ No upselling—just honest, expert advice
✅ Skilled, licensed, and insured electricians
✅ State-of-the-art tools like infrared thermography
✅ Real-time reports with photo documentation

We’re not just here to fix problems—we’re here to help you prevent them.

Book Your 20-Point Electrical Safety Inspection Today

If your breakers haven’t been tested in years, or if you’ve been experiencing flickering lights or constant trips, it’s time to bring in a top-rated electrician in Vancouver BC.

We’ll test every breaker, explain what we find, and give you real answers without the sales pitch.

👉 Click here to book your inspection

Or visit wickselectric.ca to learn more about what we do.

Wicks Electric

4.9

Based on 139 reviews

review us on

Formwest Contractors

18:13 15 Sep 20

We've worked with Wicks Electric on numerous residential and commercial renovations over the years. Their responsiveness and professionalism have always been top shelf. They always deliver a friendly, knowledgable service. We look forward to working with Adam and his crew for many years to come.

Julian Gamble

17:29 11 Aug 20

Excellent quality of work, and incredible electricians. From the administration, to the electricians, everyone was wonderful to chat with and incredibly professional. Highly recommend.

Olaf L.

17:48 16 Jul 20

I highly recommend Wicks Electric. We called Wicks for advice on our condo renovation, and their communication and service were excellent - from the quote right through to scheduling and installation. Everyone at Wicks was friendly, professional and great to work with.

Hal S

22:00 23 Jun 20

Absolutely highly recommend Wicks Electric for your home electrical services. I had two electricians do work in a condo I was renovating and on all 3 separate occasions that I needed service I was extremely pleased with the congenial, knowledgeable and efficient work performed. Again, I highly recommend this company - particularly because of the workers' abilities and friendliness. 5/5 !

Iman Rahmim

19:51 12 May 20

We have been working with Wicks electric for close to three years and they are our go-to electrical contractors for commercial and high end residential jobs. Very detailed and precise, over-the-top clear communication, and most importantly clean job, inside and out. Highly recommended for high end jobs.

Brenda D

17:48 12 May 20

I contacted Wicks for a small job in my condo. The electrician was pleasant, polite, and professional. There was a complication in my job and he didn't hesitate to reach out for help. I would recommend this company without hesitation.

Melanie McCready

20:31 05 May 20

Wicks did a commercial project for me and everything went smoothly. They followed the quote they gave me prior and were able to finish the job in the timeframe that was allotted to get the job done. Overall, will use again and would recommend. A+

Dr. Paul Atkinson

19:20 16 Mar 20

Thankyou to Wicks Electric (especially Cathy and Wyatt) for the wonderful service. I needed some under cabinet lighting repaired. The work was done so efficiently and also very well priced. It is a great feeling to know a trustworthy electrician.

Kristina M

17:24 12 Mar 20

Wicks Electric recently did two small jobs for us (installation of a new lighting fixture and a new bathroom fan). We were really pleased with the whole experience. We received a prompt and courteous response to our initial enquiry and scheduling was easy. The electrician was on time, organized, quick, and we're very pleased with the results - it's great to be able to check these items off our to-do list. I recommend Wicks Electric and will definitely use them again.

Antonio Millares III

21:32 11 Mar 20

I’ve hired Wicks Electric both personally and referred them to general contractors. The result was the same, top-notch customer service and quality. Nothing but good feedback for these guys. If you are looking for a residential or commercial electrical contractor give these guys a shout.

Troy Felix

18:39 11 Mar 20

As the owner of a Vancouver construction management company we have worked with many electrical trades over the past 10 years. I can say that Wicks Electric has been a pleasure to work with and we anticipate working with them for a very long time. Keep up the great work.

Aly Armstrong

17:30 11 Mar 20

Adam & his team are incredible! They helped us with our new office renovation and were always available to help when we needed them. They were very respectful of our space and their service & work exceeded our expectations.

Dimitri Gailit

17:30 11 Mar 20

We needed small electrical work in our new office. We reached out to Wicks electrical and they replied to us with a quote immediately. Not even 24 hours later we had Max in our office installing lights. I was super impressed how fast they came out and completed the job. Max was awesome to work with. Super fast, clean and accurate. It’s not typical of trades to deliver fast and clean work let alone have a guy at your door step that fast. Highly recommend their services.

Jeremy Hessing-Lewis

23:01 31 Jan 20

Wyatt installed baseboard heaters in our ?. He did excellent work at a perfectly fair price. He got everything done surprisingly quickly considering that our children were constantly trying to "help" him. Would call Wicks again without hesitation.

Bernie3000 .

18:24 22 Jan 20

This is the second time we have used Wicks and are we glad we did!

Starting from the first person who answered the phone (Ryan), to Cathy who called back to take my information to schedule the electrician and to the electrician himself (I asked my husband to get his name, but...) who knew exactly what to do and how to do it.

Also, without naming the other company, we were given a quote for the same amount of work for $705! Wicks did it for more than $450 cheaper!

Thank you very much to the team at Wicks! Do not change a thing, unless it is for the better, but really, how can it get much better than Wicks already is?

Riley Goodwin

02:49 22 Jan 20

I was considering using Wick's Electric when I noticed something that made me question the authenticity of their reviews....

Anwar Ansari

03:00 01 Sep 19

Excellent service. I've called Wicks for electrical work on my condo 4 times over the past 3 years and the service has been nothing short of excellent. Wyatt and Dean were both competent and professional and i will definitely call Wicks for any future electrical needs.

Ben Emerson

19:57 31 Aug 19

Unreal guys! Great personalities! And impeccable work! Highly recommend them! 5star

David Kobilke

18:56 30 Aug 19

Wicks was quick to respond to an urgent repair! Wyatt, the electrician who came was efficient, polite and got the job done very quickly. Very reasonable rates. Highly recommend

Maggie Bullen

21:27 07 Aug 19

Absolute legends. Professionals in their field. Dependable guys and gals who provide 5 star service and top notch banter. 10/10 would jump into a boat with them again.

Annette Goliath

00:43 26 Jul 19

Look no further for an Electrician. Right from the start, my interaction with Cathy over the phone made me feel that I made the right decision in choosing Wicks. Cathy was professional, warm and responded quickly. Dean, the Electrician that came to deal with my electrical deficiencies was on time, so nice, professional, explained everything to me and finished the job quickly. I would HIGHLY recommend him, he was wonderful!

Debra DeGaust

02:29 24 Apr 19

I have used Wicks Electric on two occasions and found them to be excellent. I will definitely be recommending them to my friends and my family. Debra Degaust.

jeff heywood

03:19 10 Apr 19

Great experience with Wicks. Quick return on my phone call, estimate was accurate, and electrician showed up right on time. We discussed the work and all implications before anything started then Bill just got it done. Totally great experience all around and next job I have I won't hesitate to call them back. 100% recommend.

Veronique Nell

20:05 05 Apr 19

Great service and great work.
I've used Wicks twice in the last few years to wire in new ceiling lights and move/replace baseboard heaters. Both times they responded to my inquiry emails before the end of the day and were able to set up an appointment within a week. The work has always been well done and within the time estimates.
I will be using Wicks again next time I need electrical work done.

Myfanwy Loverock

21:36 01 Apr 19

Working as a Design Consultant I am frequently submitting quotations with electricians to get my clients and myself the best work and rates possible.
When working with Wicks you can trust this team will give you the most detailed and honest quotes, and several options depending on your budget and needs.

No matter if you’re doing a brand new commercial build or restoring a heritage coded apartment, you’re in good hands with this wonderful local company.

Transparent Honest very clear communication.
Oh ... and not a bad looking team ?

Sam Wainwright

20:09 07 Feb 19

Adam and his team at Wicks Electric are amazing! We use them on the majority of our renovation projects regardless on how big or small they are. They are reliable, professional & constant. They make us look good! I highly recomend Wicks Electrical for any electrical project you have.

Sincerely,
Sam Wainwright
Refine & Design, Custom Homes & Renovations
Owner & Operator

Samantha O'Grady

23:27 15 Mar 18

Chris is my hero! He was super chill, patient, knowledgeable, and nice to my cats. It was an awesome experience. Thank you for my new fixture and all my now working light switches!

DZT Vibe Spa Whole Body Vibration Fitness

20:52 07 Feb 18

Awesome service, great Crew!! We hired Wicks on two separate occasions and the experience was seamless. They took care of the work necessary with some affordable solutions for our electrical work....These are the people you want in your home or business....Highly recommended!!

Wayne D

20:09 15 Jan 18

It was a great experience using Wick’s. Prior to my appointment, communication with Cathy was prompt and all my questions were answered. On the day of the appointment, at the time of the scheduled arrival, Luke called to say he was running late due to heavy traffic (he only arrived 5 or 10 minutes late from the scheduled start time, so it was no big deal anyway). What great customer service communication! When he arrived, he was courteous, professional and knowledgeable. He offered suggestions to the home issues, but never tried to upsell me. He worked hard all day, even skipping lunch. He finished all of the jobs that were required, in the time that he quoted. Everything works great. I’m so happy that I chose Wicks. I would use them again.

Nancy Lin

22:19 04 Dec 17

Daniela did fantastic work with my chandelier. It was an extremely tough job for one person - just getting the 15 ft ladder set up on her own was a project in itself! (I live in a loft with 17 ft ceilings.) I very much appreciated how respectful and efficient Daniela was, despite those challenges. I will be sure to recommend Wicks to family and friends for all of our electrical needs.

Navin Ramani

03:30 25 Oct 17

I engaged Wicks Electric to install custom lighting fixtures for my design project - LED alcove lights, wall sconces, pendants, and chandeliers. I was extremely pleased by their professional service! Their team were challenged with mounting a large 11 foot chandelier on a 22 foot high ceiling and Jacob executed the job seamlessly! It made my whole experience stress free. I highly recommend Wicks Electric for their highly qualified, experienced and friendly service!

More reviews

Wicks Electric

2 weeks ago

Another look inside JD Sports on Robson Street, Vancouver.Our team handled the full electrical scope for this bright, modern retail space — from feature lighting to power for the entire store.Proud to help global brands shine right here in our city.#LightingTheWay⚡️ ... See MoreSee Less

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Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Aluminum Wiring in Your Home: What Vancouver Homeowners Need to Know

Breaker Function Test: The Unsung Hero of Electrical Safety

Aluminum Wiring in Your Home: What Vancouver Homeowners Need to Know

Breaker Function Test: The Unsung Hero of Electrical Safety

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Aluminum Wiring in Your Home: What Vancouver Homeowners Need to Know

What’s the Problem With Aluminum Wiring?

What Wicks Electric Looks For

Why Trust Wicks Electric?

Breaker Function Test: The Unsung Hero of Electrical Safety

What’s a Breaker Function Test—And Why Does It Matter?

✅ Standard Breaker Function

✅ GFCI Breaker Testing (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)

✅ AFCI Breaker Testing (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter)

✅ Infrared Scanning (If Available)

What Happens When Breakers Stop Doing Their Job?

Why Choose Wicks Electric?

Book Your 20-Point Electrical Safety Inspection Today

Business Hours & Location

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