In our last blog, Power Surge Protection: How it Works, we uncovered what a power surge is, that we should use a surge protector to protect devices from these power surges and how surge protectors work. Now we will take a deeper look at where and how you should be using these surge protectors and how to purchase a quality surge protector.

Where to Use it

With the advancement in technology in recent decades, devices are now made much smaller and more delicate than components in older machines. This makes them even more sensitive to power surges than in later years and can be easily damaged with a sudden increase in voltages being passed through the device. Determining which devices should be connected to a surge protector has a lot to do with the importance of the device and the sensitivity of its components. You wouldn’t bother using a surge protector on all your light bulbs considering they are fairly inexpensive to replace and it will only affect one component whereas, your computer is consumed with numerous different components that are highly sensitive to voltage variation.  Damage to a device like this is highly expensive, and many times the data held on it is irreplaceable. Use your own judgment to determine the importance of your device and whether you believe that it should be protected with a surge protector. We recommend considering all of your high-end electrical devices.

Purchasing Tips

It is difficult to determine the effectiveness of a surge protector and because of this, it makes it difficult to ensure that you are purchasing one of quality. We recommend starting your search by comparing prices, as with many other purchases, higher price indicates higher value. Of course, we know that this is not a guarantee and therefore need to be aware of other possible quality determinants. Thanks to Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an independent, non-profit organization that tests electrical products, including surge protectors, for safety, we can determine recognize quality through certification. Surge protectors with both a UL listing and a transient voltage surge suppressor listing ensures that the device meets industry performance standards and is rated on the basis of the surge protectors capability to protect your devices.

For more information on power surges and how to protect your equipment, contact the experts at Expert Electric. 604-681-8338

You Can Be Liable for Unlicensed Electrical Work

07/30/15

Revamping your home's electrical work can be a big headache. You need to find a qualified electrician and write what could be a hefty check for work that might require opening holes in your walls and temporarily making a mess of your home. The last thing you want after a big electrical project is to have to tear it all out and redo the job all over again. That could be the scenario you face, however, if you cut corners and don't hire a licensed electrician to take on the task. Fly-by-night contractors might be cheaper at the outset, but they can cost you big time in the end if they don't follow the local building code, leaving you liable for the faults in your home wiring.

Fanning the Building Code Fires

Some contractors might complain about having to follow local code, but it's in place for a reason – it helps ensure that any work done on your home is performed safely and effectively. Local code standards are particularly important when it comes to electrical work, because faulty wiring and connections can lead to short circuits or even an electrical fire, putting your family at risk.

That's why technicians who do electrical work are required to maintain a license, secure permits and schedule inspections for many home projects. Unfortunately, there are electricians who are tempted to skip the code requirements in order to avoid the time and expense of compliance. They might quote you a lower price, but shoddy workmanship can leave you on the hook for a lot more money overall.

Limit Your Exposure to Liability

If your local government figures out that you are working on an electrical project, they can send an inspector to check it out. If the work isn't up to code, you'll have to remedy the problem before you pass inspection. And if your electrician isn't licensed, you have little recourse to correct the faulty electrical work besides paying out of pocket for someone else to redo the entire thing. Worse, if your electrical system does cause a fire that leads to injury or death, you could be civilly liable for huge sums.

Licensed electricians, on the other hand, have more incentive to follow the rules to begin with, since they could lose their certification if they don't. Furthermore, you may have an easier time recouping your investment in the event of unsafe or incomplete work if you can prove that you did your due diligence and hired a licensed electrician.

Good Work Done Right

To avoid code and permitting issues, hire only licensed technicians for your electrical work and ask them to show you all the relevant permits. Protect yourself and your home by holding out for competent contractors so you know the work is done right the first time.

The electrical installations in our home are something we take for granted, until the time some problem arises; that’s when we realise exactly how dependent we are on electricity on a daily basis. And when something goes wrong, you start looking for an electrical company that will respond promptly and solve the problem quickly.

You will find a multitude of electrical companies listed online. However, identifying one that is credible and provides quick, efficient and cost-effective services can pose a challenge. It’s important that you be prudent while hiring an electrical contractor.

The one way to be sure you are dealing with expert professionals is to do a bit of groundwork. This means you won’t have to struggle to look for a reliable electrician in case an electrical emergency arises. Here are a few tips that will help you choose a trusted and professional electrician:

This is a very important aspect you should be taking into account. The company you hire should be local to your area. You can never predict when an electrical emergency would arise, and you need to be sure that the electrician will be able to reach your location as quickly as possible.

There are a number one-man electrical businesses in Sydney and many of these electricians are experienced and highly-skilled too. However, if they are already handling some job when you call, they won’t be able to attend to your requirement quickly. The one way to avoid this kind of a situation is to hire the services of a larger company. These companies deploy their vehicles to different locations within their service area.

When you call them, they promptly contact one of their electricians that are in the vicinity of your location and send them over to attend to your request. Even as you look for a contractor, keep in view that a very large company may not be able to provide you personalised services and customised solutions. It’s important to choose a company that would be able to cater to your specific needs.

There are a number of different electrical services you may need, ranging from something as simple as getting a fan installed to more complex jobs like complete rewiring upgrades on your property. Only experienced and well-trained professionals would be able to handle all these jobs with expertise. The company you contact should have experienced electricians on their team and should invest in upgrade training for them; that’s the one way the electricians would be able to keep their skills sharp.

Look for a company that’s professional and efficient. Electrical problems have a way of throwing things out of gear. The electrician that comes to fix it should be able to quickly identify what the problem is and fix it expertly and quickly. They should work in an unobtrusive manner and focus on reducing the downtime caused by the electrical issue.

Only a credible and well-established company will make efforts to maintain complete transparency in their dealings with their clients. They should provide a detailed quote and look to provide you value for money. Only a company that’s confident of their workmanship and quality of services will provide guarantees for their work.

We are a reputed and experienced company that is focused on providing high-quality solutions at competitive pricing. For any information about our services, feel free to call Allround Electrical at 1300 169 263. You can also write to us at this email address.

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