Etobicoke Electrical Work, from Long Branch to Rexdale

South Etobicoke and north Etobicoke are electrically quite different. Mimico, New Toronto and Long Branch have plenty of homes from the first half of the 1900s, some with knob-and-tube wiring or small 60A services. The Kingsway, Islington Village and Humber Valley have larger older houses going through major renovations. Richview, Eatonville and Rexdale are mostly postwar bungalows and split-levels built between the 1950s and 1970s.

Postwar bungalows: panels and aluminum

Bungalows and split-levels from this era often have a 100A panel, and some late-1960s and 1970s homes were built with aluminum branch wiring. Warning signs include warm switch plates, a burning smell near outlets, flickering lights, and “AL” on cable sheathing in the basement. Aluminum can be kept safely with rated devices and connectors, but loose connections are where problems start, so an inspection is worth it.

Heat pumps and EVs on a 100A service

Replacing gas heating with a heat pump, or adding a Level 2 charger, is the most common reason Etobicoke owners ask about a 200A upgrade. A load calculation tells us whether the current service can carry the new equipment, possibly with a load management device, or whether it needs to go up. An upgrade involves a new panel, usually a new meter base and service cable, an ESA permit and inspection, and arranging the disconnect with Toronto Hydro.

Most of these houses have driveways or garages, so the charger location is usually straightforward.

Lakeshore homes with older wiring

In Long Branch and Mimico, knob-and-tube is often found in attics and around original ceiling fixtures: cloth-wrapped single wires on porcelain knobs. If you’re renovating, it’s usually cheapest to replace it while walls are open.

Wiring work in Ontario generally needs an ESA notification and inspection. We take care of both.

Services available in Etobicoke

• Residential electrical services
• Commercial electrical services
• Electrical panel upgrades and repairs
• EV charger installation

Condo owners at Humber Bay Shores call us for in-suite lighting, and we do commercial work along Bloor Street West and Lake Shore Boulevard.

Etobicoke questions

We’re adding a basement apartment to our bungalow. What changes electrically?

Usually new circuits for the kitchen and laundry, interconnected smoke and CO alarms, and often a subpanel. Many bungalows also need a service upgrade to support two households.

Does a Kingsway renovation mean a full rewire?

Not necessarily. We check what’s original and what was updated, then replace what’s in the renovated area and flag anything else.

Can I put a charger outside on the driveway?

Yes, with an outdoor-rated unit and properly protected wiring.

Start with a photo

Send a picture of your panel and its label and tell us what you’re planning; we’ll know what to look for before we arrive. Call 647-424-4894 or fill out the free estimate form. Watt Wizards Electrical serves Vaughan, Woodbridge, Toronto, Etobicoke and Mississauga. Email [email protected].

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