At this time of the year, the weather in most parts of Australia is perfect to spend time in the outdoor spaces of your home. You can spend leisurely hours lounging around by the pool, or have BBQ parties in your outdoor kitchen, on the patio or deck. In short, you can make good use of these areas in the daytime as well as after dark.

This also means you will end up using some or the other electrical equipment and appliances there and this brings with it a specific set of challenges. In some cases, the falling dry leaves can also prove to be an electrical hazard in the outdoor areas of your home. The best way to avoid problems is to follow these basic outdoor electrical safety tips:

Just as you get the indoor electrical equipment and installations audited regularly, you should also hire an electrician to conduct a semi-annual audit of your garden and yard’s outdoor electrical fixtures. It’s best to get these checks done some time between Winter & Spring.

The next audit should be conducted between Summer & Fall. This helps reduce the chances of electrical problems surfacing out of the blue due and to temperature and weather fluctuations. While it’s best to call in a licensed and experienced electrician to handle the job, it’s also a good idea to keep an eye out for signs of electrical problems including:

When the electrical audit is being conducted, ensure that all your outdoor electrical equipment is stored & functioning properly.

Damaged or loose electrical wiring can prove to be a major electrical hazard and can be the cause of an electrical fire in your home; this is especially true if the wiring comes in contact with dry leaves or firewood that’s been piled up in the yard. Once the electrician gives you a complete report of the condition of the wiring, you should also make it a point to replace any wiring that’s loose or damaged.

Any water pooling in the landscaped areas of your home can prove to be an electrical hazard and can put your home and other outdoor features on your property at risk. The best way to prevent this from happening is to ensure that all the electrical switches, cords and connections are stored away and that they are in weather-proof casing; this ensures they don’t come in contact with any water sources.

Every pool and spa tub installation has some electrical wiring and fixtures such as pumps, underwater lights and power points etc. Ensure your electrician checks all these fixtures and that the electrical safety requirements have been met.

It’s a good idea to opt for a preventive electrical maintenance contract. As part of this contract, your electrician will check all the electrical installations in your yard and garden spaces. These checks help ensure that all these systems are in a good condition and that if any potential problems are noticed, they can be nipped in the bud.

Is it driving you crazy to charge all of your devices? Smart phones, tablets, digital music players, digital cameras and more have made many facets of life more convenient, but they come with their own complications and annoyances as well. For one thing, all those devices need their batteries charged, sometimes every day, and it can be quite a pain to keep track of all the cords and adapters. Fortunately, with a little DIY talent or the help of an electrician, you can install combo outlets in your walls with built-in USB ports, making it easier to charge your gadgets wherever you’re at home.

Out with the Old, in with the New

To install a USB outlet, you need to buy an outlet kit from your local hardware store or from an online retailer. You can find various options with two or four USB ports combined with one or two traditional power outlets. If you are comfortable doing simple electrical work, you can probably install the outlet yourself; otherwise, an electrician can do the work and have you up and running quickly.

If you are a DIYer, the first step is to turn off the power to the circuit you are working with. After you turn the switch off at the circuit breaker, make sure you test the outlet with a light or other appliance before you proceed to make sure it doesn't have any current. Next, you'll need to remove the old outlet with a screwdriver and disconnect the wiring. Then, simply connect your new outlet, carefully following the manufacturer instructions. It's extremely important that you reconnect all the wires properly, including the ground wire.

Convenience and Simplicity for Your Devices

Once the new outlet is wired up and screwed into the wall, flip the circuit back on and you should be good to go. Give the new USB outlet a test drive with your phone or tablet, and then sit back and enjoy the convenience and simplicity. Unfortunately, you still need to have an appropriate cord around to take advantage of the USB outlet, but at least you can do away with the cumbersome adapter. That frees up space, since adapters are often so bulky that they cover multiple outlets even though they only use one. Plus, the built-in USB ports limit the electrical current to whatever amount is required to charge the device.

You don't need combo outlets everywhere you have a plug, but if you put them in highly-traveled areas like the kitchen, office and bedroom, you will have easy access to their charging power whenever you need it. Those readers who enjoy perusing their phones in the bathroom can even put a combo outlet by the sink – just make sure you don't get water on your device!

Recharge Your Life with the Help of an Electrician

If you need any help installing or upgrading outlets in your home, call an expert electrician today.

If you’ve ever known someone who had a house fire break out in the middle of the night, or had a circuit breaker issue at 3 AM, then you know how important 24 hour electricians are. Like many issues related to being a homeowner, electrical problems rarely occur neatly between the hours of 9 AM-5 PM, Monday – Friday. Even when they do, it’s rare that an electrician can be dispatched to fix them right away, which can leave the homeowner and their family vulnerable to dangerous conditions.

Even in this day and age of modern technology and electricity, many house fires are caused by a fault in the home’s electrical system. It could be due to old or faulty wiring; it could simply be a bad wire that has created a spark, or it could be an overload. Whatever the reason, the results can be devastating.

In addition to house fires, faulty wiring can also cause less serious but still risky issues such as frequent blackouts or circuit breaker problems. This may not be life-threatening the way a fire is, but it can cost you money in both electrical repair costs and costs to replace appliances. When appliances are constantly exposed to electrical outages and surges, they can wear out much faster, meaning they need to be repaired or replaced more often.

If you contact a 24-hour electrician as soon as you notice a concern, you can head off many major electrical problems while they are still small. While the cost may be greater than calling for an electrician during business hours, a 24 hour electrician can provide peace of mind during situations that can be very stressful. They can replace circuits, make repairs on wires and wiring systems, and ensure your home is safe to inhabit. In the event larger repairs are required, they can make sure the parts you need are obtained and installed before too much time passes.

If you’ve never had to call for an electrician, plumber, or another service at any time besides business hours, you might be unfamiliar with how the process works. Here’s what happens when you make that 3 AM call for an emergency electrician:

No one likes to think about needing an emergency electrician. After all, the cost for an after-hours appointment with any service will be high, and the news may not be positive. However, when it comes to your home, major electrical problems can cause house fires and other issues which will cost you money over the long run. Reaching out to an emergency electrician at the first sign of trouble can help save not only your home but your life as well.