FAQ

The cost of upgrading an electrical service up to 200Amp is between $2500-$5000 CDN. Factors that can make an installation more expensive are location and barriers that can obstruct an easy installation.

The amount of electrical power that you use during the day may surprise you. Calculating the maximum power is more complicated than just adding up the breakers in the panel. There are certain electrical loads that only run for an hour a day and others that run more often. Electrical appliances that can be calculated at 100% are heating loads such as hot tub, baseboard heaters and electrical range. Heaters and Air conditioning units should not be calculated together because it is highly unlikely you will be using them at the same time.

Electrical fires can be caused Do-it-yourself handyman with the lack of electrical training to make it safe. Electrical fires can also be caused by improper or insufficient maintenance on aluminum wiring. The biggest cause of electrical fires is loose connections.

An easy way to check if you have aluminum wiring in your house is to have an electrician do an inspection on your electrical panel. All wiring stems from the buildings electrical panel.

Aluminum wiring is only unsafe if not maintained properly. Due to aluminums characteristics it is more suseptable to expanding and contracting from temperature changes. This causes the connections to become loose over time and creates electrical arcing like a welder.

There have been many house fires caused by insufficient maintenance on aluminum wiring. If wiring connections are not tightened every few years they can become loose due to expansion and contraction. Loose aluminum wiring connections start to arc like a welder. Insurance companies usually charge 20-30% more for homes with aluminum wiring.

A Rancher style home between 1000-1500sqft would cost approximately $8 000 -$12 000 CDN for minimum electrical code rules. Approximately $3500-$5000 per 1000 sqft in addition for larger homes

It is not unsafe to have aluminum wiring as long as proper maintenance is done to prevent arcing and corrosion. An experienced electrical contractor should be hired to inspect and make any adjustments to aged aluminum wiring.

It would cost between $10 000-$12000CDN to replace the wiring in 1000-1500sqft house. It may cost more than wiring an entire home from the beginning because the electrician would have to pull out all old wiring and replace it with new copper wires.

You don’t have to replace aluminum wiring. If properly treated by an experienced licensed electrical contractor the aluminum wiring is safe. With proper sizing and treatment aluminum wiring is still used in electrical installations today. There is a minimum safe size of aluminum wiring electricians are allowed to install for branch circuits.

Always hire an experienced electrical contractor to work on aluminum wiring.

The best smart home systems are not just the ones with heavy advertising. As a pro smart home installer we get a lot of customer feed back from many brands that they are unhappy with. A well built smart home system needs to be reliable, easy to use software for all devices, compatible with all brands and great customer support. We like to work with and promote great brands Lutron and Nest products.

Smart homes can accomplish a lot of great features for a home or business. Here is a quick list of devices that can be controlled: Ceiling fan control, automated shades, lighting, plugs, christmas lights, yard irrigation, landscape lighting, sound systems, television, door locks, cameras, fireplaces, garage doors. Smart home systems can also preform automated features such as schedules, random schedules, lighting scenes, lighting delay, lighting fade rate, Artificial intelligence, voice control, geo fencing, smart phone app control, notifications and indicators.

Smart systems cost depends on the amount of devices you want to be automated. An entry level smart device is between $50- $85 CDN for a better quality and functionality devices can range in the $150-$250CDN per device. Quality systems usually require a hub or a starter package to start. Then there would be an installation and programming cost from the installer.

The benefits of a smart home system are: Controlling multiple shades, plugs and lighting switches with one button. Scheduling exterior/ holiday lights, Voice control, energy savings, status of lights (on or off), control from anywhere, making scenes and geo-fencing. Customers love being able to turn their lights on when they are on their way home so they don’t come home to an unlit home.

Multiple computers connected to each other is a data network. An office building with cubicles and computers connected with cat5 or cat 6 structured cabling is a local network.

Electricians learn about how electricity works and how to make it safe from the general public. During the electrical apprenticeship, apprentices learn how to install, maintain and troubleshoot electrical circuits. Experienced electricians also learn about other building systems during their career such as data networking cabling and emergency systems.

In the BC Okanagan Electricians must be insured, licenced and bonded before they can do any work on someones home or business. This protects the consumer from any damages such as fires and life threatening electrical shock. An electrician makes between $25-$35 per hour but to hire one that is legally allowed to work on a privately owned building would cost $60-$100 per hour. Electrical Contractors usually have a minimum call out rate of 2 hours. The reason for a minimum call out rate is because of travel times and supplies. An electrician may only be at your place for 20-30 min but he probably drove across town and had to visit the suppliers for the materials to get the job done.
Electrical Contractors usually charge between $75-95 per hour. The reason it seems high is because electrical work is a regulated industry. Electrical Contractors must have a $10 000CDN Bond, liability insurance, contractor licence and permit before they can make any changes to electrical in a clients home. A certified electrician is not legally allowed to work on a clients home without liability insurance. If they did something wrong and the house burned down or someone was seriously electrocuted the insurance company would not cover the claim. The electrician without insurance could be personally sued for damages.

Pfitztech Electrical & Data has the electrical background in lighting, controls and training to install Lutron and Nest/Google products.

Consider a Universal Remote Control (URC). Some salespeople or manufacturers try to force you into an exclusive system. They hook you with a free item or low-cost intro package, but when you add devices to your system, they cap your usage or say that you need to purchase a special compatibility device. Pfitztech has experience in setting up URCs so you can expand your system with as many devices as you want.

Yes — even small electrical mistakes can create shock hazards, fire risks, and code violations. We ensure the job is safe, inspected, and done right the first time.

Often yes. We specialize in minimally invasive rewiring methods that reduce patching and repair costs.

Typically same-week, and often next-day depending on the urgency.

Flickering lights, hot outlets, tripped breakers, burning smells, aluminum wiring, or older homes with no dedicated circuits.

Yes — we provide estimated ranges upfront and exact pricing after a site evaluation.

Absolutely. We take care of everything through Technical Safety BC.

DIY often leads to loose connections and overheating. We ensure proper support, grounding, and box compatibility.

Yes — we can add new circuits, outlets, and GFCIs anywhere in your home.

Yes — 100A, 125A, 200A, EV-ready, and solar-ready upgrades are available.

We can pigtail, replace, or remediate safely and ensure compliance.

Yes — kitchens, basements, additions, lighting redesign, and full service upgrades.

Yes — patios, spas, sheds, hot tubs, pergolas, EV chargers, and more.

Yes — depending on availability and severity.

Usually overloaded circuits, faulty appliances, or loose connections — all dangerous to DIY.

Yes — all work is warrantied and certified to BC codes.

Yes — to avoid interrupting your operations.

Absolutely — offices, restaurants, retail, medical, and industrial.

Yes — including load calculations and panel schedules.

We offer priority response for commercial clients.

Yes — often reducing energy costs by up to 60%.

Yes — monthly, quarterly, or annual.

Absolutely — including lifts, kitchen appliances, HVAC, servers, and POS systems.

Frequent breaker trips, warm panels, voltage dips, and equipment problems.

Yes — to protect expensive equipment like servers and POS systems.

Yes — demolition, rerouting, new circuits, panel work, and lighting.

Yes — we handle multi-building service calls and scheduled maintenance.

Incorrect cabling causes slow speeds, fails certification, and creates expensive downtime.

Yes — CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6A, fiber MM/SM, terminations, and testing.

Yes — with professional certification equipment.

Absolutely — including re-terminations and re-routing messy cabling.

Usually same day depending on structure and access.

Yes — full structured cabling solutions.

Yes — we specialize in cable management and rack cleanup.

Up to kilometers depending on type.

Yes — conduit, aerial, armored, or burial-rated solutions.

Yes if you want future-proofing, faster speeds, and better reliability.

Yes — including Ubiquiti and enterprise-level systems.

Absolutely — including retermination.

Yes — monthly or annual.

Yes — offices, warehouses, schools, restaurants, and industrial.

Yes — hybrid CAT/fiber systems are common.

DIY often leads to unstable systems, poor Wi-Fi coverage, and unsafe electrical connections.

Lutron RA3, Ubiquiti, Sonos, Josh.ai, shades, cameras, and integrated systems

Yes — retrofits are common.

Yes — including automated scenes and timers.

Often yes. We make sure your home is compatible and ready.

Yes — Sonos and fully integrated systems.

Yes — for reliability and security.

Yes — including replacing outdated hubs, switches, and reprogramming.

Yes — especially Lutron, smart shades, and integrated audio.

Yes — we show you how everything works.

DIY cameras often suffer from poor angles, weak Wi-Fi, and unreliable recording. We install commercial-grade systems.

Both — but wired is more secure, stable, and recommended.

Yes — keypads, card access, maglocks, strikes, and intercoms.

Yes — often through Ubiquiti or other platforms.

Yes — including adding cameras or improving coverage.

Yes — minimal cuts required.

We install systems that work with third-party monitoring if needed.

Yes — residential and commercial.

Yes — often caused by poor cabling or Wi-Fi coverage.

Yes — including long-distance cameras and multi-building networks.

No — it’s a high-load device and must meet BC code. DIY can cause fires and void insurance.

We assess your load and determine if a 200A panel or load-sharing system is needed.

Typically 2–4 hours.

Yes — universal chargers and branded units.

Yes — weatherproof and compliant.

We provide upfront pricing after a quick assessment.

Yes — especially for resale and rentals.

Anywhere — we route conduit cleanly indoors or outdoors.

Yes — all Technical Safety BC requirements included.

Only by licensed electricians — improper installation is extremely dangerous.

No — back feeding is illegal and deadly. A transfer switch is required.

Yes — including Generac, Eaton, and all major brands.

Yes — but only with a proper inlet and breaker interlock.

Yes — and we handle everything.

Yes — we coordinate with licensed gas fitters.

Typically 1–2 days depending on distance and configuration.

Yes — especially rural homes with frequent outages.

Yes — inspection, testing, repair, or replacement.

Yes — depending where the meter base and panel are.

Not safely. Access control systems require proper wiring, fire-code compliance, security integration, and precise configuration. DIY installs often fail, become unreliable, or cause expensive building downtime.

Keypads, card readers, fobs, maglocks, electric strikes, video intercoms, cloud-based systems, and integrated solutions for both residential and commercial properties.

Yes — when installed to code with proper emergency egress hardware, push-to-exit buttons, and fire alarm integration (if required).

• Maglock: Always requires power and is typically stronger
• Electric strike: Often integrates with existing door hardware

We recommend the safest and most cost-effective option based on your door type.

Commercial installations often require electrical permits, fire integration approval, or door  hardware compliance. We handle all required permits.

Yes — we integrate access control with Ubiquiti, smart home systems, video intercoms, and  security cameras for full building control.

Absolutely. They allow you to manage users remotely, track entry logs, and update permissions  instantly without rekeying locks.

They are extremely reliable and cost-effective compared to physical keys. Lost fobs can be  disabled instantly.

Yes — we can program time-based access rules (e.g., staff only between 7am–7pm).

Your system remains safe. Maglocks and strikes can be configured as fail-safe or fail-secure, and  backup power options are available.

Most single-door systems can be completed in the same day. Larger systems take 1–3 days  depending on cabling and hardware.

Yes — wireless keypads, smart locks, video doorbells, and secured outdoor stations.

Yes — we repair, replace outdated hardware, add additional doors, and bring older systems up to  modern standards.

Yes — we tailor solutions for commercial storefront doors, office buildings, warehouses, and  multi-unit buildings.

Costs depend on the door hardware type, power requirements, cable distances, and system  features. We provide quick estimates based on photos or a site visit.

We serve Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland, Vernon, Penticton, and the  greater Okanagan region.

Most service calls can be booked within the same week, and urgent calls often sooner.

Yes — send photos or a description and we can often provide a ballpark range before the  visit.

We offer transparent rates with no surprises. We’ll always tell you ahead of time if a  diagnostic fee applies.

Photos, brand/model numbers, panel location, and details about the issue help speed up  the process.

Yes, but after-hours rates apply. We will notify you upfront before booking.

Yes — we take care of all Technical Safety BC permits and inspections.

Yes, depending on availability and severity of the issue.

Yes — fully licensed, bonded, and insured for residential, commercial, and multi-unit  properties.

Yes — credit card, debit, e-transfer, and business accounts available.

Typically same day with photos, or within 24 hours for more detailed requests.

We don’t compete with unlicensed or underinsured work — but we offer competitive,  transparent pricing from certified professionals.

Yes — lighting, audio, climate, blinds, access, and security.

Yes — and ensure they’re wired safely and programmed correctly.

Yes—most modern systems support Apple/Google wallet or app-based credentials, plus fobs and PINs where needed.

We can often reuse strikes/maglocks and wiring. We’ll audit and advise what to keep vs. replace.

Yes—create groups by role or area (e.g., “Office,” “Parkade”), set schedules and holidays, and log activity.

Yes—door stations can ring one or multiple phones with two-way video/audio and remote door release.

Yes—drop cloths, vacuum, and label panels