5 Electrical Jobs to Leave to an Emergency Electrician

When it comes to electrical jobs around the home, knowing what is DIY appropriate and what you should leave to an emergency electrician is crucial. Electrical emergencies typically require urgent attention and working with electricity is always going to present a certain level of risk. Therefore, an emergency electrician with the experience and the required training will almost always be the most qualified person for the job.

You might be undertaking house renovations or have found yourself with a sudden electrical problem that needs urgent repair. Here are five electrical jobs around the home you should leave to a trusted and qualified electrical professional.

1. Home Rewiring

If you live in an old home, its electrical wiring may be as old as the property itself. As with any ageing electrical appliance or system, wiring can start to deteriorate. This can present a number of problems, including:

• Fluctuations in power
• Fuses blowing frequently
• Safety switches tripping regularly
• Power outlets overheating
• Light bulbs not lasting nearly as long as they should
• Appliances giving off mild electric shocks

Old house wiring poses a strong fire risk, so should be replaced to meet current day standards. The process of rewiring a home, however, is not one that falls under the “do it yourself” category. A licensed emergency electrician with the requisite training and experience is the right (and, by law, the only) person to undertake that work.

2. Switchboard Upgrades

The switchboard is effectively the electrical nerve centre of your home. It distributes power throughout your home, and houses the main switch, circuit breakers and a safety switch. The switchboard is where you can shut off the power supply to specific areas of your home as well.

Like the previously mentioned house wiring, old switchboards in older homes should be replaced. Not only will a new switchboard better accommodate the growing electrical needs of a 21st century household, but it will also significantly decrease the fire hazard risk that comes with an ageing switchboard.

Consumer website Canstar lists a number of signs that indicate your switchboard likely needs to be upgraded. They include:

• Frequent tripping or blowing of fuses when you’re using several appliances simultaneously
• Continuous flickering of lights
• Obsolete ceramic fuses are still in use
• Regular tripping of circuit breakers
• Switchboard cables overheat when they become overloaded
• Increased tendency of short circuits in household appliances

Only a licensed electrician can upgrade your switchboard. Whether you’re renovating an investment property and booking an electrical contractor in advance, or suddenly encounter a problem that requires an emergency electrician, they will be who you need to get the job done. They will ensure your switchboard meets strict Australian standards and is able to safely and sufficiently meet the needs of your household.

 

3. Replacing Old or Faulty Powerpoints

Given the high regularity with which we all use powerpoints on a daily basis, it’s vital that they are in peak working condition. We recommend that you replace powerpoints after 20 years of use. But it is also important to replace any power outlets that have become faulty at any time. The most common ways that a powerpoint will present as being faulty are:

• It has simply stopped working
• There is cracking or discolouration on the face plate
• Sparking and/or buzzing noises coming from the powerpoint
• Plugs don’t remain secure in the outlet
• Switches don’t remain in the on or off position when needed

A faulty powerpoint can also produce smoke, which means they can be a notable fire hazard. You might think that replacing a powerpoint would be a simple DIY task, but these faults can be symptomatic of a greater problem. A licensed emergency electrician can safely determine whether there indeed is a larger problem at hand and fix that issue before replacing any old or damaged powerpoints.

4. Adding New Powerpoints to the House

The way we use electricity in the home is forever evolving, especially when it comes to the number and type of electrical appliances and devices we use. This means that, in older homes, the number and even type of powerpoints already installed may not accommodate the needs of the occupants of the property. This can lead to the few existing powerpoints becoming overloaded with the use of double adapters and power boards as they attempt to power all the appliances and devices in the home.

Often the safest and most efficient way to address this problem is to install additional powerpoints in the home to meet the growing needs of the household. By law, a licensed electrical contractor must always be the one to complete the installation. It is illegal to do so yourself without the right qualifications.

5. Smoke Alarm Installation

Did you know that it is against the law to not have a smoke alarm installed in your home? For homes built from 1997 onwards, that smoke alarm must be hard-wired and powered by your main electricity supply. This means that you will need a qualified electrician to do the installation for you.

Whether you’re booking a technician in advance to install a new smoke detector or to replace one that has reached the end of its 10-year lifespan, or you need an emergency electrician to replace a faulty model as soon as possible, this also falls under the “not a DIY task” category.

The Importance of an Emergency Electrician

These are just a small selection of the electrical renovation, installation and repair jobs you will need a licensed electrician to carry out. It is, in fact, a legal requirement that a qualified professional performs any electrical installation work. The key benefit though is that you can also be confident that all work will adhere to strict Australian standards.

When you book an emergency electrician, they’ll provide you with a Certificate of Compliance once they’ve completed the job. This certificate shows that a qualified, licensed professional completed the work, and that it meets all Australian standards and safety regulations.

Contact an Emergency Electrician Today

There are certainly some electrical jobs around the home, jobs such as replacing light bulbs or installing battery powered smoke detectors, that are safe to do yourself. However, you’ll need a licensed electrical contractor for anything more advanced than this. Whatever you need, you can count on Metropolitan Electrical for expert emergency service.