You may have started to notice that the sun is up earlier than you are now and that the birds and their chirping dances are back in full swing again, or maybe now you don’t need to turn the heater on in your car while driving to the grocery store anymore. You can feel it in the air—it’s official: spring has sprung!
The warmer months of the year are often a welcome sight after a long and bitter winter cooped up indoors, swaddled in a robe, blanket, and slippers. Many of us take the opportunity to open the windows, shake off the dust around the house, and dive into a bout of spring cleaning to welcome in the new season.
And while cleaning up your bedroom and garden for spring is important in its own right, it’s also equally important to include inspecting your electrical system on your spring cleaning to-do list. After a cold winter, some considerable strain may have been put on your home’s electrical and wiring systems, and there may be some new, burgeoning electrical hazards brewing under the surface that are yet to be noticed.
Now is the perfect opportunity to take a good look at your home’s electricity situation with bright eyes and schedule some seasonal electrical maintenance. So start off the spring season right! With insights from our residential electricians here at Approved Electrix, here are some essential spring electrical safety tips that you can adopt to help protect your home and keep it efficient through to the new year!
- The Role of Electrical Safety in the Home
- Fire hazards
- Weather-related risks
- Shocks and electrocution
- Appliance strain
- Outdoor equipment risks
- Essential Spring Electrical Safety Tips
- Inspect Power Points and Cords
- Test Safety Switches
- Check Smoke Alarms
- Inspect Outdoor Electrical Systems
- Service Your Air Conditioning & Ceiling Fans
- Book a Professional Electrical Inspection this Spring
The Role of Electrical Safety in the Home
The electricity in your home is the hidden (and silent) backbone to modern living. It powers everything you use on a daily basis, and you depend on it to keep your home running smoothly and efficiently.
But just like your other utility services, a good homeowner has a responsibility to keep their home’s electricity network in good condition. Properly maintained wiring and safety switches help prevent electrocution, power outages, and fires.
And conversely, a neglected home electrical system becomes a breeding ground for expensive problems, recurring faults, and increased fire hazards. This is why sticking to an electrical safety plan is such a good idea, since it will help enforce good habits in your home’s regular upkeep as well as save you money down the road.
Some potential risks of ignoring electrical safety in spring include:
Fire Hazards
Damaged cords, overloaded power boards, and faulty wiring can all ignite and start fires.
Weather-related Risks
Spring storms may cause surges, downed lines, or water damage to outdoor outlets.
Shocks and Electrocution
Worn insulation, faulty appliances, or exposed wires all pose dangers to physical safety.
Appliance Strain
Outdated electrical systems may not be able to handle newer, high-demand devices and increased spring output.
Outdoor Equipment Risks
Pool pumps, garden tools, and outdoor lighting can be hazardous if not checked regularly.
Essential Spring Electrical Safety Tips
Committing to spring safety checks can help guarantee that everything is working normally as it should. And in an Australian summer, you definitely need reliable electricity if you hope to stay cool throughout the day!
Here are some of our essential spring electricity safety tips to implement throughout your spring clean:
Inspect Power Points and Cords
You need to be able to depend on your electrical system to tough it out through increased strain in the summer sun. When clearing the dust out of your kitchen and living rooms, give your power points and electrical cords a thorough inspection. Look for any fraying, cracks, or scorch marks around the sockets and contacts. Replace any damaged cords and avoid running them under rugs or furniture.
If you notice any unusual signs of electrical damage around the house, then you should contact your electrician. You may be in need of a house rewiring service if your building is old enough. So as winter wanes, give your power points a good once-over to make sure they’re still keeping up with your family.
Test Safety Switches
Your safety switches are your home’s primary defence against electrical surges, fires, and electrocution. When you’re clearing out your garage or backyard, take a look at your safety switch box to see if there are any hardware concerns.
Check to see they all work correctly by pressing the test button. If any keep flipping, then you should book an electrician to come perform a safety switch servicing. You may need to plug in more fans and air conditioners now that it’s getting warm outside, so the sooner you check on your safety switches, the better!
Check Smoke Alarms
In many regions of Australia, the end of spring also marks the start of bushfire season. While most bushfire risk is highest during the summer after December, time can sure fly, and it’ll be summer before you know it. Spring is the ideal time to check that your smoke alarms are all in working condition in anticipation of the warmer months to come.
Replace any old batteries in each unit and test each alarm in your house to ensure they still make noise. Outdated alarms should be updated with modern, compliant models, too. For smoke alarm repairs and installation, always leave jobs like these to a licensed local electrician.
Inspect Outdoor Electrical Systems
You’ll likely spend more time outside now that it’s springtime, so give all your outdoor electrical equipment and systems a decent inspection. Check for any water damage in outdoor sockets, and ensure there aren’t any electrical faults to be found.
If you have a pool, then make sure the pump is clean and operational. Pool repairs can take a long time to complete, so don’t be surprised by a sputtering spa. You should also replace or repair any outdoor patio lighting, too, so you can enjoy your spring BBQs even when the sun has set.
Service Your Air Conditioning & Ceiling Fans
A Victorian spring is more than just sunshine and rainbows. For many throughout the state, springtime may bring unwelcome heatwaves and dryness. A large number of Victorian homes—especially older homes built before 1980—aren’t insulated well and struggle to both keep out the heat and stay cool.
If you’re fortunate enough to have air conditioning or a cooling system in your house, then be proactive and book in for an air conditioning service or cleaning. Everyone else will have the same idea, so get this done early to avoid unwanted stress and sweat. And if you don’t have air conditioning or a split system, then consider installing ceiling fans to help stay cool while spending less money.
Book a Professional Electrical Inspection this Spring
The most essential tip for protecting your home this spring is booking in with a licensed electrician. An electrician can detect and repair any issues with your home’s wiring system, switchboards, meter box, and electrical appliances, identifying anything you may otherwise miss throughout your spring cleaning.
You’ll gain real peace of mind knowing your home is safe from storms and fire risk after a licensed professional gives you the all-clear, and you may even start to see lower energy costs thanks to a more efficient use of the grid. So if you notice anything mentioned here in your own home, don’t hesitate: book an appointment with our electricians now to guarantee yourself a cool and relaxed spring.
