Monday, 24 November 2014

How to prepare your electrics for a long summer vacation



As Christmas draws near, offices are closing and the school term is long over and so families look to bundle up their belongings and hit the road to make the most of this annual break. But before you lock up for the final time, take the care to ensure your home’s safety and security in your absence. An established electrician agency in Melbourne can offer some advice that will ensure there are no electrical mishaps during your time away. 

First of all, you will want to ensure that you are prepared for the electrical situation wherever you go. If you are going camping, you might need a generator or battery operated devices. If you are going abroad, you may need to purchase power adaptors that will allow you to use those foreign power outlets. We are so used to having infinite access to power and electricity, that in situations where it is limited, we can really struggle and so need to plan ahead.

Once your devices are in order, you will want to walk around the house, turning off and shutting down all those drains on electricity. The only thing that might need electricity when you are away is an alarm if you have one, and perhaps lighting timers if you are concerned about the house looking vulnerable and empty. Standby switches can be a significant waste of energy, so make sure all of those little red dots aren’t showing. Also unplug devices, even if the standby is off. Few people are aware that a charger that is plugged in with the switch off can still take up energy. 

Turn off your air conditioner, taking note to disable any automatic settings. For example, some people schedule their air conditioning to turn on at certain times of the day. If you absolutely must leave the air on in the heat of summer, perhaps you are worried about plants dying or the environment for pets like birds and fish, then turn the thermostat up a couple of degrees. This will dramatically reduce your bill. Consider automatic scheduling as mentioned previously, or asking someone to housesit, as constant air conditioning would be a huge financial mistake. 

If you have a pool pump, this will need to remain on to prevent algae from developing. However, you can adjust the settings and turn of the heat for the pool and spa. Newer electric water heaters will have a vacation mode setting where the water will run every now and then, saving a bucket load. Turning the heater off completely can cause a number of issues, so most people recommend just giving a good flushing out of the old water upon your return. If you intend to switch the fridge off, ensure all perishables are binned and the ice is emptied from the freezer, otherwise you will open the door to a pool of water and an awful stench.

For all of the most dependable electrician tips in Melbourne, get in touch with Twin Electrics and Plumbing at  http://twinelectrics.com.au/.

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