Electrician Port Macquarie

Is it the law that my electrical appliances need to be inspected every 5 years?

No. Whether you have a legal obligation to get appliances inspected depends on where you are using the appliance and what it is

Homeowners have no legal responsibility to get their appliances checked. That said, in the unfortunate event that a poorly maintained or unsafe appliance caused an electrical fire that damaged the property or worse, insurers may refuse to pay out for repairs if it can be shown that the householder could reasonably have been expected to spot a problem and get the appliance checked out before the incident.

From 2021, landlords are required to get an electrical safety check carried out on their rental property once every two years. The check needs to include all the electrical installations, appliances and fittings. It also needs to be carried out by a qualified electrician.

Commercial operators need to ensure compliance with relevant health & safety guidance. This usually means testing appliances and systems in line with best practice guidelines.

Will you be able to fix my electrical fault in one visit?

The number of visits required to fix an electrical fault will depend on what the fault is. Our van contains a wide range of components, wires, and other items that we regularly use to fix faults.

If you’ve got a generic fault, we can usually fix it in a single visit. Some faults may require a replacement part that’s specific to the make and model of the appliance. In those circumstances, we may need to order it in so that you get the best result.

If your appliance is still under warranty, we may need to order in a part that’s made by the manufacturer – an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) part (rather than a generic part), to maintain the validity of your warranty.

Am I likely to need an upgraded switchboard or wiring?

The number of households that could benefit from an upgraded switchboard or new wiring is quite high.

Whilst older homes that haven’t had their circuitry updated for decades could be good candidates for an upgrade, a surprising number of properties built even in the early 2000s don’t have sufficient capacity to cope with a 21st Century lifestyle.

People now have, and use, more electrical gadgets than ever before. This puts enormous strain on the capacity of the electrical system. If you notice any of the following signs, you should get your circuitry inspected to ensure it’s safe and to identify any upgrades that are needed.

• Use of extension cords regularly.
• Insufficient plugs for your needs.
• Breaker switches tripping regularly.
• Lights dim or flicker when additional appliances are switched on.
• A smell of burning.
• Physical damage to the circuit board, such as rust or bumps.
• If you’ve recently installed a large electrical appliance.
• Discoloured areas near electrical fixtures.
• Strange crackling noises.

If you haven’t had your wiring inspected in the last five years, or if you’ve purchased a property, we recommend that you book an inspection to ensure that the property is safe.

How do I know how much the work is going to cost?

Most electricians will carry out thorough inspections and testing to diagnose the cause of the problem on arrival.

Once we know what the issue is, we will let you know what our quote is, along with making you aware of the pros and cons of the various options available.

Our team will give you all the information you need for making the decision, so that you can decide on the course of action that’s best for you. Once you’ve told us what you want to do, we’ll work out how much your chosen option is going to cost and provide a FREE, no-obligation quote.

If you’re happy with the quote, we’ll organise to get the job done. We always let you know what any costs will be upfront.

When you use O’Brien Electrical Port Macquarie, you can expect transparent costings and competitive prices for every job.

How long will I be without power?

If your power outage is due to an electrical fault, we can usually sort it out within a few hours at most.

Unfortunately, if the power failure is due to a problem with the grid, for example, due to storm damage, you will be without power until the grid engineers have sorted out the problem.

Most residential electrical jobs can be completed in under 2 hours.

How can I reduce the risk of electrical problems occurring?

• Use electrical equipment for its intended purpose. If it shows any signs of wear, get it checked.
• Don’t use extension cords except as a short-term measure. Even then, make sure they’re in good repair and not overloaded.
• Make sure all your electrical work is completed by a licensed, qualified, and suitably experienced electrician.