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Book an Electrical Safety Report
Did you know that property owners have a duty under electrical safety laws to ensure their rental property is electrically safe for tenants and people that visit or work on the property?
We often find that the dangers of unsafe and uncompliant wiring and electrical installations are not realised until after the property is purchased. This is why we have introduced our Electrical Safety report which is available to anyone who is looking to purchase a property.
Electrical Safety Reports – Essential for anyone looking to purchase a property
We have located many different electrical faults through our visual and testing procedures. Electricity cannot be seen; it has the potential to be dangerous.
Being aware of the electrical safety in your new potential home or investment property is a step in the right direction.
This way you can –
- Make an informed decision on the purchase
- Budget for any repair work that may be needed
- Know that the property you may be living or leasing in is safe for you or your tenants.
This service is available prior to purchasing the property and will be conducted in a similar manner to the pre-sale Building and Pest Inspection.
Electrical systems are usually installed in a way so that most of the system is not visible. This is why it is so important to get it checked by a professional.
What we check:
Safety switches
- Safety switches play an extremely important role in protecting people from electric shock.
- Did you know that, by law, domestic rental properties, which includes houses and units, must have a safety switch fitted to power point circuits as a minimum?
- The Electrical Safety Office are also recommending that a safety switch be installed on each circuit.
- We locate and test the safety switch.
Circuit Breakers
- Circuit breakers are designed to protect circuit wiring and equipment.
- It is important to note that sometimes people can mistake circuit breakers for safety switches and whilst they protect circuit wiring and equipment, they do not protect people from electric shock.
Smoke Alarms
- Check that the current smoke alarms are up to the latest standards. This includes checking the positioning of the smoke alarms, type of smoke alarms, and date of manufacture.
- Check the condition of existing smoke alarms.
- Test that the smoke alarms are working correctly.
Earthing Stake
- The earthing stake is an important part of the electrical system of houses. It is designed to form a ground field or electrical path to dissipate a static discharge voltage (which can be lightning or other forms of static electricity) to the earth. When you ground electricity, you will be using a ground rod in most cases.
- Older homes used to utilise Galivanted pipes as the earthing rod. We have found in most cases that these old earthing rods have actually corroded at the ground level and are not connected to the mass of the earth anymore.
- We check for any corrosion or damage to the earthing stake or the cable connecting to it.
Maintaining solar PV systems
- You should have your solar power system inspected and maintained by a licensed electrical contractor every year.
- We check the panels are clear of debris.
- Check the panels are clean, secure and free of defects.
- Check that the switches are free of defects.
- Ensure that no parts have deteriorated or corroded.
- Check the wiring’s insulation is not deteriorated or damaged.
- Never do your own electrical maintenance or repairs on your system. Besides the risk of a fall, it is illegal and there are serious electrical safety risks in ceiling spaces and on roof tops. If you do any household maintenance activity near solar PV power systems, take care around the electrical cables running from the panels on the roof to the inverter unit, as they will have electricity flowing through them when the solar panels are generating electricity during the day.
Roof Spaces
- There are serious electrical dangers in the roof because there are lots of electrical cables up there. We provide a visual electrical inspection to check the wiring’s insulation is not deteriorated or damaged.
- Check for signs of any DIY work.
- Check for cabling run too close to tin.
- Important reminder – if you need to get into the roof space, make sure you turn off all the main power switches at the switchboard first.
- Check for any rubber cabling.
Overhead Powerlines and Service Lines
- Visual inspection of overhead and service lines connected to the house
- While these lines are usually insulated, the insulation may become brittle with age and a simple knock may cause it to break away and expose live wires.
- Always be aware and keep clear of overhead powerlines and service lines (connected to the house) especially if you’re working around the home, painting, using long objects or ladders.
- If a service line is damaged or falls to the ground, stay away from it and contact Energex, Essential Energy or Ergon Energy.
Electrical Equipment
- As a property owner, you are responsible for maintaining electrical equipment that’s hard-wired into your property, like air-conditioners, bathroom fan heater lights, solar panels and electric hot water systems to ensure they are safe.
- If you supply any electrical appliances, such as washing machines or dishwashers as part of the tenancy agreement, it is also your responsibility to ensure they are in good working order.
- Extend the safe use lifetime of your equipment by following the manufacturer’s maintenance and servicing guidelines.
- Don’t forget to turn off and unplug equipment before cleaning or maintenance. Remember to turn the power off even before you do simple tasks such as changing a light bulb.
We offer varying levels of assessment
Level 1 – Visual Inspection
A basic overview of the property’s electrical health
39
99
Monthly -
Visual inspection of switch board
-
Visual inspection & test of safety switches
-
Brief visual inspection inside the roof cavity
-
Visual inspection of light fittings, switches & socket outlets
-
Visual inspection of Smoke Alarms
-
Written report on findings & recommendations
Level 2 – Visual & Testing Inspection
Moderated overview of the property’s electrical health
$
39
99
Monthly -
Visual inspection of switch board
-
Visual inspection & test of safety switches
-
Visual inspection inside the roof cavity to assess current installations
-
Visual inspection of light fittings, switches & socket outlets
-
Visual inspection of Smoke Alarms
-
Visual inspection of Earthing Stake
-
Visual inspection of Solar PV systems
-
Polarity test socket outlets
-
Visual inspection of overhead powerlines and private power poles
-
Written report on findings & recommendations
Level 3 – Visual & Testing Inspection
Comprehensive overview of the property’s electrical health
$
39
99
Monthly -
Visual inspection of switch board
-
Visual inspection & test of safety switches
-
Visual inspection inside the roof cavity to assess current installations
-
Visual inspection of light fittings, switches & socket outlets
-
Visual inspection of Smoke Alarms
-
Visual inspection of Earthing Stake
-
Visual inspection of Solar PV systems
-
Polarity test socket outlets
-
Visual inspection of overhead powerlines and private power poles
-
Testing of electrical appliances and equipment
-
Carry out earth trailing lead testing to ensure all metal fixtures & appliances are within required values
-
Insulation resistance test final sub circuits (lights, power, stove etc) to assess current insulation integrity of cabling
-
Written report on findings & recommendations
It is up to the prospective purchaser, and real estate agent to liaise with the owner to organise a time.
Reliable, dependability with old fashion
decency, courtesy & respect.
At Reconnect Electrical we are your local, family owned and operated Electrical Contractors.
Being a family owned and operated business with a young family of our own, we do not swear around each other or our young children, which is why we don’t swear around yours.
