Top Tips to check for Bad Electrical Wiring

Every year, hundreds of fires are caused by bad electrical wiring in Queensland, most of these could have been prevented by calling your friendly electrician on Gold Coast to check your electrical wiring system. The relatively inexpensive service is one of the cheapest insurance policies you can get. For a few hundred dollars, you can have peace of mind knowing your family and property is safe and secure from the dangers of electrical fires.

Although an electrician on The Gold Coast needs to do the final check there are some things you can do yourself to check between their inspections such as:

• Fuse box circuit breakers and safety switches

About once a month you should give your safety switches and circuit breakers a visual inspection and if they are equipped with a test button try this to ensure they are working properly.

Look for any signs of strain, heat distortion, colouring or an unusual smell, Insects in your fuse box potentially can cause a problem as can other pests such as rodents who like to chew the insulation from electrical wires and connectors to keep their teeth in check

• Sparks

When you plug in appliances and notice sparks or the plugs feel warm or hot to touch it means there is some unusual restriction so it’s important to call your friendly local electrician on The Gold Coast to have the wiring checked and the appliances repaired or replaced

• The age of the Building

Some older houses may no longer be electrically compliant unless they have been up-graded and had new circuits installed to cope with the increased load required by today’s usage of electrical equipment. New buildings are required to pass stringent safety tests and be wired according to the latest requirements, but need to be checked at least every 5 years as they can be subject to the weather conditions, pests, internal and external surges

Electrical Safety Needs to be a Priority

Because electricity can’t be seen and the wires are almost always kept inside walls under floors or in ceilings, it’s very hard to tell the condition of a building’s electrical wiring without specialised training and equipment. Some electrical items found in and around the home that everyone should be aware of how to use and take care of are:

• Extension cords or leads

These should only be a temporary solution and protected from foot traffic, moisture and sharp objects. They should never go through doorways, windows or from one building to another.

It’s vital they are in good condition and regularly checked to ensure they are not compromised or damaged

• Electrical Appliances

Before using any electrical appliance a visual check should be made to ensure it’s not damaged and if any faults are detected it should be repaired by a qualified electrician

• Power Outlets or Points

These should be turned off before plugging or unplugging appliances. If you detect and discolouration or signs of heat they need to be checked by your local electrician on The Gold Coast

Powerboards are very popular and should be used carefully, ensuring the appliances plugged into them are within their rated capacity. They need to be placed in dry, well-ventilated areas and switched off when not in use. Ask your local electrician on The Gold Coast to wire in a new circuit and check your existing wiring to be safe.

Our electrician on the Gold Coast are always keeping up to date with the newest technology and strive to achieve the best outcome for our clients.