LED downlights have been around since the early 1960s, but they didn’t become mainstream in Australia until around 2008. The move to LED has been slow up till now, but that is about to change once halogen downlights are banned from sale in late 2021. So if you need to install or replace downlights in the near future, you will…
The last analogue TV signal in Australia was switched off back in 2013. Since then, many homeowners have been accessing digital TV channels through a conventional analogue antenna. This means the quality of signal and the number of channels you can access is limited compared to a native digital aerial. For this reason, many homeowners are now considering upgrading to…
Nowadays, our powerpoints are used more than ever to charge USB devices, to the extent that you may wonder if you really need as many traditional plug sockets as you used to. But should you update at least some of your powerpoints with a USB socket? Read on to find out whether this is a great choice for you, and…
Our home electrical systems tend to be one of the most reliable things in our houses. So much so that we find ourselves not really thinking about them. However, as your system ages, you may find that you are having more electrical faults and that you are racking up callout charges as you contact emergency electricians time after time. Electrical…
We all experience power outages from time to time. Frequent culprits can include: Bad weather The number of people using their power at the same time The season However, sometimes you will go to check whether the lights in the entire street have gone out and realise that only you are suffering from a power cut. Stranger still, you only…
You probably don’t think about your wall outlets very often. After all, why would you if they work reliably? However, wall outlets are under more strain than ever these days. We are always charging out appliances, whether that is our phone or computer, and our TVs, consoles and other entertainment devices are constantly plugged in. This increase in a need…
If you’re thinking about installing downlights in your home, you’ve come to the right place and made the right decision. Downlights make a beautiful addition to any home, allowing you to control the mood and ambience of your living spaces. Downlights are a modern lighting option that direct light downwards, illuminating the space beneath. You can use downlights to light…
Usually, when an electrical fault occurs in the home, the corresponding circuit breaker will trip and immediately cut off the flow of electricity. Sometimes, the main switch may trip, leaving your whole house without electricity. Quickly identifying the source of an electrical fault following a power outage is essential for the safety of yourself, your family, and your home. If…
No matter what kind of business you have, chances are you’ve already needed a commercial electrician. With our many years of expertise, there is a huge range of electrical jobs we’ve helped our customers with, but there are a few that are so common that we thought we’d let you know what they are. Perhaps you might spot an issue…
Smoke alarms – why have them? Working smoke alarms save lives. Although there were 1,500 preventable house fires in Victoria during 2018, damage to property far outweighed the loss of life (1). Insured property can be replaced or rebuilt, the same can’t be said for families and colleagues. So, whether you’re assessing smoke alarms for your own home or for…
There’s nothing like broken electrics to ruin your day, whether it’s all the lights going out or the oven not working to issues with an electrical fault or an ongoing problem with old wiring. It can be tempting to grab your toolkit and give it a good go yourself – after all, you’ll save a few dollars and end up with perfectly…
Whether you enjoy snuggling up and binge-watching a tv series or you’re a fan of home movie nights, a home theatre can be a fantastic addition to any house. You don’t need to go full ’00s MTV Cribs to enjoy the movies from home either. For many families, home theatres have been an excellent alternative to popcorn-littered rooms and cold…
When was the last time you checked the safety of your extension leads? For many people, extension leads can seem like the perfect solution to a lack of electrical outlets. Used correctly, they are a safe, temporary measure. Unfortunately, long-term use of extension leads, or leads that aren’t used properly, can pose a significant electrical hazard. Read on for top…
It’s always a shock when the power goes off unexpectedly! From severe weather through to a malfunction somewhere on the grid, there are all sorts of reasons why your property can suddenly be left without electricity. Knowing what to do in the event of a power outage means you stand the best chance of you and your property remaining relatively…
Building a new home or renovating your current one is an exciting time for many. It’s fun to think about what your property will look like. What architectural style and interior design elements should you choose? But with all the decisions to be made, it’s easy to get quickly overwhelmed. This is why many homeowners forget or overlook the home electrical…
Over the last few years, LED lights have become a popular lighting choice in homes, offices, and shops across the world. LED bulbs & light fixture sales have slowly but surely eaten into the market share of traditional lighting options like incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lights or CFLs and even halogen lights. It shows no signs of stopping and the number of…
In today’s turbulent times, crime – particularly home invasions – is on the rise in almost all parts of the world. This is a cause for concern towards the safety of our family members, especially our elderly loved ones. The elderly are amongst the most vulnerable victims, particularly those who still live on their own. They are easy targets for…
Worried about what to do when the inevitable happens and you knock your glass of water onto the electrical board? This is a severe health hazard to you and your family and the outlets must be dried, repaired, or replaced immediately. This article will break down 3 ways to deal with wet outlets and give you tips on how you…
Renting a property out nowadays comes with several rules for both landlords and tenants. These conditions are mainly put in place to protect both parties in the years to come. Tenants, for example, are responsible for paying their monthly rent on time as well as maintaining the property’s current physical state. Landlords, on the other hand, have an even longer…
“Grounding” is a term homeowners often come across when dealing with residential – and even business – electrical wiring systems. Be it installations, renovations and repairs, grounding is sure to be frequently mentioned, as well as discussed by electricians, plumbers and even contractors. However, a fair amount of us don’t entirely know or understand what grounding is all about. Grounding…
The global interest, demand, and market for renewable energy have steadily increased across the board over the last few years, hitting record highs in 2019. This increase in interest comes as no surprise – energy is a basic need – not just for homes but also for businesses. It powers offices, retail outlets, and fires up factories and manufacturing plants.…
Keeping track of how much energy we consume is usually a tried and tested way of ensuring that our electricity bills stay within a manageable and affordable range. We think our home electrical system is working fine then experience bill shock by receiving higher than projected power bills, throwing off budgets and causing undue stress. To prevent this from happening,…
Have you ever had multiple electrical appliances in your home act up at the same time? This could be flickering lights, turning off and on, or even having devices die on you completely. If you haven’t experienced this, luckily you’ve never had to deal with the results of a power surge. However, not every electrical surge is the same and…
40% of the energy used in the average Australian home goes to heating and cooling. Although the average household uses 41 kWh of electricity, a realistic number for your home will vary depending on several factors. However, every home has the opportunity to decrease their energy consumption. Whether you’re looking to decrease your electricity bill, minimise your environmental footprint, or just…
