It's hard not to get excited when the temperature starts to rise, and the leaves begin to grow back on the trees. Spring means summer is on its way, and this season is one when many homeowners make a list of chores to tackle before it gets too hot.
One important task many homeowners overlook when making the spring clean list is a check of the home's electrical system. There are three ways your electrics benefit from a once-over by an electrician before heavy usage begins.
Pest or Rodent Wiring Damage
Nobody wants to hang outside in the cold during the winter, and that includes pests and rodents. Rats, mice and even possums prefer to find somewhere cosy and snug to hide out until spring arrives. The problem with these creatures taking up residence in your house is the damage they can do to your wiring.
You may not immediately see evidence of rodents in your home, and this is especially so if they choose to stay up in your roof area rather than venturing into the kitchen. However, rodents chewing on your wiring in the roof or wall cavities leads to a fire hazard in your home.
Once their teeth break through the plastic shielding the wires beneath, the wires can spark or short out. If you notice outlets haphazardly working, this is a sign of electrical shorting, and you need an electrician to find the problem and fix it.
Corrosion Damage to Outdoor Electrical Points
Checking your outdoor lighting as part of your spring cleaning list is another must-do since many families love to spend time entertaining outdoors during summer. The moist air of winter can corrode the metal fixtures of your outdoor lights, so head out and check each one.
Firstly, turn each of the outdoor lights on one by one. If the light bulb does not work, replace it with a new one. If the new bulb blows out within the first 48 hours of being inserted, look at the metal socket for signs of corrosion. Surface rust can be washed away using soapy water and a rag, but rust that has eaten into the metal socket means you need a new one. Run your finger across the corrosion to feel for signs of unevenness in the metal. This unevenness is a sign corrosion has eaten into the metal.
The reason why corroded sockets are dangerous is that they cause heat to build up, which in turns causes the light bulb to blow. If you are lucky, it is only the filament within the light bulbs that explodes due to this overheating rather than the whole light bulb itself. An electrician can replace the damaged socket for you.
Reducing Energy Costs Before Summer
The warm months of the year are also a time when you see an increase in your electricity bill. Air conditioning by itself can account for close to a quarter of the amount you are paying to your electricity provider. Before spring turns to summer, having an energy audit conducted in your home can save you money long term.
Calling an electrician is the fastest way to get an audit done. Some appliances use more energy than others. Having an electrician point out which ones are higher energy users allows you to make a decision whether you should replace them or whether they should only be run during the off-peak electricity periods so you can save money. Lighting is another area you can save costs by replacing high energy usage light bulbs with lower usage models.
When it comes to spring cleaning your home's electrical system, the team at AJC Electrical Service can help with all the repairs or replacements you need to make sure the only thing you'll be doing this summer is enjoying some time at the beach.
You've recently built a new home, and you want to do everything you can to protect it. You've purchased a comprehensive insurance policy. You've installed security fencing and lighting. And you've carefully landscaped your property to minimise bushfire risks.
All these extra investments have sapped your budget, and you still need to install a few smoke detectors to finish the job. Battery-powered detectors seem like a simple, straightforward and affordable approach, and you know you can easily place a few on the ceiling yourself.
But before you move forward with that idea, keep in mind that you should hire an electrician to install and replace your smoke detectors for the following reasons.
1. Australian Law Requires a Professional
Australian law has strict regulations regarding smoke detector installations. Although older homes (before 1997) can rely on battery-operated alarms, newer builds (after 2014) must have interconnected smoke alarms hard wired to your mains power supply.
As mains projects involve serious (and potentially dangerous) electrical work, you need to hire a licensed electrician to install the detectors and alarms while following the manufacturer instructions precisely. If you fail to meet the laws and regulations, you may face up to $5,000 in fines for noncompliance.
2. An Electrician Can Recommend Compliant Devices
Although you can find any number of smoke detectors in stores and online, you shouldn't install just any device that happens to catch your attention. To ensure safety, your alarm needs to meet Australian Standard AS 3786-1993 and have Scientific Services Laboratory (SSL) certification.
Of course, you can find a complete list of approved alarms at ActivFire.Gov.AU . But this list can prove tedious to sort through if you don't know what features to look for.
Many domestic and commercial electricians, however, often partner with smoke detector manufacturers, so they can find great deals on alarms. When you hire professionals, your electricians will not only recommend an appropriate device for your needs but will also pass on their savings to you.
3. An Expert Knows Ideal Installation Locations
Smoke detector installation may seem direct and easy, at first. Simply attach the alarm to the ceiling, turn it on, and you're good to go.
Yet for best results, your smoke detectors need to sit in certain positions in your home. Ideally, you should have a separate alarm for every bedroom, hallway and living area. And if you have multiple floors in your home, you need a smoke alarm at the stairs that connect the two levels.
An expert can place your detectors so that they have a smaller likelihood of false alarms. He or she can keep your devices away from air conditioners, fans and heaters that would affect the alarm's performance. And an electrician knows to avoid placing devices too close to the kitchen and bathrooms, as the steam and cooking fumes can interfere with the device.
4. You Can Group Multiple Electrical Services Together
When you want to save money, you may prefer to do a lot of the repairs and maintenance yourself. You may unclog toilets and replace leaky faucets. You may patch up your drywall or reglue a loose floor tile.
But remember that your electrician can also provide you with multiple services, from upgrading your mains to installing garden lighting to connecting your phone and TV. And many companies offer discounts, deals and rebates when you group several services together.
If you hire an electrician to install your new smoke detection system, you may also rely on him or her to test safety switches, setup your home computer network and replace the leaning power pole nearby. And the more services you order, the more you save in parts, time and labour.
Don't Wait to Hire an Electrician
Though smoke detectors and alarms seem like a small, inexpensive product, they play a significant role in protecting your home. Rather than risk your investment on a faulty device or poor installation, talk to an electrician about adding detectors to your home.
During the course of a typical day, you may not think much about your electrical system. When you reach out to turn on the lights or power up an electronic device, you expect your electrical output to respond automatically.
However, if you often deal with blown fuses, tripped circuits or flickering lights, your electrical switchboard may need some prompt a ttention. Smart home or business owners pay attention to these signals before further problems arise.
Pay Attention to the Signs
If you don't know much about circuitry, you're not alone. However, if you don't even know where your electrical switchboard is, you can take steps to remedy this oversight at home or at work.
Take a Look at Your Switchboard
In your home, you can find most switchboards in the garage or inside a utility closet. At work, you may have multiple switchboards depending on the size of your facility. If your switchboard is in an unusual place, you may simply need to search for it.
Unless your property is old, your switchboard should be high enough that it's easy to reach, but not so high that you need a stepla dder to access it. Modern electrical practises determine the height of a switchboard. If it's too high or too low, you may need an upgrade.
Once you find your switchboard, take a look inside. You'll notice several switches (hence, the name of the board) and busbars (flat metal strips that connect to switchgear and carry electrical currents through your home or building).
All modern switchboards protect the user from electrical harm by way of fuses and safety switches. If you see bare connections and antique wiring, call an electrician. Don't risk an accident!
Watch for Old-Fashioned Components
Another sign of an old or ailing switchboard is ceramic connections. These indicate that your switchboard (and property) are old, an d probably aren't up to the latest electrical codes. If you blow fuses frequently, you may have an old-fashioned ceramic board.
Remember, when your circuitry was installed, it probably needed to support an oven and refrigerator at minimum (and possibly a w ashing machine). Our modern era has to support many more appliances than in the old days-and old circuitry can't match those demand s.
Watch for old switches and light boxes, perhaps in an older section of your home that you plan to renovate. These, too, need attent ion. However, the switchboard is your first priority.
Even if you have modern circuitry but few (or no) safety outlets, you're only partially protected from fire risks and short circuits.
Rely on a Professional to Upgrade Your Switchboard
If you're worried about a house fire or a circuitry overload, it pays to ask for a professional inspection. Your licensed electrician know s just what to look for, and you'll feel greater peace of mind after you update your electrical system.
Here's what to do during the inspection:
- Answer your electrician's questions about your electrical usage patterns. This helps him or her determine whether your circuitry mat ches those needs.
- Count all your appliances and electronic devices. Also, pay attention to how many power strips you plug into a given outlet.
- Test your outlets and fully inspect your switchboard. This ensures that you are up to the current Australian Standard.
- Get a price estimate after the inspection. Fuse boxes and a new switchboard are generally well under $1,000. However, you'll double
- Get a price estimate after the inspection. Fuse boxes and a new switchboard are generally well under $1,000. However, you'll double the price if you need additional cabling. Rewiring an entire building is the most expensive option (usually at least $5,000).
Ask your electrician to itemise your quote so you understand all the factors and procedures that add up to your total costs.
In the end, you can be smart about your switchboard by paying attention to the warning signs before you upgrade-and by contacti ng your licensed electrician ahead of dangers like house fires or equipment damage.