Richtek Blog

The sheer abundance of electrical technicians advertising their services in areas such as Perth can render it difficult for home and commercial property owners to figure out who may be best to call.

While hiring the right technician can certainly feel like an overwhelming task – particularly if you are in an emergency situation –  there are certain essential electrician tools you can make it a priority to look out for when you are in need of a well-experienced electrician.

After all, receiving efficient electrical assistance involves more than just showing up with the right equipment. You want to be able to find an electrical technician whom you can trust and who has more knowledge about inspecting various electrical issues than the average person doing a Google search.

Before hiring an electrician in your area, look out for these essential electrician tools:

Licensure/Certification 

Under no circumstances should a property owner ever hire an individual who does not possess the necessary licensure to effectively serve as a contractor.

Licensed electricians must undergo years of certification and licensing tests, apprenticeships, and specialised training to be hired by a company and offer their services. Possessing the appropriate license and certifications allows electrical professionals to supply warranties, provide accident insurance, and for safety purposes, too, it is essential to hire an electrician who has certifiable experience performing their job to measurable standards.

Work Experience Performing Your Desired Service

 General experience working as a licensed electrician is imperative, but you also want to make sure that the professional you are hiring has more specific experience performing the particular service you need.

Some electricians specialise in certain areas of electrical work, and there’s no use hiring an electrician to perform a specific service on your property if their professional knowledge lies in another area.

References or Testimonials

 There is no shame in wanting the word of others to back up the experience of an electrician you are considering hiring. The best electricians will have references or testimonials from previous customers to prove their experience performing their vocational services, as well as their skills. Experienced contractors are well-aware of how important references can be to prospective customers and should have no problem supplying you with testimonials to vouch for their skills as an efficient electrical contractor.

Flexible Availability

 A key sign of a reliable electrician is flexibility in work hours.

For example, what if you were to experience an electrical emergency late at night and require immediate assistance? When or if disaster strikes, you will want to know you are in good hands.

There are many instances in which an electrical service may need to be performed outside of typical work hours, and a company that is able to accommodate these needs with emergency 24-hour availability is one that is competent in providing reliable service.

Willingness to Provide No-Obligation Quotes

 When looking to hire any sort of professional provider, you should always be wary of any service provider that is reluctant or unwilling to provide a quote upfront for their services. It’s a matter of professionalism, but also of respect for the customer.

by Michael Gray

Property owners may not pay much mind to the performance of electrical connections or appliances within their home until it is too late.

While it may seem a bother to have a licensed Perth electrician pay a visit to your property when things seem to be working fine, having regular electrical inspections may be more important than you think.

Knowing when it’s time to call your local electrician may seem hazy, as it can be difficult for home and business owners to identify some potential warning signs indicating larger issues, but experts agree that it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to ensuring the good condition of your property’s electrical system. 

What Is an Electrical Safety Inspection? 

An electrical safety inspection is a procedure that is ideally carried out by a licensed and experienced electrician and involves thoroughly assessing the electrical wiring, connections, and appliances on your property.

This procedure serves as the most effective way to keep your electrical wiring and appliances in optimal condition, as well as prevent any minor problems that may be occurring from becoming worse.

Comprehensive electrical inspections can involve: testing smoke alarms, checking safety switches and outlets, taking a look at your property’s power box, checking your property for any exposed wires, assessing the overall function of your electrical service, and determining whether there are any other less-obvious electrical hazards on your property. It also can include any other inspection procedures deemed relevant by the professional inspecting your home. 

Benefits of Regular Electrical Inspections 

Taking precautionary measures to keep your property and its occupants safe can offer numerous benefits, including those both material and economical.

• By having regular electrical inspections done, an electrician will be able to identify any minor problems before they turn into major issues. Having these minor issues fixed earlier rather than later can help save you money down the line.
• Having your electrical wiring and connections adequately maintained can also ensure that everything is functioning optimally, which can help you evade higher costs associated with faulty electrical systems.
• Inspections can play an important role in ensuring your property’s safety after incidents such as power surges have occurred following a storm or other similar event. Power surges can cause short circuits and potentially cause damage to your electrical appliances.
• Having electrical appliances on your property inspected by a licensed electrician can help you to identify any damaged appliances and avoid experiencing unexpected electrical shocks.

Instead of ignoring electrical problems, or attempting to fix any minor or major electrical issues on your own, having a certified electrician assess your property gives you the best chance at keeping everything in check, so you don’t find yourself in an emergency electrical situation later on. 

Contact Your Perth Electrician

In an effort to anticipate the needs of maintaining the optimal function of electrical wiring and connections on your property, contact a skilled electrician.

Get in touch with a Richtek Electrical & Air Solutions team member, and we can help you set up an appointment to have a licensed electrician perform an electrical inspection on your property.

Call 08 9375 3926 to set up an electrical inspection for your home or commercial property today.

by Michael Gray

From breakroom refrigerators to overhead lighting, every modern workplace uses electricity in some way. If everything is running smoothly in your office, you might not even consider that it needs an inspection. Why inspect an area that is working just fine?

Even if you have no known electrical problems in your office, there can still be hazards that you would never notice on a daily basis.

Electrical inspections provide a comprehensive look at all of the potential electrical issues that could occur in your office, including:

• Possible exposed wires
• Possible permanent wiring that is uncovered
• Any outdated wiring
• Making sure the safety switches are operable
• Checking the power box
• Testing smoke alarms
• Checking lighting and power points
• Checking for any appliances or other electrical objects that are not up to government regulation standards for electrical safety

Electrical issues can occur unexpectedly and need to be addressed right away, and getting your office inspected at the proper times is a great way to prevent any avoidable electrical hazards.

While regular electrical inspections are healthy for your office, here are the major times that you should schedule an inspection:

Before Moving into an Office Space

If you are moving to a new office space, you should have an electrical inspection prior to renting or buying it. If there are any electrical issues that are found during the inspection, the plus side is that you may be able to negotiate for a lower price for the property. Sometimes, these inspections are included in the comprehensive building inspection report prior to purchase, but you should double check so that it is not overlooked.

Building inspectors do not typically check the smoke alarms or the electrical wiring, which are both extremely important aspects of a property. If these are not checked out, you should contact a reliable electrician to come inspect the property. Richtek Electrical & Air Solutions has been inspecting properties for years, so you can count on us to test the outlets and inspect the wiring, electrical panels, circuit interrupters, and smoke alarms for your new office space to ensure that it is safe to work in.

If You Have Any Concerns About Your Building

Experiencing regular electrical problems, such as a power outage or a tripped circuit breaker, is a sign that your office should be inspected. Other concerns for your building can include:

• If the office space is over 25 years old
• If the wiring is outdated
• If you suspect there has been any DIY work

After a Strong Storm

Major storms can cause flooding, which can impact the status of the electrical safety for your building. An electrician should be contacted to inspect your outlets, appliances, and any wiring that was exposed to storm damages before they are used.

Our experienced team at Richtek offers inspection services for both commercial offices and residential homes. Contact us today for preventative tips, advice, or to schedule an inspection!

by Michael Gray