In Australia, most electrical work must be done by a qualified and licensed electrician.  It is not safe to do your own work, even if it may look simple. Electricity is a wonderful thing, but like many other modern conveniences it has a dark side; it can injure or kill if used wrongly.  Often, we don’t even think of this as we go about our daily lives using the main source of power we’ve known since childhood.

So when exactly do we need an electrician? The electrician should –

  • Repair all electrical appliances
  • Replace a light switch or a power point
  • Change the position of any electrical wiring
  • Replace old wiring or install new wiring
  • Change or mend a plug on the end of a power cord
  • New lighting and power points in a renovation, shed or patio
  • Install ceiling fans
  • Check out the old wiring in your home

You may think it would be easy to simply look at the wiring, but there could be signs of wear and tear that you could see but not recognise for what they are, unless you’ve had a lot of experience or training.  Plus, the electrician will have a good ladder and insurance if he happened to fall and be injured. It’s not even that easy to get into a manhole and its harder still to get out of it, so leave it to those who are used to doing it.