What to Do Before Calling A Sparky

HELP! I don't have any electricity are words we hear more often than not. Here are a few steps and things to check before calling in an electrical professional - you might be able to save yourself a few dollars!

Are you in a unit, apartment or townhouse complex? You most likely will have a submeter board inside your place AS WELL AS the main switchboard outside. Make sure you locate both of these when do your checks below.

Lights working but power points faulty

More often than not, it's the actual appliance that's faulty - not the power point. Find another appliance that you know is working (a lamp is good), and plug that in to test the power socket. If it works, then you need an appliance repairer (or just a new appliance).

If that doesn't work, head to your switchboard to see if the circuit has tripped. Identify your safety switch and find the ‘test’ button on the front of it. Reset the safety switch. If it trips again immediately then follow these steps:

Step 1 - Unplug and remove from the power point (simply switching off the power point will not work) the last electrical appliance that you were using and try to reset the safety switch. If this resolves the problem then have the appliance in question checked by your appliance specialist.

Step 2 - If step 1 does not fix the problem then unplug ALL appliances in the house from their power points (simply switching off the power point will not work). Ensure that you also unplug the microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, pool equipment (don’t worry about hard wired items). Try to reset the safety switch again.

Step 3 - If step 2 has resolved your problem then plug in a radio and turn it up so that you can hear it throughout the house. Plug your appliances back in one by one. The faulty appliance will trip the safety switch and the radio will go silent. Unplug that item and have it repaired by your appliance specialist. Reset your safety switch, you have found the fault.

Step 4 - If step 2 does not rectify the problem then check to ensure that ALL appliances are unplugged (simply switching off the power point will not work) and try step 2 again. If you cannot find the fault then contact your licenced electrician to investigate (or if you are one of our tenants, give our office or emergency maintenance line a call).

Lights not working

Check that the bulb hasn't blown. Yes, this sounds really obvious, but you'd be surprised how often it happens. Try a new bulb in the light fitting. If the light is still not working call a licenced electrician to have the fitting checked (or if you are one of our tenants, give our office or emergency maintenance line a call).

Lights & power points not working

EUSTON! We have a problem! Lights & power points not working? Firstly, head out onto the street to see if the street lights are on and that your neighbours have power. If it looks like there is a power outage in your area, give your electricity provider a call to notify them of the issue. There is nothing anyone can do until Energex gets out to fix the problem.

Are you the only one in your street that doesn't appear to have electricity? Your first point of call is to head to your switchboard to see if the circuit has tripped. Identify your safety switch and find the ‘test’ button on the front of it. Reset the safety switch. If you still don't have any power then contact your licenced electrician to investigate (or if you are one of our tenants, give our office or emergency maintenance line a call).

House struck by lightning

If the house is struck by lighting the safety switch will trip as it’s designed to do. Take a deep breath and turn it back on once the storm has passed. Check you don't have any issues turning any of your other appliances on.

Have you tried all the above and still having issues? Send me a message HERE to let me know the issue to give you some assistance, or if you are a tenant of ours, call the emergency maintenance number on 0434 409 921.

ARE YOU A TENANT OF OURS & CALLING OUT OF HOURS? Remember you will be responsible for the $250 call out fee if you have not completed the above checks and the electrician comes out to find the fault is with one of your appliances or light bulbs. The owners are responsible for the electrical infrastructure, but if the electrician determines the issue is due to one of your appliances, then you will have to pay the bill.