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Operations Manager: Dave Morrison
With the rapid growth Hall Electrical has achieved in the last two years the need arose for someone to help Phil with the day to day running of the company. Dave Morrison, who has been with Hall electrical 17 years, has now been appointed to the new position of operations manager freeing up Phil’s time to further promote and grow the company. Good luck in your new role Dave.
New Team Member: Mark Tabrum
In early May Mark joined the team specialising in repairs for our very special commercial and domestic clients. Previously Mark had installed home ventilation systems until he got the passion to further his studies and become a qualified sparky. Before joining us Mark had been in full time study to complete his training.
Mark loves his sport coaching 3rd grade rugby league for the Howick Club during the week and playing 20/20 cricket on a Monday night. He has also recently rejoined the Howick Golf Club hoping to get back to the 11 handicap he had as a 19 year old.
New Apprentice: Ben Hepburn
With two of our apprentices, Johnny and Cole, nearly out of their apprenticeships it was time for Hall Electrical to look for more “boys” to train. Ben started with us in early August on a trial run and has quickly adapted into his new role.
Nicknamed “Fish’ because he is the new fish in a big pond his early morning chores include emptying the rubbish bins and getting the boss a coffee. With a bit more training he will be promoted to the vacuuming. Ben’s interests include soccer, softball and water polo.
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
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;
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- To conserve warmth, on winter evenings close your curtains as soon as the sun goes down. Close doors to rooms that don’t need
- Replace windows with double glazing to reduce the amount of heat escaping outside.
- Stop up any draughts you can find to prevent cold air seeping in.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
