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Home Rewire: What should I consider when I have to get my house rewired?

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

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Power Saving Tips: How Can I Save Money On My Power Bills?

Q: How can I save money on my power bills?

A: With the price of electricity continuing to climb, taking steps to reduce your power usage is very sensible. Here are 11 ways to do that;

  1. Consider replacing your existing heating source with heat pumps. These are the most efficient way to heat your home and some models also help clean the air, making them ideal for allergy and asthma sufferers.
  2. Install timers on your heated towel rail. This ensures you always have dry towels when you need them, but are not using any more power than necessary.
  3. Replace manual outdoor lights with sensor lights. These come on when there is movement within their field of vision, such as when you are returning home or leaving in dark.
  4. The largest user of electricity in any home is the hot water cylinder. Turn it down to 60° and you’ll feel the effect in your wallet but not in your shower.
  5. To conserve warmth, on winter evenings close your curtains as soon as the sun goes down. Close doors to rooms that don’t need
  6. Replace windows with double glazing to reduce the amount of heat escaping outside.
  7. Stop up any draughts you can find to prevent cold air seeping in.
  8. Use your microwave instead of your oven to cook food. Heating the oven uses lots of power so when using it cook several dishes at once.
  9. A gas hob is more economical than an electric one, partly because the gas is instant whereas it takes time for an electric element to heat up.
  10. Install a ceiling fan (the type with blades) to move warm air down. This is especially useful if your house has high ceilings. Warm air rises and a fan will bring it back down to where it’s needed.
  11. Insulate your ceiling, walls and floors. There is a government subsidy available to help with this through EECA. Visit www.eeca.govt.nz/ to see if you are eligible.

Contact us with any questions you might have

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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 + gst (in Auckland).
  • Apprentice electricians are around $25 to $40 per hour + gst 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 $75.00 and $120.00 + gst.

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.

Book an Electrical Repair | Free Electrical Proposal and Quote | Free Electrical Services Audit and Proposal | Free Brochure

** 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.

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Replace Double Adaptors & Multiboxes by Adding More Power Points

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
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Hall Electrical Team: Staff Spot Light

Hatches, matches and despatches: Matt Lombard
The Hall Electrical team turned out en masse for the recent wedding of one of its electricians, Matt Lombard. Matt married his partner, Toni-Anne Dowie, in a tear-shedding ceremony at one of Matakana’s finest vineyards.

The pair met at a farewell function for a friend of a friend, and once cupid’s arrow struck they set up house together in Papatoetoe, just a stone’s throw from where Toni-Anne works as an early childhood teacher.

There was no immediate honeymoon for the newly married pair, Matt says that will have to wait until the end of the year. And the honeymoon destination? “I haven’t been told yet.”

Down but definitely not out: Larissa Mutton
It says something about a staff member’s dedication if they break their arm, yet still show up for work the next day.

But that’s exactly what Hall Electrical’s company accountant, Larissa Mutton, did when she managed to break both forearm bones and her elbow while warming up for her regular roller skating routine one recent Sunday afternoon. Hoping it wasn’t serious but in intense pain, Larissa managed to drive herself to A&E.

Working with a cast on the arm you use for everything from brushing your teeth to signing your name can be somewhat awkward, but fortunately Larissa is ambidextrous, so work is continuing as per normal.

Any injury requires follow-up medical appointments, which can be rather time-consuming affairs under our health system, but even though she needed surgery, in all Larissa took only two days off work. This greatly pleased boss, Phil Hall, as he has relied on Larissa for 12 years to ensure accounts are dealt with on time.

Still on the mend, Larissa is hoping to get her skates strapped back on very soon so she can keep her place in her precision skating team.

New team member: Jeremy Williams
Business is expanding rapidly at Hall Electrical and we found we needed the services of an additional electrician. Jeremy Williams has joined our team of top-rate, highly qualified sparkies, working with both our residential and commercial clients.

However, a word of caution – if you hear him surreptitiously making noises like an aircraft engine, our advice is just ignore him. Before joining us he was working as a flying instructor out at Ardmore as he just loves to fly. But he was also a boxer for eight years and now does Brazilian jujitsu, so it pays to stay on his good side!

We’re kidding, he’s really a lovely bloke and we’re pleased he’s joined us. He hasn’t been with us long but has been doing great work for one of our clients who produces steel roll forming products.

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Home Security Systems – Choosing the best option

In the many years we have been installing home security systems here at Hall Electrical, one thing has become very evident. As a deterrent, light works better than sound. Think about how often you hear a burglar alarm going off in a house or car but don’t even bother to investigate. It just happens too often.
Burglars know this and behave just as we do – they ignore it and get on with stealing your precious possessions.

But, when they suddenly find themselves in the centre of a beam of light, they are much more likely to turn tail and disappear. Being visible – especially if your property is overlooked by others – makes recognising a face and therefore apprehension by the police very much easier. Burglars know this and act accordingly.

So, when considering a home security system, keep this firmly in mind.
Something else you may not be aware of is that many more people come on to your property than you realise, especially at night. And the darker it is, the more confident they are about moving around undetected.

Installing lights around your property that automatically turn on when there is movement achieves three goals:

  • It stops burglars in their tracks because suddenly they can be seen.
  • It discourages them from coming back.
  • It prevents damage to your property.

In order to gain access, burglars break locks or windows, and this can be costly to repair. Plus, knowing that someone has been inside your home, looking through your belongings is very upsetting. But if you make it harder for burglars or prowlers to get inside in the first place, it will save you both money and stress.

There are several obvious areas where you need to install automatic security lights. These include your carport, paths and walkways, and all entrances to your house. You should also light up your front gate to deter unwanted visitors from even setting foot on your property. You may even wish to install a device at your entrance that sounds a siren in your house (or beeps or chirps) whenever someone comes in your gate.

It is also advisable to light up any dark alcoves on your property where someone might be able to lurk unseen. This is especially important if you have young children.
Lighting up your property should be your first step in home security. To my mind, it is the cheapest and most effective form of deterrent.

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Electrical faults in the home and what to do about them

magine this: you’re having a busy day doing the washing and ironing, making meals for the week ahead, and getting your housework done.

Suddenly, in the middle of it all, the power goes off. Sometimes to your whole house, but more commonly to just one group of power sockets or lights.

What do you do and how do you fix it?

Before calling an electrician, try solving the problem yourself. It’s easy to work out which of the two most common household electrical faults is the culprit – an overload or a wiring fault.

Lights can blow the fuse if a light bulb blows or a fault occurs on the circuit. To identify the problem:

  • Turn off all the lights and reset the tripped fuse.
  • Turn on the lights one at a time.
  • If there is a faulty light, it will trip the fuse.
  • Turn it off, reset the fuse, and turn on other lights again – ensuring the faulty one is left switched off.

With power points, nine times out of ten the fault will be with an appliance. While all may be working perfectly fine, too many appliances on one circuit can cause the fuse to blow. A faulty appliance or wiring can also blow the fuse. To identify the culprit:

  • Turn off all your appliances.
  • Turn them on one at a time.
  • If one trips the fuse straight away, you know the appliance is faulty.
  • If the fuse blows after a little while, the problem is an overload.

Determining whether it is a fault or an overload will make it quicker for an electrician to fix. Instead of spending time identifying the cause, he can head straight to the fault, saving him time and you money. And remember, always choose a qualified, registered electrician to carry out repairs on your home. After all, the lives of your loved ones are extremely precious.

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Registered Electricians – Why you need one

Every Yellow Pages in the country contains pages and pages of electricians and electrical contractors. So, when you need one for either an emergency or some improvements you’re planning, how do you choose?

It’s hard to tell merely from an advert whether a company is reputable, whether it has been around long, whether it will charge you what it has quoted and whether the electricians they send you are properly qualified to do the job.

At the very least, you need a registered electrician. This is someone who has spent four years working and studying full-time in the electrical industry. They will have passed written and practical tests, achieved nationally recognised unit standards, and successfully sat a final exam on theory and the extremely complex electrical regulations.

On top of this, registered electricians must each year renew their practising licence, issued by the Electricity Registration Board, so that they are up to speed on any changes in the industry. When an electrician comes to your house or place of work, always ask to see this practising licence.

Using a registered electrician will guarantees that all electrical work is carried out safely and competently. And, if the electrical contracting company you use is a Master Electrician, a member of the Electrical Contractors Association, the threshold for quality workmanship is even higher.

As a member, a Master Electrician electrical contractor undertakes to conduct business in a safe, competent and professional manner. Under the Association’s rules, a member’s workmanship is backed by a $10,000 guarantee.

One question we are often asked is how much electrical work can someone do who is not a registered electrician, but who is perhaps a pretty good home handyman? The answer is not very much. Non-registered electricians are not allowed, by law, to make anything live, nor can they hook up anything to a switchboard.

Registered electricians, on the other hand, carry test equipment to check that every aspect of the work they do is safe whereas unqualified electricians simply may not know whether their work is safe or not. And given that the people most likely to be using electrical equipment in your house are your friends and loved ones, why would you want to play Russian roulette with their safety and their lives? Always, always use a registered or Master electrician when doing electrical work around your home.

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Security Lighting Repairs

Electrician for Security Lighting Repairs: Fault finding, rewiring, bulb, sensor & fixture replacement

When your security lighting is not working properly it can simply be an annoyance that you want fixed or it could be a serious security issue that needs to be resolved ASAP. Either way, security lighting faults are relatively common, and are normally straightforward to resolve. When you’re dealing with electrical power, using an Electrician is a must. Common security lighting faults are;

  • Bulb failure
  • Sensor not working
  • Timer not working
  • Light fixture damage

Repairing your security lights normally starts with quickly testing and tracing the fault. Once an electrician has identified the issue, they can then resolve by cleaning contact points and replacing the necessary parts or the full fixture if required. Once compete, the light operation is tested to ensure everything is working as per normal. Once again you will have security lights that provide you with convenience and security assurance.

Need an Electrician for your Security Lighting Repair?

Hall Electrical can assist you with your electrical repair. Call us on 09 379 9198

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Power Saving: 5 Top Tips to Save Money on Electricity this Winter

How Power Saving can help you save money on your Electricity

Power bills will be higher than ever this winter. Not only are electricity prices going up, but from October there’ll be an increase in GST. But most of us are not being paid more, so we need to reduce the amount of electricity we use.

But how? No doubt you already turn off appliances at the wall. If you do that for every one which has an LED light, you could be saving 10 percent on your power bill.

But, what else can you do? Here are 5 further ways to save on your power bill:

Shop around. Is your power company the cheapest? Don’t know? Visit the Consumer Power Switch website (www.consumer.org.nz/powerswitch) and see if you’re paying more than you need to. However, before you move companies just be sure no penalties will be applied.

Be miserly. Our parents taught us to close doors when we left a room, to keep the heat in, and to turn out lights that weren’t needed. Heed their advice. Wash your clothes in cold water. Plenty of washing powders today are designed specifically for cold washes. Buy energy efficient light bulbs. And, here’s a biggie: only fill the kettle with as much water as you need for your cuppa. We waste a lot of power boiling water we don’t use.

Buy cleverly. When choosing new appliances, check their energy efficiency rating. The higher the rating, the more money you save. When buying a new heater, check that it is the most economical available. For instance, gas will be much cheaper to run than an oil-filled electric heater.

Shower quickly. Did you know that heating water is a major part of your power bill? Long showers and deep baths use up lots of hot water. Keep showers short and baths shallow. Using a low-flow shower head also saves on hot water use.

Use the sun. Keep curtains open during the day to let in the warmth, and close them at dusk to keep it in. If trees shade your house, cut them back. The difference in warmth will astound you.