Ask Mike Holmes: Tips to Avoid Electric Fires

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/

If you know me you know how much I loved my dog Charlie. He was a big part of our family and without him, life wouldn't have been the same. It was very hard when we lost him but right then Meow Meow (our new cat) appeared out of nowhere in our life and everything changed once again —even though I was never the cat person. But both these experiences have taught me a lot about nurturing healthy pets and renovating with your pets in mind.  In this podcast episode, I had the chance to sit down with Dr. Evan Freeman, Veterinary, Dino Fragaglia, President of Global Pet Foods, and Doug Poyntz, Owner of Global Pet Foods Woodstock and let me tell you I learnt a lot. We talk about how to build a healthy diet for your pets and what that looks like, pet allergies, healthy pet products and building healthy, accessible homes for our pets. For all pet owners out there, this episode is a must-listen. *Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by guests in this podcast are solely their own and do not reflect the views or endorsement of the Holmes Group. For more behind-the-scenes content head to MakeItRight.ca/podcast-s3-ep3-mike-holmes-on-healthy-pets/

We've all heard of landscaping, but pondscaping takes it to a whole other level.  It's not just about making your backyard look nice; it's about creating a balanced ecosystem that supports living organisms and animals while keeping your pond healthy. When I found myself battling a weed infestation in my pond, I called in the experts, and Nick and Joe DeMarco from WeedsBGone came to my rescue. They educated me on the hazards of overgrown weeds and algae, which may disrupt the delicate balance of the pond's environment. We investigated the negative consequences on wildlife populations, and believe me, it's not something we want to see happen. In this podcast episode, I take a deep dive into the world of pondscaping with Nick and Joe. Let’s just say I learnt a lot from them about the importance of maintaining a healthy pond and effective weed removal methods to combat those stubborn weeds and restore life to your pond. They also shared some valuable tips to keep your own pond in top shape and the importance of pondscaping for public ponds and lakes and how it can directly impact you. This episode is a must-listen.

With over 40 years of experience as a contractor, I've seen the devastating consequences of bad electrical work, from fatal shocks to devastating electric fires. You may be tempted to do electrical work yourself especially if you’re a seasoned handyperson, but one wrong connection can lead to fatal results. Electrical safety is a non-negotiable when it comes to your home and it’s important you always hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor to do the work safely and correctly. In this podcast episode, I speak with Will Barrett, General Manager for Operations, Planning, and Support at the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) as we break down everything you need to know to do Electrical Right! From who you should hire, to electrical upgrades, EV Chargers, tamper-resistant receptacles and avoiding electrical fires. This episode is a must-listen.

Mike Holmes has been in the industry for over 40 years and on TV for more than 20 years. While Mike never wanted to be on TV, he found this as an opportunity to educate millions of homeowners at once on how to Make It Right. Fast forward to today Mike has over 15 series and has helped over 300 homeowners! So what comes next? Mike Holmes and his children, Michael Holmes and Sherry Holmes are excited to be joining Homeful TV —a global home renovation, real estate, and design TV brand. The channel is available to stream for FREE in the US, Canada, and more countries coming soon where you can watch all the Holmes classic shows. In this podcast episode, Mike is joined by Craig Junner, SVP Programming of Blue Ant Media and a walking TV encyclopedia, and his son Michael Holmes as they talk about what Homeful is, what people can expect, the future of TV and even some fun conversations about their guilty pleasure shows. Don't miss another fun-packed Holmes on Homes podcast episode!

Did you know that your indoor air can be 5x more polluted than outdoor air? I've seen a lot of homeowners not paying enough attention to the air they breathe inside their homes, but it could be filled with allergens, pollutants, dust, and a lot more things we don't see that in turn could be affecting their health. It's important to take the right steps to make our homes a healthier living environment, which includes improving our indoor air quality. Luckily there are many simple solutions out there that can help improve the indoor air quality in your home such as ERVs, air purification systems, and ventilation fans.     In this podcast episode, I’m joined by Sonny Pirotta, Panasonic Indoor Air Quality Expert and Bob Deeks, President of RDC Fine Homes as we talk about the importance of indoor air quality and what every homeowner should know and products you should have to improve the indoor air quality in your home!

There are a lot of EVs on the road today. According to an estimate, more than half the cars sold in Canada will be electric by 2030. Recently I've been hearing a lot of scary stories about people not properly installing charging stations in their homes. It's important to understand the different types of EV charging stations available, what's required to install one at home, and electrical safety tips to avoid a potential fire hazard.  In this podcast episode, I'm joined by James Fraser, General Manager at The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) as we talk about everything you need to know about EV charging stations and installing one at home SAFELY. 

We all know about landscaping, but have you heard of pondscaping? I have a pond on my property, it was one of the things I first fell in love with when I bought my place —to me it was serenity. However, while I'm always very meticulous and keep my grass nice and short, the pond did start to overgrown over the years. I tried everything including sending one of my guys in to clip the weeds right at the bottom of the pond, but it continued to grow more and more until I got in professional pondscapers. They taught me all about how the excessive weeds and algae are harmful to the wildlife population in the pond, how they get rid of the weeds in the pond and how to properly maintain it moving forward.  In this podcast episode, I'm joined by Nick DeMarco from WeedsBGone as we talk all about what pondscaping is, what causes a pond to get run down, how to maintain your pond, and more. They told me they can turn swamps into swimming pools, I'm mind blown. So if you're like me and have a pond on your property —you don't want to miss this episode.