Etobicoke · Toronto Hydro service area
Rewiring and new circuits in Etobicoke houses
Etobicoke's older homes rarely have one kind of wiring. A Kingsway house may hold three decades of it behind the plaster. We find out what's there first, then replace what needs replacing in sensible stages.
Etobicoke's wiring, by era
Older homes, layered wiring
The brick and stone houses of the Kingsway, Humber Valley Village and Princess-Rosethorn went up mostly in the 1930s and 40s. Homes of that age were commonly wired with knob-and-tube: single wires on porcelain supports, with no ground. Over the years many owners replaced it where walls happened to be open.
The result is often a patchwork. One bedroom may be on modern grounded cable and the next on early two-wire cable. The attic may still hold a run of original wire. Nobody alive remembers which is which. An inspection maps it before anyone quotes a rewire.
The post-war bungalows of Mimico, New Toronto, Long Branch and Alderwood are simpler. Most were wired with early cable that has no ground conductor, which is why so many still have two-prong outlets. Some homes from the mid-1960s to the late 1970s, including parts of the north end, may have aluminum branch wiring. Its connections need devices rated for aluminum and careful work.
What changes the job
Rewiring across Etobicoke's home types
| Home type | Walls and access | How we usually route new cable |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s and 40s brick, two storeys | Plaster and lath, deep trim, an attic above | Down from the attic and up from the basement, with small openings at outlets |
| Post-war bungalow | One main floor over a full basement | Up through the floor from an open basement ceiling, which keeps wall damage low |
| 1960s split-level | Half-levels, with the panel often low in the house | Between levels through closets and chases, planned before the first cut |
| Lakeshore condo suite | Concrete ceilings and shared building systems | Within existing walls and bulkheads, with management's approval |
Everyday wiring
Adding what the house never had
Not every wiring job is a rewire. Many Etobicoke bungalows have one outlet per bedroom wall and a kitchen built for a toaster and a kettle. Owners want a dedicated circuit for a home office and outlets where the furniture actually sits. Some want power in a garage that only ever had one bulb.
Two-prong outlets throughout
A sign the circuits have no ground. Your insurer may ask about it.
Outlets that feel warm
Stop using them and have the connection checked.
Extension cords as permanent fixtures
The room needs more outlets or another circuit.
Lights that flicker when the fridge cycles
A loose connection or an overloaded circuit worth tracing.
Rewiring often adds circuits, and new circuits need breaker space. If your panel is full or still on 100 amps, pair this work with a panel upgrade in Etobicoke.
In a lived-in home
A phased rewire, step by step
Most Etobicoke owners stay in the house while we work, so we plan each phase to keep the kitchen and bathroom usable.
Inspection and map
We find each circuit, note what type of wiring it uses and mark anything showing heat or damage.
Phase plan and price
The worst circuits go first. You get a fixed, written price for each phase.
ESA filing
Each phase is filed with ESA before work begins.
New cable in
Routes from the basement and attic, floors covered, openings kept small and few.
Old wiring out of service
Replaced circuits are disconnected, then ESA inspects and issues the Certificate of Acceptance.
Questions
Wiring and rewiring in Etobicoke: questions
Our Humber Valley house has plaster walls. Will a rewire ruin them?
It shouldn't. We fish cable from the basement and the attic wherever we can and cut small openings only where a route is blocked. Plaster needs a slower hand than drywall, and we plan the openings around trim and corners so patching is easier.
Can you rewire one floor of our Long Branch bungalow and leave the rest?
Yes. Phasing is normal. Many owners start with the kitchen and bathroom circuits, or with the main floor while the basement is being finished. Each phase gets its own ESA permit and inspection, and old wiring that's replaced is disconnected.
How would I know if there's knob-and-tube in my Kingsway home?
Sometimes you can see porcelain knobs and tubes in an unfinished attic or basement, but often it's hidden. An electrical inspection is the reliable way to find out. It tells you where any older wiring is and whether it's still live.
Do you take out the ESA permit?
Yes. In Ontario, the licensed contractor files the notification of work with the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) and books the inspection. We handle it on every job that needs one, and you get the ESA Certificate of Acceptance when the work passes. Keep it: insurers and home buyers often ask for it.
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