Your home’s electrical switchboard is the heart of your electrical system, distributing power throughout the house. Like any vital component, it requires maintenance and, occasionally, repair. Ignoring a faulty switchboard is more than an inconvenience—it’s a potential safety hazard. Knowing the early warning signs can help prevent costly repairs and dangerous situations. Here are five telltale signs that your switchboard may need repair, and how Grammar Electrical can help.
1. Flickering or Dimming Lights
One of the most obvious signs that something may be wrong with your switchboard is flickering or dimming lights. While it’s easy to blame a faulty lightbulb, the real issue could lie deeper. A failing switchboard may struggle to distribute a consistent current throughout your home, leading to inconsistent lighting. If you notice this happening across multiple rooms or areas, it's time to get it checked.
How Grammar Electrical Can Help: Our team of experienced electricians can quickly diagnose the root of the issue and assess whether your switchboard requires a repair, upgrade, or a complete replacement. We ensure your electrical system is working at peak efficiency to keep your home safe.
2. Circuit Breakers Frequently Trip
Circuit breakers are designed to protect your home by cutting off power during electrical overloads. However, if your breakers are tripping more often than usual, it’s a sign that your switchboard may be struggling to keep up. This could indicate that your home’s electrical demand exceeds the capacity of your current switchboard, or that there is a wiring issue.
How Grammar Electrical Can Help: Frequent breaker trips can be frustrating and dangerous. Grammar Electrical can perform a thorough inspection of your system to identify the cause and offer the best solution, whether it's rewiring or upgrading your switchboard to handle modern electrical loads.
3. Burning Smell or Scorch Marks
A burning smell or scorch marks near your switchboard are serious warning signs of overheating. This can occur due to loose connections, faulty wiring, or an overburdened switchboard that can’t handle your household’s electrical demands. If left unchecked, this can easily escalate into an electrical fire.
How Grammar Electrical Can Help: If you smell burning or notice any scorch marks, turn off the power and contact Grammar Electrical immediately. We provide emergency services to quickly address the issue and ensure your home is safe. We can repair damaged wiring or install a new switchboard to meet your home’s power needs safely.
4. Buzzing or Humming Sounds
Your switchboard should operate silently. If you hear buzzing, humming, or any unusual sounds, this could indicate electrical arcing. Arcing occurs when electrical currents jump between connections, leading to damage within the switchboard and increasing the risk of fire.
How Grammar Electrical Can Help: At Grammar Electrical, our technicians are trained to detect and address arcing issues before they escalate. We will repair any faulty components, making sure your switchboard operates safely and quietly, restoring peace of mind.
5. Outdated or Old-Fashioned Switchboard
Many older homes are still equipped with outdated switchboards that use ceramic fuses rather than circuit breakers. These switchboards weren’t designed for today’s energy consumption demands, which include multiple appliances, electronics, and gadgets. Additionally, old switchboards lack modern safety features such as RCDs (Residual Current Devices), which protect you from electrical shocks.
How Grammar Electrical Can Help: If your switchboard is outdated, Grammar Electrical can provide a full upgrade, installing a modern switchboard that meets today’s standards. We’ll ensure that your system is equipped with safety switches and that it can handle your household’s electrical needs efficiently.
Conclusion
Your switchboard is a critical component of your home’s electrical system. Ignoring the signs of wear and tear can lead to expensive repairs, hazardous situations, or even fires. By keeping an eye out for flickering lights, frequent circuit trips, burning smells, strange sounds, or an outdated switchboard, you can protect your home and family from electrical danger.
How Grammar Electrical Can Help: At Grammar Electrical, we specialize in diagnosing, repairing, and upgrading switchboards. Our team of licensed electricians is here to ensure your home’s electrical system is safe and efficient. Whether you need an emergency repair or a complete switchboard upgrade, we’re here to help. Contact us today to schedule an inspection and keep your electrical system in top condition.
By acting quickly when issues arise, you'll not only protect your home but also prevent future disruptions, ensuring a safer, more reliable electrical system for years to come.
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Same Day Service Guarantee - Terms & Conditions
The "Same Day Service Guarantee or it's Free" applies to:
a. Residential work and Commercial only.
b. Jobs specified as needing same day service when booking a job by phone or online.
c. Residential and Commercial work booked with Grammar Electrical:
i) Before 11:00AM
ii) For calls or online bookings received after 11:00AM, the customer will be offered a job. Booking for the next business day and normal callout fees ($170+ GST) will apply.
iii) Any other jobs booked outside business hours (9:00AM - 5:00PM Monday- Friday) will incur after hours charges.
iv) This offer is excluded for jobs booked on New Zealand public holidays.
d. If Grammar Electrical are unable to attend on the same day (within 24 hours) for a job booked by the customer, the standard callout fee of $170 + GST will be waived and is free, but all other normal charges, fees and expenses will apply to perform the Electrical Services and to provide any products/materials concerning those services.
e. The Standard Callout Fee will be deducted from your bill as long as you pay within your invoice's due date. The callout charge is applicable if your invoice is overdue.
f. If Grammar Electrical are willing and able to perform the Service or provide the Goods on the same day the job is booked, however the Customer for whatever reason does not give access to their property on the day, Grammar Electrical will be deemed to have complied with it's "Same Day or it's Free" guarantee and shall be entitled to charge the customer the standard call-out fee.
g. This offer is not a guarantee of work being completed. The completion of the job will depend on stock availability and also the amount of work required.