Richtek Blog

There comes a time in a homeowner’s life when they debate whether or not they should do renovations on their house. Many people opt out of remodelling because they’re unsure of which projects they can do themselves and which ones they need a professional to do. They believe that contractors would be much more expensive than doing it themselves, so they just do nothing or try it themselves.

DIY remodelling is taking hold of not only the internet but the renovation world as well. With so much information out there telling you to do things on your own, you may be tempted to take on more than you’re qualified to handle. If you’re working with anything electrical you should get a professional and not do your electrical work yourself.

You shouldn’t let the worry of wasting money hold you back from improving your Perth home. However, you should know your limits, so you don’t end up messing up your house or injuring yourself. Here are the 4 household renovations that you must have an electrician’s expertise for

1. New Wiring Installation

You should never try to fix your house’s wiring by yourself. It can be so easy for you to make a dangerous mistake. An electrician, on the other hand, can quickly fix the wiring to your new light switch without harming anyone. You should just bite the bullet and protect your home by hiring a contractor who works with electrical wiring. Electricians are also up-to-date on local Perth codes so that your wiring is safe.

2. Electrical Panel Upgrade

Whenever you want to install a major appliance, you want to upgrade your electrical panel. Your home’s electrical panel is responsible for powering your circuit breaker, so anytime you do install a new appliance or build an addition, you want to ensure that your house can handle all the extra electricity surging through your home.

3. Light Fixture Installation

When you’re upgrading a room in your house, you have to take lighting into consideration for the new design. Changing up your light fixtures can transform the feeling of the entire space. While choosing the right light fixture can be done on your own, installing it should be left to the experts. An experienced electrician can easily deal with the wiring that hooks up to the light fixture and not make a costly mistake like you could.

4. Ceiling Fan Installation

Much like light fixtures, the wiring behind ceiling fans is complicated. The way it’s wired is probably different than other houses since wiring standards are always changing. Electricians are educated in how houses were and are wired. They know what each wire does, which is why you should call them if you’re planning on installing a new ceiling fan.

When to DIY and When Not To

While going the DIY route can save you a few dollars, there are a few drawbacks. The first is if you mess it up, it’s not going to save you any money because you’ll have to hire a professional to fix it.

It also costs you time. If you’re looking to start a DIY project, you have to have a lot of time on your hands. For example, if you’re upgrading your flooring and you only have weekends off, then it’s going to take a very long time to get done. While it will be fun at first, you are sure to get tired of it in the long run.

You should do DIY projects if you know they’ll be quick and you’re absolutely sure you know what you’re doing. You can rule out any projects that require licensing, gas or electricity, and anything that even has the potential to damage your home or you.

The Bottom Line

Electricians know what they’re doing. They’re knowledgeable on what local codes are, how wiring has changed over the years, and what wires do what. They are qualified to help you complete any home project that you have in mind and can get it done quickly. They are equipped to make any modification or repairs you need. Don’t put your home or self at risk, call an electrician.

If you are looking for an expert electrician in Perth, then look no further. Ricktek Electrical & Air Solutions is the solution to all your electrical remodelling problems with experience in residential electrician services.

Feel free to contact us for any inquiries. You can rest easy knowing that your house will be in great hands when you choose our dedicated team.

by Michael Gray

Not many people put thought into preventing electrical fires in their home. You’ve probably never inspected your electrical wiring, but you definitely should.

There are thousands of fires caused by electrical mishaps reported each year around the world and right here in Perth. These fires result in injury and death to many people. Electrical fires can be prevented by simple steps. Here are a few things that you can do to help prevent the risk of electrical fires.

Electrical Inspection

For those who have older homes or just want to be safe, you should hire an experienced electrician to inspect the old wiring in your home. Electrical wiring doesn’t last forever, so older homes are often overdue for wiring upgrades.

Many of these homes have aluminium wiring, which is more prone to fires than copper wiring. The Copper Development Association has certain standards that must be upheld for wiring in a house. A professional electrician knows these standards. Their inspections show whether or not you need to update your wiring, and they’ll recommend the best course of action.

An inspection will include reviewing all fire hazards in your house. They’ll test smoke detectors and keep curtains and other flammable items away from heat sources. They’ll inspect whether or not your home is properly grounded as grounding helps divert electrical current. They’ll check out the electrical panel to ensure that there is no corrosion or overheating. They’ll also see if any of the appliances in your home are in good condition. They’ll upgrade out of date equipment. Finally, they’ll address any other safety concerns that you may have such as light switches that aren’t working and damaged cords.

Replace Damaged Cords and Electrical Plugs

One of the many causes of electrical fires is faulty wiring. Worn out, frayed, and tattered cords should be found and replaced with the best new wiring. Cords in any of the previously mentioned states can cause sparks, overheat, and then start a fire. If the cord is attached to an appliance, you simply buy a replacement cord.

Overburdened Electrical Outlet

Attaching too many appliances and overloading your outlets, power strips, and extension cords is another common cause of electrical fires. A good way of preventing overburdening is to buy power strips that protect against internal overload. This is a feature that shuts off the power strip once too much power is being used and overloads the system.

Keep Flammable Materials Away

You should strategically place any flammable material away from the heat sources in your home. Items like curtains, blankets, tablecloths, etc. should be far away from hot appliances. That being said, heat producing portable items should be carefully placed too. If you’re whipping out a hair dryer and a curling iron to style your hair, then you want to make sure you’re not putting it near flammable material. The same goes for clothing irons, space heaters, and lamps. Any of these electrical items can start a fire if they’re carelessly misused.

Identifying Problems with Electrical Wiring and Electrical Shorts

Some issues aren’t fixed with the simple replacement of a cord. The problem goes deeper and is often the result of electrical shorts and faulty wiring. If either of these is the cause of electrical problems that will lead to a fire, then you need to call an electrician.

You can tell if your home has faulty wiring if the circuit breaker trips often, lamps flicker when plugged in, and outlets buzz or spark. You’ll also want to replace any connection that feels warm as that’s another sign of faulty wiring.

Your home’s electrical system is built to last about 30 to 40 years, but it’s not unlikely that your home is older than that. Even if it is a newer building, checking the wiring is still a good move. Faulty wiring can be in homes both old and new.

The Bottom Line

Electrical fires are hard to put it out. If you attempt to douse the fire with water, then you might get electrocuted. Plus, not all chemical fire suppressants can extinguish electrical fires completely. These fires are not something you want to lose your home or your life to, especially since they’re so preventable. To ensure that you’re always safe, make sure your fire extinguisher is always close by and get an electrician to inspect your home every now and again.

Richtek Electrical & Air Solutions is the perfect electrical service for those living in Perth. We have experienced electricians who know exactly what to look for during an inspection. To ensure your home doesn’t suffer from an electrical fire anytime soon, call us today.

by Michael Gray

Just as your home needs an electrician every now and again, your workplace does too. Commercial buildings in Perth often require even more electrical care than any home since they use more electricity. This need for extra care is why it pays to have a commercial electrician with expertise. Having a contractor on hand is essential to making sure your business is up-to-date. They check outlets, make upgrades to the wiring, and make your workspace more efficient. They can really help when you’re looking to remodel your workplace.

It doesn’t matter how big or small your renovation is going to be; it can involve some huge changes. If your plan is to just move around some pieces of furniture, then you still need to move around some outlets so that you don’t have to stretch extension cords. You may just take this remodelling opportunity to address minor electrical problems that you’ve noticed in the past.

Your electrician can assist your business with the rewiring of outlets and other fixtures as well as upgrading appliances and ensuring your electrical setup is safe. These electrical services make your company’s building more energy efficient, which will save you money in the long run. Getting electrical upgrades will reduce your business’s risks of electrical fires and short circuits, so you, your employees, and your clients are safer.

Specific Services Offered by Professional Commercial Electricians

If you’re not planning on remodelling anytime soon, it’s still smart to contact your commercial electrician regularly. When you call your electrician preemptively, you can avoid the downtime that comes with waiting for an electrician to fix the problem when things go wrong. You can rest easy knowing that your electrician can fix these four issues.

Old Wiring in Your Company’s Building

You’ve been in your industry for a long time now, or you’re a start-up business that just moved into an older building. Either way, the wiring behind your old walls are out-of-date and should be updated.

Another reason your old wiring may need updating is a larger load. As your company grows, the load that your wiring takes on increases. This extra load means that the old wiring in your walls may not be able to handle what you have to offer.

Older systems aren’t designed to handle the high-tech appliances of today’s businesses, and they can cause you a number of issues. Calling your electrician guarantees that you won’t have to worry about old wiring. They will come and evaluate your system before providing the necessary upgrades.

Circuit Breakers That Trip Frequently

Power surges happen from time to time even in large commercial buildings, but it shouldn’t happen a lot. You may be tempted to fix your circuit breaker by yourself. You might have done it at home before and feel that your business’s circuit breaker is not much different. However, it’s not like your circuit breaker at home. Don’t try to fix it yourself.

If you notice that your circuit breaker is beginning to trip more often you think it should, or more than it usually does, then you need to call a professional electrician to deal with the problem. They’ll be able to identify the problem and fix it in no time.

Sparks

It will never be a good sign when you see sparks flying from an electrical outlet when you plug in a cord. When sparks fly, it’s a major warning sign that there is a bigger issue that needs to be addressed immediately. If you let sparks emit and do nothing, then you risk the chance of sockets and cords melting, and it can result in a fire.

Rodents in Your Building’s Walls

An electrician won’t be able to remove the rats for you, but they will let you know if they’ve caused damaged and how much they have caused. Rodents are dangerous to your electric system because they love to chew on wires. This chewing can go beyond just seriously damaging your system and result in a fire.

The Bottom Line

If you want to have your business operate in the safest and most efficient manner possible, you want to take the precautions that are necessary. Contact your electrician before any problems arise. For those looking for a commercial electrician in Perth, check us out at Richtek Electrical and Air Solutions. Our team at Richtek has experience working with a variety of industries throughout Perth and are highly trained. If your business needs electrical upgrades, call us today.

by Michael Gray