With the festive season just around the corner, it’s important to take the necessary steps to help ensure your plumbing and electrical systems are in great condition and ready for your friends and family. Our local experts are ready to help you with all your electrical and plumbing household maintenance and upgrades in time for this festive season.
Read on to find out more about O'Brien Electrical & Plumbing top expert tips – Christmas edition.
1. Check for leaking taps
Check your house for leaking taps, shower heads and toilets. The number one cause of water wastage in the home is leakage. On average, a drip can sum up to 2,000 litres in a month, which is more than enough to fill 8,400 cups of water! Upgrade your old taps with new faucets if you experience reduced water pressure, dripping or leaking. We also recommend checking the flexi hose on all basins and sinks. Ensure your flexi hose doesn’t burst or rupture, Call your O'Brien Plumber today.
2. Check water pressure
Nothing beats that first shower after a Summer’s day at the beach. Don’t let poor water pressure ruin your Christmas. Low water pressure could mean there’s an issue with your internal plumbing system. Get your pipes professionally checked by an O'Brien Plumbing expert if there has been a change in water pressure.
3. Clear drains
Get your drains cleared this season to ensure a smooth running plumbing system for the rest of the year! There are many ways to tell if your drains are blocked, look for raised water levels, slow drains and unpleasant odours. Your local O'Brien experts can perform a thorough inspection and find a solution to the stubborn blocked drains.
4. Clean roof gutters
Aussie Christmas means heat and often bush fires. Clearing your gutters prevents fires and reduces the risk of fire fuel. Clearing your roof gutters will also help to generate a smooth flow of water off your roof. Over time your roof gutters will accumulate leaves and other debris. This will prove to be a problem and can lead to sagging gutters and pests.
So now you’ve heard of some of our top Plumbing tips for the Holidays, it’s time to hear about our top 3 Electrical Tips. Electrical risks increase during the holiday season so it’s important to be extra careful. Please read on to learn some ways to help ensure fire safety and protect you and your family.
1. Have RCDs/safety switches installed and check your smoke alarms?
Have you ever plugged in a light to see the power board suddenly switch off? Electrical circuit overloads are a common household Christmas problem. The safest option is to manage your electricity usage to prevent overloads. Install more power points and safety switches conveniently and effectively with the help of O'Brien Electricians. O'Brien can perform thorough switchboard checks and ensure circuits are protected and not overloaded.
Testing your smoke alarms is another safety precaution, we recommend you do this every 6 months. Testing, maintaining and upgrading smoke alarms are all things our expert electricians can help you with!
2. Make safer more energy efficient lighting choices
Have you considered using solar powered lights, LED or extra-low-voltage lights? Using a lower voltage will prevent electrical shock and solar powered lighting is the greener option! You can make your home look spectacular without the extra risk, cost and energy. Make sure to check you’re making informed choices with your decorative lighting this festive season and ensure they are safe for either indoor or outdoor use.
When buying Lights Look for…
The regulatory compliance mark (RCM) logo indicates compliance with Australian Standards.
Make sure your Chrissy lights have an Australian Approved Number: Q12345, VO1294 or N12345
3. Recycle Lighting
O'Brien have partnered with O'Brien approved supplier Ecocycle. Ecocycle assist in the care of collection and safe lighting recycling. Mercury-containing lighting “must be recycled in accordance with the recycling requirements of a product stewardship scheme such as ‘Fluorocycle’ or equivalent. There are many types of lighting that can be recycled, to find out more head to this Ecocycle blog post.
How can the O'Brien Local Experts Help?
Call your local O'Brien Experts to identify any potential electrical and plumbing hazards. O'Brien Electrical & Plumbing can also perform thorough inspections to see what home maintenance you require. Find your local expert by going to obrien.com.au. Arrange an inspection and relax knowing you have taken the necessary precautions to help safeguard your home in preparation for the holiday season.
O'Brien Electrical & Plumbing wishes you a safe and joyful festive season.
