Getting the most from your electrical contractor
Expert advice on working with an electrical contractor for electrical repairs, installation and maintenance in your home, from electrician Joe Saitta of Melbourne Electrical Specialists in Richmond, Victoria.
Q. What should people look for when choosing an electrician?
A. Guarantee of electrical repair workmanship, reference checks, public liability insurance and a certificate of safety.
Q. What's the most bizarre electrical problem you've had to fix in someone's home?
A. As electrical contractors, we deal with all kinds of wiring issues in the home. There was one instance when we had to locate a buzzing sound a customer was hearing in his bathroom. As we'd done some work at his home in the past, he'd accused us of faulty workmanship. On investigation we discovered the noise was coming from an electric toothbrush he'd forgotten to turn off. We've also had to untangle a dog from electrical cabling under a house.
Q. What' s your number one electrical tip for home renovators?
A. Obviously to plan well for any wiring or re-wiring. Electrically, they should determine where power points and lights are positioned based on furniture locations, because it creates double the electrical repair work to change locations later. A. The earlier the better is the rule when it comes to considering the input of your electrical contractor. At planning stage on paper would be ideal, and definitely before the plaster is installed (as then it is too late). A. Choice of lighting based on energy usage / wastage and practical lighting as opposed to decorative or effect lighting. A. Insufficient and incorrect power point locations and incorrect lighting designs. A. An A-Class Electrician's licence (formerly an E-Grade Licence). You should check the licence requirements in your state.
Q. At what stage of a home renovation should people consider the electrics/wiring?
Q. What aspects of electrical repairs and contracting do home owners need to talk about with their electrician?
Q. What's the most common electrical mistake made by home renovators?
Q. What qualifications should an electrician have?
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