Discovering that electrical work was done incorrectly is serious — not just frustrating. Faulty wiring is a fire and electrocution risk. It also creates insurance exposure and complications at resale. Here’s what to do, in order.

“When a homeowner discovers bad electrical work, the first priority is safety — not the dispute. If you have any concern that the work creates an immediate safety hazard, turn off the affected circuits and call a licensed electrician before anything else. The warranty claim and the dispute come after everyone is safe.”

— VoltAssure Inc., licensed master electrician and electrical contractor with 22 years of experience in residential and light commercial electrical work in the local area

Step 1: Assess Whether There Is an Immediate Safety Risk

If you notice any of the following, turn off the affected circuit at the panel and call a licensed electrician immediately — before pursuing any dispute:

  • Burning smell from an outlet, switch, or panel
  • Outlet or switch that is warm or hot to the touch
  • Circuit breaker that trips repeatedly
  • Visible scorch marks or discoloration around devices
  • Flickering lights that weren’t there before the work

These are signs of a potentially dangerous wiring fault that must be addressed as a safety matter, not a warranty matter.

Step 2: Document the Problem

Once safety is addressed, document everything before any repair is made:

  • Photograph the issue — the failed outlet, the breaker that trips, the visible fault
  • Note the date you discovered the problem and what preceded it
  • Record all details of the original job — who did it, when, what was specified, what was paid
  • Gather all documents — the original quote, invoice, any warranty, the electrical inspection record (if one was completed)

Step 3: Check your local electrical safety authority Record

Contact your local electrical safety authority (your local electrical safety authority or 1-877-372-7233) and ask whether an electrical permit/notification was filed for your job and whether the inspection was passed. If no notification was filed — or if the inspection failed and the deficiencies were never addressed — you have important information for the dispute.

If the work was done without your local electrical safety authority notification, you can also report this to your local electrical safety authority. They take enforcement seriously.

Step 4: Contact the Electrician in Writing

Notify the electrical contractor about the problem by email. Describe:

  • What the problem is and when you discovered it
  • Whether it creates a safety concern
  • Your expectation that it falls within the workmanship warranty

Give the contractor a reasonable time to respond — five to ten business days for non-emergency issues — and keep records of all responses.

Step 5: File a Complaint with your local electrical safety authority and the relevant trade licensing body

If the contractor refuses to remedy defective work:

File a complaint with your local electrical safety authority (your local electrical safety authority The your local electrical safety authority can investigate and in serious cases can revoke an electrical contractor’s licence.

File a complaint with the relevant trade licensing body (collegeoftrades.Ca). If the individual electrician held a C of Q, the College can investigate workmanship complaints and discipline members.

Step 6: Home Insurance Claim for Resulting Damage

If the faulty electrical work caused property damage — a fire, a blown appliance, water damage from a suppression system activation — contact your home insurer. Document the connection between the electrical fault and the damage. Your insurer may pursue the electrical contractor’s liability insurance on your behalf.

Step 7: Small Claims Court

For unresolved financial disputes within the regional limit (up to $35,000 in many regions as of 2026), small claims court is an accessible option. You’ll need: the original contract, the electrical inspection record (or lack thereof), an independent electrician’s assessment of what was wrong and the cost to remediate, and records of all communications with the contractor.

Prevention Is Always Better

The electricians who do bad work almost always showed warning signs at the quoting stage: no your local electrical safety authority contractor licence, offering to skip permits, cash-only payment, or a price far below market. Asking the right questions before hiring is the most effective protection.

See: Questions to Ask an Electrician Before You Hire One

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