Category Archives: Electrical Advice

No one waits to call an electrician when a switch is faulty or experiences an unexpected blackout due to faulty wiring. Furthermore, most workers are used to adapting to work health safety regulations in their day-to-day business.

Surprisingly, most consumers don’t carry the same interests for health and safety about their own home. It is only with some hesitation that they receive a home safety inspection. This is surprising as most house fires are because of faulty wiring or overloaded circuits. It should be a genuine human concern to make certain our homes and businesses are protected for ourselves and our children, employees and customers and guard our most precious financial investment, our properties.

In these times, state governments or local councils often recommend home safety inspections so that there is practically no excuse to avoid requesting an expert electrician to perform an audit at your property. To alleviate any fears, let’s look at what occurs during an inspection and, more importantly, why you require an electrical safety check.

An electrical safety inspection includes making sure your electrical circuits, devices and equipment are not overloaded. Insufficiencies and potential problems are easily highlighted so that any electrical risks in the installation can be corrected quickly.

Many older houses and businesses that have not been examined for many years may still be outfitted with faulty earthing or bonding, which may be a time bomb waiting to detonate.

Only approved electrical home safety inspectors are allowed to provide government-funded safety inspections, so you are guaranteed of receiving a thorough assessment.

During an assessment, the electrical inspector will do a visible audit and run some comprehensive tests with the power switch off. Once the tests are performed, your system is revived to its original state. You will obtain the advice of the inspection and an analysis of the implications.

The report you get will usually contain an evaluation of the overall condition of your electrical installation and if it is safe or in want of remedial work. It will summarise the outcomes of the tests and any defects that existed when the testing was done, along with a list of items that need consideration.

The main reason for getting an electrical inspection done is solely to have peace of mind knowing that you are safe. An inspection is essential if:

• Your house or business is more than 25 years old and has not had an examination.
• You have old wiring on your property.
• You have any anxieties about equipment that has been acting erratically, mainly if appliances are more than 5 years old.
• You are selling your property. This is a good selling point to give to any potential buyers.

An added benefit of having an electrical services inspection of your property is that it could reveal some issues that can save you cash. This is because the inspection will also include recommendations for replacing lightbulbs with green energy options and advice about other power saving options you could try.

This is a common question that many have asked before, but not everyone has the right answer. Let’s find out what it takes to become a professional tradie.

What Do They Do?

To start with, residential electricians are licensed by the state and usually work for building maintenance companies. They install and repair all kinds of wiring in residential houses, both inside, and out and aircon installations, emergency 24-hr services, powerpoints, fans, electrical upgrades, test and tag, commercial and any other type of service. Residential electricians need to be certified by worksafe.qld.gov.au as well to obtain their Australia electrician license. In addition, they need to be insured and well trained as this type of industry can be dangerous to both the sparky and the customer.

Data Communications Wiring

Residential electricians also install “fibre-optic” wiring throughout homes and data communications devices as well. Fibre-optic wiring is newer than traditional copper wiring; however, it is also more expensive to install. Why is this? Fibre-optic wiring offers better performance and fewer hazards, making it a more appropriate choice for what does a residential electrician do. These technicians are also adept at installing and repairing all kinds of switches, fuses, lighting, and other items in a home.

What’s The Difference Between a Residential and Commercial Electrician?

But what does a residential electrician do differently than a professional who works for a commercial company? In short, he or she isn’t a layman. A residential electrician has the education and the credentials to perform the job right, which requires years of training. He or she can diagnose problems with home appliances and fix them quickly without the help of a technician. Professionals are trained in a variety of tasks, including inspecting and testing electrical outlets and repairing wiring, installing and repairing air conditioners, heating, and cooling systems, and more. In addition to these tasks, a residential electrician can also replace damaged or broken parts that may develop during the course of a home’s construction.

A commercial electrician provides services to shops, offices, warehouses and factories, shopping centres and other properties and as such performs large-scale operations that require more planning and most likely more tradies.

How do these tradies work?

A residential electrician works from a location inside the home where he or she has access to power. Sometimes the professional will need to use a different method to supply power to a home. Regardless, of where they get their power, an electrician works with a detailed checklist to ensure everything is working correctly. Here is what a residential electrician does.

Repairs Or Maintenance

He or she will inspect the home to make sure there are no broken wires, leaks, damaged electrical equipment, and other issues that need to be fixed. If any of these issues are found, the residential electrician will make the proper repairs. Once the repairs are made, he or she will then explain the steps to take to ensure that the problem cannot occur again and will offer advice on what products can help to prevent a problem from occurring in the future.

Renovations and New Homes

They may also start on new projects with installations for new homes or renovation projects. This is a different type of job to a repair project and entails many different elements to complete the new home electrical requirements such as adhering to all state legal and safety requirements as well as working with other professionals such as carpenters and plumbers to ensure the house or building is fit for living and everything works well together.

Emergencies and After Hours

A residential electrician may also come into the home to perform an inspection before work begins. This not only ensures that all wiring is accounted for but also allows the electrician to identify any areas that could pose a threat to someone’s safety while they work. For instance, if there is exposed wiring from a storm, the electrician will likely shut off the electricity to the home. This is an emergency situation and as such, all people who reside in the home should comply with the electrician’s instructions.

Part Of a Team Or Solo

A residential electrician is just one part of the electrical team that provides services to a home or they can be sole traders that work for themselves. Homeowners should not attempt to handle any of the work themselves, especially if they are inexperienced with electricity. However, hiring a professional electrician will allow them to do the job safely and efficiently, allowing them to enjoy their living space. They are a valuable part of the home improvement process, and residential electricians are just one of many services that a homeowner may hire.

Brisbane and The Sunshine Coast Are Covered

Homes in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast need a reliable electrician for all work completed on domestic properties. These regions are built-up suburban areas and can be complicated to work on. Other dense residential areas around the world also need the services of a fully licensed electrician in order to provide a high standard of workmanship and professional attitudes toward the customers.

 

As the weather turns colder, a lot of us are beginning to turn our eyes to find answers to keep our homes warm during the winter. But, heating your home can be a costly proposition. Here, we share 13 easy steps to keep your winter bills down.
Believe it or not, our summer is formally over. As the cooler weather begins to creep up on us, electricity use in the home increases and ultimately spikes, often ending in eye-watering energy bills.

On average, energy use rises up to 20% during the winter months, a financial weight that Aussie homeowners might neglect to factor into their monthly or quarterly budgets.

OnElectrical Contractors, one of North Brisbane and the Sunshine Coasts leading electrical companies, have presented some top tips on how to stay warm through the cooler months without the added expense.

Heating Is the Main Issue

Approximately 40% of household energy use links to heating during winter. Buy the most energy-efficient heater you can afford and simply heat the rooms that require it.

Keep the thermostat at 18-20C. Be mindful you don’t overheat your home or house. Every degree above 18-20C you program your heater totals about 10% of your heating costs.

Your Heater Needs To Be Programmed

Utilise your heater economically. Set it to turn on 20 minutes before you wake up, then set it to turn off 20 minutes before departing the house or going to bed. Use an electric blanket to heat your bed and then turn it off before you go into slumber.

Appliance Size Matters

Think about the volume of the appliances for sections of the home you want to heat up. Use small energy-efficient heaters in areas like the bathroom to save warming up the whole house alternatively.

Cust Down On Hot Water Wasting

Heating water is one of the most significant energy users in the household. Homeowners can perform minor changes to save energy, such as installing water-efficient showerheads, utilising the cold water setting on dishwashers and washing machines, and applying a timer in the shower.

Also, air sourced heat pumps are remarkably energy-efficient. They extract heat from the neighbouring air and save homeowners up to 80% of their hot water energy expenses.

Waste Not, Want Not

In winter, it’s essential to bypass using energy wherever you can. Always turn off your electric devices when they are not in use. If it’s sunny outdoors, hang out your clothes rather than placing them in the dryer.

Turn off the heater and pile on some extra covers on your bed to stay warm in the nighttime and always remember to turn your heating off before leaving the house in the A.M.

Learn To Reuse Heat

We’re going to be utilising energy throughout winter. However, there are several hacks you can use to make that energy go the additional kilometre to keep you warm.

Been baking? Leave the oven door open after you have finished using the oven, as the lingering warm air will heat the room. Want to take a shower? Don’t run the bath fan and allow the humidity to make the air hotter.

Did You Know Ceiling Fans Have a Winter Mode?

Many ceiling fans possess a switch (above the blades), enabling you to switch between summer and winter mode.

If you put the ceiling fan into winter mode, it will reverse the action of the blades and drive the warm air that is caught at the ceiling down into the room to cycle with the cool air. This will warm up your place in winter. For the best result, keep your fan on low speed.

Check The Windows

Windows lose about ten times more heat than walls, so it’s essential to make sure they are up to scratch getting into winter. Check for any gaps in your windows and frames, as these can significantly add to heat loss. Ensuring any cracks are entirely sealed could see you earn the cost back in two to three bills.

You could even contemplate double glazing your windows which is a great way to retain more heat in the home.

Use Your Curtains To Your Advantage

Speaking of windows, utilise your curtains or window coverings intelligently. Throughout the day (particularly on north-facing windows), let in the sun and close them at nighttime to seal any draughts about windows or doors.

Let The Heating Vent

Make sure any heating vents are clear and that any rugs or fittings that are in the way are moved to assure heat is circulated around the room as efficiently as practicable.

Seal Up Holes In the Walls Or Foundations

Any cracks or holes will provide precious heat to escape outside. Use weather stripper for doors and windows and gap filler for fractures in the wall.

Hire An Electrician

Hire a professional and licensed electrician to come out and check your appliances, air conditioning, wiring, lights and other electrical elements of your home. They are a great way of giving you peace of mind about the best possible ways of reducing your energy bills during winter.

Put Some Warm Clothes On

Before you set the heater on, pop on a cosy jumper or dressing gown and then see how you hold. When dressing in winter, it’s better to wear numerous thin layers. This assists in insulating you and makes it simpler to add or remove clothes depending on the temperature.
It’s also most helpful to opt for materials that hold heat, such as wool and fleece. Additionally, make sure that you keep your feet heated with socks or slippers, as this will help your whole body maintain heat.