We regularly rewire houses, usually a couple of homes a week, so we know the problems that can  occur and what it takes to get everything right.

I have tried to answer the most frequently asked questions:

Do we have to move out?
No. Power will be off for parts of the day or days but it won’t cause major problems. We never leave fridges or freezers off and try to cause as little disruption as possible.

Do we have to stay home?
No. We can be trusted to be in your home if you go out .We will even make sure the cat stays inside if that is what you want.

All our team has Police Security Clearance leaving you confident we won’t nosey around or touch things.

How long will it take to rewire?
Usually in a normal sized home it takes one to one and a half days to rewire the lights and the same to rewire the power.

Two storey homes take a little longer as they can be tricky.

Do I need to buy torches?
No. We make sure before we leave at the end of each day that the lights and power are going again. You will hardly know we have been there.

Do you have to make holes?
Sometimes but we really try to avoid it. Occasionally we just can’t get the new wiring in without making holes but we will tell you first and give you all the options.

Can we use our kitchen?
Yes, we always make sure you are fully functional to cook dinner every night.


Learn more about our House Rewiring Service >

How much does an electrician charge / cost?
 
This is a question we are regularly asked when people phone us. 
An answer I like is:  How much will it cost you if you choose a bad one.
 
FACTS

• Electrician’s hourly charge out rates vary between $40.00 and $90.00 per hour (In Auckland).
• Apprentice electricians are around $25 to $35 per hour depending how far through their apprenticeship they are or how competent they are at the task they are doing. Quite often it is cheaper for you to have a tradesman and “boy” as they can achieve more in a quicker time.
• Some companies have a minimum charge of between $60.00 and $120.00.

 
Electricity can kill you if done wrong. You only have loved ones and friends in your home so why would you risk using an electrician just because he or she is the cheapest? Surely you would pick one that has been recommended ** to you by a friend or comes with the qualifications and backing of a reputable company that has the resources, knowledge and experience to give you what you pay for.  At a fair and reasonable price.
 
If the difference in hourly rates is $10.00 then the cheaper electrician only has to sit under your house for 15 minutes or not be confident in what they are doing so it takes them longer to carry out the job and you are paying the same price. 
 
As in everything “you get what you pay for”. 
 
Our electricians are master electricians. That means they carry the $10,000.00 guarantee from The Electrical Contractors Association that the work will be done correctly and to the regulations.  
 
All our electricians regularly attend refresher and first aid courses and are highly competent in what they do. They also go to seminars and display shows to keep up with the latest things on the market so they can advise you on what is new and cool.
 
All our vans carry the correct testing equipment and parts required for most jobs. 

I don’t go to the cheapest doctor or the cheapest mechanic for obvious reasons. I hope this helps you when you come to choose your electrical professional.
 
Check out what our clients say about us throughout our website.




 
** Check out www.nocowboys.co.nz and type Hall Electrical Services in the search box on the left hand side and see how customers have rated us.

WARNING = DOUBLE ADAPTORS – MULTIBOXES

I go into homes all the time and see multiboxes running multiple appliances and double adapters plugged into each other and then plugged into 1 power point.

Quite often there are extension cords running off through doorways (or secured around the door frame using household pins) into other rooms with another multibox plugged in. This is a recipe for disaster.

When too many things are plugged into one outlet you start overloading the whole electrical system.

Overloading and loose connections are two major causes of electrical fires in New Zealand. The more connections there are between the switchboard and the appliance the more chance of overheating and then catching fire.

You only have your loved ones and friends in your home so why risk it.

The solution:

• Swap that single power point for a double or quad power point.
• Install another power point where you need one and eliminate the extension cord.
• Have an electrician check to see the fuses or circuit breakers are rated to do there correct job.
• Balance electrical loads so not too much is on one circuit
• If you use an extension cord don’t use it rolled up as this causes overheating as well 

Don’t forget: Regularly check your smoke detectors and batteries and that they are working properly.

What do you want from your exterior lights? To increase security? To create a romantic mood? To highlight aspects of your garden or landscaping?

Today, lights do all these and more. They can act as deterrents to burglars (see our post Home Security Systems – Choosing the best option), they can provide privacy, and they can even help you with household chores.

Many of us do not see our homes in daylight for much of the year – except at weekends. We leave for work before daybreak and arrive home after dark so chores like hanging out washing or putting out rubbish are done in the dark. Exterior lighting that guides you to the clothesline or the front gate reduces the likelihood of accidents, and makes it possible to get these chores done quickly and easily.

Safety when entering and exiting garages or carports is important to us all. It can be nerve-wracking to get into or out of your car in complete darkness. Lights on either side of your garage doors, which come on when a sensor is tripped, increase security while also helping you reach your front door without tripping over obstacles.

Instead of a sensor, you might prefer your exterior lights to be on a timer so they turn on and off at set times. This is particularly useful in commercial situations where staff need to access car parks after dark.

Garage door openers are never more useful than when connected to specific lights. This means that whenever you hit the “open door” button on your remote, it automatically triggers the lights. By the time you pull up at your house, the garage door is open and the lights are on.

Sometimes, functionality is less important than effect. For example, if you have a specimen tree that looks fabulous when lit-up, you could consider installing exterior lighting for this purpose. Or, if you have paths winding through your garden, they would look delightful with tiny lights all along them. Garden lighting can give depth to a property and help bring the outside in. Fortunately, garden lighting is low voltage, so beds do not need to be dug up for cables to be laid. Instead, they can sit just under the surface.

Water features such as fountains look stunning at night when lit from below and functional areas like spa and swimming pools can be infused with mystique when discreetly lit.

So, think about the effect as well as the function when choosing exterior lights for your property.

Does your house need rewiring?

Many houses in and around Auckland are now well over half a century old. While that gives them character and a certain sense of style, it also makes them potentially hazardous to live in.

You may not be aware that many houses built in the 1940s and 1950s were wired with vulcanised industrial rubber, or VIR. Naturally, over time, the rubber breaks down. This causes the insulation to then become brittle and fall off, which can expose the house to a possible electrical wiring fire.

For some time owners of older homes have been warned by the relevant authorities to replace this old wiring, if their home still had it. Many people have heeded the warning, but there are still many houses which retain the original wiring and are therefore dangerous. Is yours among them?

If your property has been purchased in recent years, you may be blissfully unaware of the state of your electrical wiring. It may, of course, have been upgraded to modern TPS (tough plastic sheath cable), which is extremely long lasting. But, again, it may not.

The smart thing to do is check. If safety is not sufficient reason to have your wiring looked at, here’s another: Many insurance companies are now refusing to renew their cover on houses which have not been rewired. That alone tells you how serious the issue is.

However, the solution is not difficult. Give Hall Electrical a call and we’ll come and check out your wiring. We will even provide a full report on the state of your electrical wiring for your insurance company.
If we find that your house does need rewiring, we will give you a free quote that details all the necessary work and how much it is likely to cost.

If you decide to rewire your house, it usually takes two to three days. But here’s the good news: we won’t leave you without lights or power during that time. Plus your fridge and freezer will be quite safe while the power is off. We’ll make absolutely sure of it.