Every homeowner should do a basic electrical safety check at least once a year. I'm Sam from City Power Electrical Services (ECRA/ESA #7015314), and I've put together this checklist based on the most common hazards I find in GTA homes. You can do most of these checks yourself — and for anything that concerns you, call a licensed electrician.
Check 1: Your electrical panel. Open the panel cover (the outer door — never remove the inner dead front cover). Look for any signs of rust, moisture, or water staining. Check for a burning or unusual smell. The panel should not feel warm to the touch. Make sure there's at least 1 metre of clear space in front of the panel — no boxes, shelving, or furniture blocking access. Verify that all breakers are labelled so you know which circuits they control. If you have a Federal Pioneer Stab-Lok panel (very common in GTA homes from the 1970s-1980s), consider having it evaluated by a licensed electrician due to known reliability concerns.
Check 2: GFCI outlets. Test every GFCI outlet in your home by pressing the TEST button. The outlet should click and lose power. Press RESET to restore power. Test the GFCIs in your bathrooms, kitchen (countertop outlets), garage, outdoor outlets, unfinished basement, and near any sinks. If any GFCI doesn't trip when tested, it needs replacement immediately — it's not protecting you. GFCIs should be tested monthly according to the manufacturer.
Check 3: Outlets and switches. Walk through your home and check every outlet and switch. Feel the faceplate — it should be cool to the touch. A warm or hot faceplate indicates a wiring problem. Look for discolouration, scorch marks, or melting around outlets and switches. Check that outlets grip plugs firmly. A loose outlet that lets plugs fall out has worn contacts and should be replaced. Make sure all outlet and switch plates are in place — missing covers expose live wiring. Check that no outlets are cracked or damaged.
Check 4: Extension cords and power bars. Extension cords should be temporary, not permanent. If you have extension cords running under rugs, through doorways, or across rooms as permanent wiring, you need additional outlets installed. Don't daisy-chain power bars (plugging one power bar into another). This bypasses the overload protection and can cause fires. Check that extension cords aren't pinched by furniture or doors, and that they're appropriately rated for the devices plugged into them.
Check 5: Light fixtures and bulbs. Make sure every light fixture has the correct wattage bulb. A 100-watt incandescent bulb in a fixture rated for 60 watts is a fire hazard — the excess heat can ignite the fixture, shade, or nearby combustibles. This is less of a concern with LED bulbs (which produce far less heat) but still important with any remaining incandescent or halogen bulbs. Check that all light fixtures are properly secured — especially ceiling fixtures, which should be attached to an electrical box secured to the structure, not just hanging from the wires.
Check 6: Smoke and CO alarms. Ontario's fire code requires working smoke alarms on every storey of your home and outside every sleeping area. Carbon monoxide alarms are required on every storey with a sleeping area if you have a fuel-burning appliance, attached garage, or fireplace. Test each alarm by pressing the test button. Replace batteries annually (or when the alarm chirps). Replace the entire smoke alarm every 10 years and CO alarms every 7 to 10 years (check the expiry date on the back of the unit). If your alarms are the old ionization type, consider upgrading to photoelectric or dual-sensor alarms, which are better at detecting smouldering fires.
Check 7: Outdoor electrical. Inspect your outdoor outlets — do they have weather-resistant "in-use" covers? These are the covers that protect the outlet while a cord is plugged in. The old flip-up covers that only protect the outlet when nothing is plugged in don't meet current code. Check that outdoor lighting is in good condition with no damaged wiring or broken fixtures. If you have a pool, hot tub, or water feature, verify that all nearby outlets are GFCI-protected and that the bonding and grounding are intact.
Check 8: Wiring age and type. If you know your home was built before 1950, you may have knob-and-tube wiring. Look in the attic or basement for ceramic knobs holding individual wires along joists. If your home was built between 1965 and 1976, you may have aluminum wiring. Look at the wiring in the panel or at an outlet — aluminum wire is silver-coloured, while copper is, well, copper-coloured. The wire may also be printed with "AL" or "ALUMINUM." Both knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring require professional evaluation.
Check 9: Water heater and furnace. Your electric water heater should be on a dedicated circuit with proper grounding and bonding. If it's a gas water heater, ensure the electrical connection for the controls is secure. Your furnace should be on a dedicated circuit. Check that the disconnect switch (if present) is accessible and functional.
Check 10: Arc-fault protection. If your home was built or renovated after 2002 (approximately), check whether your bedroom and living area circuits have AFCI breakers in the panel. These breakers have a TEST button on them (similar to GFCI outlets). Test them periodically by pressing the TEST button — the breaker should trip. Reset it to restore power.
Red flags that need immediate professional attention. Any burning smell near electrical components. Frequent breaker trips or blown fuses. Flickering lights throughout the house. Warm or hot outlet covers or switch plates. Discolouration or scorch marks around electrical devices. Sparking from outlets or switches. A buzzing sound from the panel, outlets, or switches.
If you've identified any concerns during this checklist, call City Power Electrical Services at 416-877-3048. I can do a comprehensive electrical safety inspection of your GTA home and address any issues. Prevention is always cheaper than emergency repairs — and infinitely cheaper than a fire.