Faulty wiring can be a huge source of problems for many houses in New Zealand. For starters, it increases the risk of accidents like fires. Poor wiring job also decreases the electrical capacity of a home, which may cause damages to electrical appliances and gadgets. Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners aren’t aware that they do need to rewire their entire house. If you’re in the same situation and you’re not sure whether to have your house rewired, our short guide below may help you figure things out.
Signs you Need a full House Rewire in NZ
New Zealand offers an array of housing types ranging from attached townhouses to standalone residential buildings. It’s also quite common to for Kiwis to live in homes built in the 50s to 70s, which often come with dated electrical wirings. As a rule of thumb, if you live in a property that’s more than 30 years old, you must have your wiring checked and updated to the latest standards. You must act quickly to prevent untoward incidents that may arise from faulty electrical wiring. You should also consider checking your wires residence if you’re planning a major renovation job.
In case you’re not sure how old your property is or if you doubt the value of getting a full house rewire, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the tell-tale warning signs below:
- The persistent scent of electrical burn
- Seeing brown markings on switches and sockets
- Frequent blowing of fuse or tripping of the circuit breaker
- Dimming or flickering lights all around your house
- Hearing sizzling or buzzing sounds
- Frequent need to replace light bulbs
- Unexplainable power outages
If you observe the signs of faulty home electrical wiring above, you need to call your trusted electrician right away. Otherwise, you might end up with a less energy-efficient home, increased risk for fires and electrocution, and damaged appliances.
I’m ready for a House to Rewire, What’s Next?
Supposed you’re ready to get your house rewired by our team of electricians. What happens next? What should you expect from the job? Does this mean the electrician has to cut off power in every part of the residence?
Essentially, a full electrical rewiring job involves the following steps:
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- Creating a detailed inventory of every electrical device in your home
- Checking for existing infrastructure in the property such as plumbing work
- Removing all the old wires in your residence as well as steel conduit
- Adding cables with tough plastic sheath
- Upgrading the fuse board
- Installing protective equipment such as RCDs
- Replacing switches, light fixtures and other old fittings
- Relocating the power meter
- Testing the new system installed
Depending on the complexity of your electrical wiring system and the size your home, a typical rewiring job can last for a couple of day or several more. However, this doesn’t mean that your entire house won’t have electricity during the length of the service. With careful planning, you can set up temporary spaces for cooking and doing chores while our electricians complete the job.
Ideally, you should consider getting the rewiring job done before you make new updates such a kitchen revamp. This way, you ensure that the electrical system in your home becomes suited for modern-day living. You may also have the job done separately from a renovation project. This way you can prepare everything before you start installing new fixtures and whatnot.
How much does it Cost to do a Full House Rewire in New Zealand?
Note that’s virtually impossible to provide you with a ballpark figure on how much an average rewiring job costs in NZ. This is because we must consider a few factors when providing a quote. These factors include the following:
- The complexity of the wiring system (this includes the number of fittings and electrical wiring)
- Size of your property
- Accessibility of the wires through the ceiling and sub-flooring
- The extent of the electrical rewiring task
- The hourly rate of your electrician
To help you compute the average costs of your home rewiring project, you can note the following rates below:
- The hourly cost of hiring an electrician: $40 to $90 (excluding GST)
- Inspection of your home’s electrical system: $250 to $400
- Installation costs of power socket: $150 to $250
- Wiring upgrades: The rate relies on the type of electrical wiring material you prefer to use plus your home’s size and electrical requirements.
Get your NZ Home Rewired Today!
Needless to say, a home rewiring service is definitely a must if you want to prevent mishaps and other unnecessary expenses like buying a new fuse or replacing an overloaded appliance. Whether you live in a dated or a modern house, it pays to have a fully functional electrical system that meets the current standards.
With the help of our professional electricians here at Hall Electrical, you can have your wires inspected and replaced in no time. Call us today to book your appointment!