7 Simple Spring Electrical Maintenance Ideas

If you want to make your home as electrically safe as possible – and let’s face it, who doesn’t? – maintenance is a must. Surprisingly, there’s a lot you can actually do when it comes to home electrical maintenance.

From cleaning to appliance updates and performance checks, you can make a real difference to electrical safety at home with little effort.

With spring just around the corner, there’s no better time for maintenance to your home’s electrical system. Just combine it with spring cleaning and it truly could not be any simpler.

It could keep you safe from undetected electrical hazards, too.

The Benefits of Electrical System Maintenance for Your Home

As it happens there are several benefits to keeping a regular spring maintenance schedule for your home’s electrical system. They include:

• Prevention of electrical hazards: Routine checks are a great way of identifying and fixing otherwise undetected electrical hazards. By doing so you lower the risk of electrical fire hazard and power outages.
• Conserve energy: A well-maintained electrical system reduces your energy consumption and potentially lowers your power bill.
• Extend appliance lifespan: Regular maintenance of appliances and electrical components keeps everything in working order and prevents costly repairs.
• Ensure safety: Properly inspected extension cords, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors reduce the risk of electrical shocks and fire hazards.

As you can see, it’s certainly well worth having a professional electrician conduct regular electrical maintenance as part of your spring cleaning routine. Not only does it keep your house safe, it also keeps your electrical system ticking along in prime working condition.

With that in mind, here are 7 simple spring electrical maintenance ideas to keep your home safe and tidy.

1. Test Your Electrical Safety Switches

Let’s start with arguably the most important tip, testing your RCD safety switches!

Safety switches protect the occupants of your home from electric shocks caused by faulty wiring, appliances or electrical outlets. The reaction time of a safety switch is almost instantaneous; just milliseconds after it detects a fault.

We strongly recommend testing your safety switches every 3 months as routine electrical maintenance.

You’ll typically find safety switches as part of your switchboard. It will have clear labelling, while the actual button you want has a T on it, for test. Colour, size and shape will vary but the T is always there.

How to Test Your Safety Switch

To test your safety switch, simply hold the T button down for a few seconds and the switch should flick off. Do this for each switch, so you can ensure each circuit is protected.

If the RCD safety switch is not triggered, contact a licensed electrician from Metropolitan Electrical Contractors as it means your electrical circuit is unprotected.

2. Clean Air Vents, Fans and Air Con Filters

While cleaning the curtains, dusting shelves or washing windows, give the air conditioning filters and ceiling fans a refresh.

The best time to do this is in between seasons during periods of lower usage. In spring this means beating the heat and preparing the air con for summer.

You can use a vacuum to remove much of the dust and dirt before rinsing out the filters with warm, soapy water, then drying. For split system air conditioners, this will be easiest, while ducted systems or evaporative coolers will most likely require a professional service due to heights and accessibility.

A heating and cooling technician can also provide a full inspection of the motor and fans, any ducts, and make sure everything is thoroughly cleaned and working efficiently.

Keep up the momentum by wiping down ceiling blade fans and cleaning out ceiling exhaust fans too. Dust impacts efficiency and can lead to a nasty environment with additional dust and debris in the air.

3. Change the Ceiling Fan Direction

This is not electrical maintenance as such, but a useful tip while you’re up there cleaning the fan! Flick the switch and change the setting from winter to summer mode (if you remembered to swap it in the first place).

Hot air naturally rises. Therefore, the winter setting helps push warm air down in a clockwise direction. Meanwhile, in summer when the entire room feels warm and stuffy, anti-clockwise movement creates airflow while dispersing hot air. There’s no better time to change this than in spring.

4. Run a Smoke Detector Test

Every home in Australia should have at least one working smoke alarm. Testing that smoke alarm (or alarms) every 12 months should be a part of your electrical maintenance. If there is a battery also replace it yearly.

To test a smoke detector you only have to press and hold the test button for a few seconds. The great news is you’ll know if it works because there will be a loud wailing siren! But if there’s silence, that’s bad news.

You want a working smoke detector for safety assurance in case of fire. If the alarm doesn’t work and your alarm is hardwired, contact a qualified electrician for professional assistance.

5. Replace Electrical Cords, Light Switches and Powerpoints

In addition to wiping down window sills and dusting behind the TV cabinet as part of your spring cleaning duties, look at your light switches, extension cords and powerpoints.

As you inspect electrical cords and any indoor and outdoor outlets, ask yourself: are there any signs of damage?

If so, replacing those damaged appliance cords, light switches and power points is the best course of action. Cracked light switches or sparking electrical outlets can indicate faulty or problematic wiring.

Likewise, avoid using damaged power cords and power boards. Yes, that means stop using the extension lead the dog’s chewed on! A quick replacement may cost a few dollars but it will save your home from a serious electrical hazard. Just might save your life too.

6. Clean Your Appliances

One of the most helpful spring electrical maintenance tips we can suggest is to compile a checklist of appliances to clean. Often we forget about dusting behind a fridge or cleaning lint filters. But it can make all the world of difference to your electrical safety.

Leaving appliances in below-par conditions impacts efficiency and energy usage. So here are examples of some of the simple tasks you could put on a list:

• Fridge: Dust condenser coils, and clean out the freezer.
• Washing Machine: Clean the lint filter, dust behind the washing machine, and check the taps.
• Dishwasher: Run an empty load with 1 cup of white vinegar or baking soda

They are quick and easy ways to clean your daily appliances and help elevate performance.

7. Electric Hot Water System Service

Lastly, if you have a storage tank hot water system, test the pressure relief valve. Just pull the small handle up on the pressure relief valve and a small amount of water will be released.

But, be careful! This will be boiling water at about 60°C and will come out quite fast. Make sure you’re not in the way and just hold the handle up for about 5-10 seconds.

That’s not all you can do, though. Electric hot water systems should be serviced regularly for top performance. This includes testing the thermostat, heating elements, maintaining insulation and making sure parts such as the sacrificial anode or tempering valve are in working order.

This may sound like a challenge, which is where Metropolitan Electrical Contractors can step in to help. Just contact us for any hot water system service and we can be there within an hour* to help!

Call the Masters of Electrical System Maintenance

We can also provide a thorough spring electrical maintenance check-up on the whole home, from RCD safety switches to smoke detectors and powerpoints. We can do it all. If you’re interested in learning more, give us a call today for more information.

Please note: This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.