Electricians

As much as us Aussies love a bit of DIY, tackling electrical jobs around the home without professional training and qualifications can be irresponsible, costly, and dangerous. In this section, we answer some of the most common questions to do with electricians and their work. This includes everything from what an electrician does, to how to find a good electrician, to the different types of electricians available.

What is an electrician and what do they do?

As a general description, an electrician is a trained professional tradesman who specialises in the wiring for any electrical equipment, from lighting and power supply for homes, to wiring for cars, ships, and aeroplanes. There are general electricians, who install, maintain, and repair electrical equipment across the board, and there are specialist electricians, who focus on one niche market, and gain specialist qualifications in that area.

Electricians have a strong understanding of what’s going on when you switch something on – and what’s happening when it doesn’t work – but a huge part of their job is knowing and following safety practices. They have usually spent four years as an apprentice training and learning, and have passed their final exam – the Capstone test.

For those searching for an ‘electrician near me’, simply use the Yellow Pages search function and type in ‘electrician Gold Coast’ (or wherever you’re located) to browse electricians in your area, and get in touch for a quote or to discuss your project.

What is the difference between an electrician and an electrical contractor?

When you’re searching for an electrician, you might notice the option to choose from electricians, or electrical contractors? Firstly, an electrician is someone who has completed their apprenticeship and gained an electrical practitioners license.

Their only restriction is that they are not allowed to do electrical work on their own behalf – for this, they must gain an electrical contractor license.

An electrical contractor in Australia is someone who has not just completed their apprenticeship and passed their final exam and gained a practitioners license, but has taken an extra step to earn a contractor license, and can thereby set up their own business and work under their own name.

This takes more exams, tests, and insurance obligations, but it means that when you hire a local electrical contractor, they have taken that extra step in their profession.

What does it mean to be a Master Electrician?

In Australia, you’ll notice that some electricians have the title of Master Electrician next to their name. 

Master electricians are electricians who have joined Master Electricians Australia (MEA), a trade association that provides accreditation for electricians who meet certain criteria set by the group.

These criteria include a range of skills and professional services at an excellent level, as well as knowledge and adherence to a set of ethics in the industry.

When an electrician applies to the association, they must have at least three years of experience in the industry, as well as proof that they have implemented an approved safety management system, and a 12-month guarantee for their work for all clients.

Plus, each master electrician must pass an annual safety and quality audit. Overall, master electricians in Brisbane and all over the country offer an extra level of accreditation, backed by a master electrician association, for greater peace of mind in the quality and safety of the work you receive.

How do I find a good electrician?

A good electrician can be worth their weight in gold, and will likely become someone you can turn to with new installations, maintenance, and repairs for years to come. You can go to Yellow Pages to easily scroll through to view the experience, qualifications, and skills or get a recommendation from a family and friends and read Google Reviews online to see what other past clients have to say.

Can I do small wiring jobs in my own home?

Perhaps it’s a simple job such as wiring a light switch, or installing the latest smart home gadget – surely with a little electrical wiring for beginners, it’s something you can DIY? Unfortunately, you should under no circumstances attempt to complete house wiring jobs without an electrician’s license.

Not only can a poor electrical wiring job result in malfunctioning appliances, it can also be extremely dangerous with the possibility of causing fires, and it is outright illegal.

If a failed attempt at wiring occurs and causes your switch to go awry, causes any kind of damage, your insurance most likely won’t pay out. Your best option for everything from installations to maintenance and repairs is to hire an electrician. Electricians know their way around electrical wires, and have the requisite licenses and skills to complete the job safely. 

What is an electrical safety check and do I need one?

An electrical safety check, also known as an electrical safety inspection, offers a preventative approach to electrical issues.

Rather than wait for something to go wrong and deal with the aftermath, an electrician can perform an electrical safety check to identify, and therefore address, any faulty or poorly installed wiring.

This check is carried out as a pre-purchase electrical inspection as part of a wider home inspection before buying a house, but you can request an inspection at any time.

For example, some master electricians would recommend a check if your home is more than 25 years old, or if it has been more than five years since your last check. Some electricians will offer a free electrical safety check, but most will come with an electrical inspection cost. Their electrical safety checklist will cover areas such as possible overloading in the system, hazards, poorly installed appliances, and more.

Why isn’t my hot water system working?

Hot water not working? This hugely frustrating problem isn’t terribly uncommon, and it can be caused by a number of factors. The first thing to check is whether or not your whole house is out of power, as it could easily be an energy company issue affecting your neighbourhood.

If that’s the case, take a look on your supplier’s website for updates. If power is still on around your house but the hot water heater isn’t working, it may be time to bring in an electrician. It could be as simple as a broken heating element, or perhaps it’s an issue with your solar hot water system if you’re using panels.

There is also the chance that it’s an issue with the water or gas system, which would mean you need a plumber rather than an electrician. That’s why it’s important to clearly explain what’s happening with your hot water system when you get in touch with a professional, so they can help decide if they will be able to help.

How much do electricians charge?

Electricians are skilled professionals, and therefore, electrician charges reflect their skills and expertise. Generally speaking, the standard electrician hourly rate is usually around $80 to $100, but this will vary.

For example, the average electrician hourly rate in Melbourne may be lower than that of an electrician in Perth, but it really comes down to the individual professional. In some cases, they will charge based on the service itself rather than the time taken, and call out charges for electricians may also be part of the fee structure.

What do I do if my power keeps tripping out?

There are a few steps you can take before calling an electrician should this happen to you below:

1. Switch off all your appliances at the wall.
2. It’s possible that having too many on at once has overloaded the system and caused your power outage, so it’s best to leave them off when you reset your mains switch.
3.  Go to your circuit breaker and look for any switches that have moved to the off position. If you find one, note which area of the house it is in, which can help you pinpoint the problem area.
4. Move the switch back to the on position to restore power to that part of the house, then go back and plug your appliances back in one by one.
5. If one of those appliances doesn’t work, or it causes another power trip, then it is either dead or faulty – and it’s time for a replacement.
6. If you can’t pinpoint the appliance that caused the power outage, you may need to bring in an expert electrician to identify and fix the issue.

This could require rewiring, replacements, or adding another circuit to stop overloading the first one. If you are at all unsure about dealing with power outlet issues, circuit breakers, or anything else, call in an electrician.

What is an RCD and do I need one?

If you do any research into the electrical circuits and wires in your own home, you’ll probably come across the term RCD. So what is an RCD, and do you need one? RCD stands for ‘residual current device’, and is essentially a safety device designed to protect you and your home in the case of a fault.

RCD protection works by monitoring electrical currents in your home, and if it detects electricity going somewhere it shouldn’t, it turns off the circuit immediately.

For example, if you accidentally cut through a live wire, or if an appliance overheats, the standard RCD operation will shut off power within 20 milliseconds, greatly reducing the chance of serious injury or damage.

Good news is that all new homes built after 1992 must have an RCD box installed by law, and if you purchase a property, you must have one installed within three months of the property transfer.

That means it’s likely you already have one, but if not, or you’re not sure, get in touch with an electrician to make sure you and your home are protected.