First time homeowners in Melbourne are certainly excited to beautify their home as they please but could electrical matters be included? The answer is both yes and no.
Yes, you can do electrical work as long as it’s only a minor thing like changing a faulty bulb. A major work would be installing, changing or modifying the main electrical panel, the meter base or the main breaker which the law prohibits if you do it yourself.
Doing DIY electrical work is illegal in Australia which is imposed with certain fines including imprisonment for a certain number of years if death or injuries are involved in the process. That said, safety in your own home should be your first consideration. Seek help from the best electrical contractors Melbourne offers if there’s major electrical work that needs to be done.
Here are some tips electrical experts recommend for the safety of first time homeowners.
Switch things off when not in use
Make it a habit every night to do a routine check on all your devices and appliances before retiring to bed. Make sure that appliances like electric stoves, electric fans and electronic gadgets are unplugged when not in use except of course those that need continued usage like the fridge.
Install safety switches and circuit breakers
Safety switches add some form of protection when used together with fuses and circuit breakers. Have a certified electrician install more than one safety switch as the law allows and also circuit breakers that can be of great help especially when emergency situations arise. Safety switches are to be installed at your meter box. The general rule is, any electrical equipment must be used only when it is connected to a safety switch.
On top of that, have your safety switches tested every three months according to authorised electricians. But since it’s easy, you can do this by pressing the ‘T’ button for testing. Once you find that power is turned off, then they’re working just fine. Take note that even if you do have safety switches installed in our home, never be overconfident when you use electricity. Always keep safety in mind.
Throw away appliances with exposed wires
Damaged appliances with their wires exposed are better disposed of properly as these can be dangerous. If, however, you deem that a certain gadget can still be repaired, by all means get a professional to do it. Then again, appliances and devices that are decades old better not be used any longer since the electrical sockets and standards of today may not be compatible with those antiquated instruments any more.
Avoid tripping hazards
Wires running under a rug or carpet on the floor are potential trip hazards. A smart electrician knows how to best place the wiring at home so that accidents can be prevented at all costs.
Fix any electrical issue
Once you see an electrical device getting damaged, inform all members of the family that this is not to be used. If repairs are needed, leave it to the hands of a licenced electrician or he may deem that the damaged thing would require a new replacement.
Do not overload your connections
People call this octopus or piggy-back connection when you connect multiple cords to an outlet which is meant only for a plug or two. In order to avoid overloading on a power outlet, you may use a power board that has a safety device built inside. Make sure that all equipment and electrical appliances in and around the home are working properly and are safe to use
All electrical appliances should be installed far from a water source
This is because water and electricity don’t go together well. Also, if you have wet hands or go barefooted in your home, do not touch anything electrical because this only raises the conductivity of the electric current. Beware of getting electrocuted by accident inside your own home.
Rewire your house
For improving safety and functionality of your home, have an experienced electrician do the rewiring. He may also add more plugs and switches for household equipment you may want to add.
May these tips aid you in securing your electrical wires. Of course, if you experience problems which are beyond your control, your last resort would always be to contact the nearest electrician.