Melbourne summers are hard on a home's electrical system. One day the air con is running flat out through a heatwave, the next a cool change rolls in with a storm that knocks the power out across the street. Older homes in particular feel the strain, because many were wired long before split systems, pool pumps and EV chargers were part of everyday life.
At Melbourne Wiring Services, we work on homes across Melbourne's inner north and north-west, from Pascoe Vale and Strathmore to Essendon and Moonee Ponds. Here is how to get your electrical system ready before the hot weather arrives, so you are not caught out on the first 40 degree day.
Start With Your Switchboard
Your switchboard handles every load in the house, and summer is when it works hardest. Air conditioners, fans, fridges and pool equipment can all run at the same time, often for hours.
Open the switchboard cover and take a look. Warning signs include:
Old ceramic fuses instead of circuit breakers.
No safety switches, also called RCDs.
Breakers that trip when the air con and other appliances run together.
Scorch marks, a burning smell or a buzzing sound.
If you see scorch marks or smell burning, stop using the affected circuit and call an electrician straight away. Older boards were not designed for the load a modern home places on them in summer. A switchboard upgrade replaces outdated fuses with modern breakers and safety switches, so your home handles peak demand more safely.
Test Your Safety Switches
Safety switches cut the power in a fraction of a second if they detect current leaking to earth, which is what protects people from electric shock. They only help if they work.
Most safety switches have a test button marked "T". Pressing it should switch the power off on that circuit. If nothing happens, or the switch will not reset, get it checked. Testing them every few months is a good habit, and the start of summer is an easy time to remember.
Get Your Air Conditioner Ready
Your air con is the biggest summer load in most homes, so a few checks go a long way.
Run it before the heat arrives. It is much better to find a problem in November than in the middle of a heatwave.
Check how it is powered. Larger split systems and ducted units usually need their own dedicated circuit. If your air con trips the power or dims the lights when it starts, the circuit may be overloaded.
Never run it off an extension cord or powerboard. Portable units included. They draw too much current for that kind of connection.
Clean the filters to reduce strain on the unit.
If you are adding a new split system, have the circuit assessed first. It is often the switchboard, not the unit, that decides whether an install goes smoothly.
Protect Your Home From Summer Storms
Melbourne's summer storms can arrive quickly, and lightning or power restorations after an outage can send surges through your wiring. Sensitive electronics like TVs, computers, modems and appliance control boards are the most exposed.
Consider surge protection at the switchboard, which protects the whole house rather than one device.
Unplug sensitive electronics during a severe storm if you can do so safely.
Keep a torch and a charged power bank handy in case the power goes out.
Stay well away from fallen powerlines. Treat every fallen line as live and report it to your distributor.
Check Your Outdoor Power and Lighting
Summer is when outdoor power gets used most: pool pumps, garden lighting, outdoor kitchens and the odd extension cord running across the yard to the barbecue.
Make sure outdoor powerpoints are weatherproof and rated for outdoor use.
Check cords and leads for cracks, cuts or melted insulation before using them outside.
Keep connections off the ground and away from water, especially around pools.
Look at outdoor lights for water inside the fittings or corroded connections.
Outdoor wiring takes a beating from Melbourne's sun and rain, and damage is not always obvious until something trips or fails.
Avoid Overloading Powerpoints
Heat and electrical load are a poor mix. Double adaptors and daisy-chained powerboards can overheat, especially when fans, chargers and portable coolers are all plugged in at once.
Signs a powerpoint is struggling include:
The plate feels warm or hot to touch
Plugs fit loosely
Discolouration around the outlet
Crackling or buzzing sounds
If you rely on powerboards to run your home, it is usually a sign you need more powerpoints, not more adaptors.
Use Ceiling Fans to Take the Pressure Off
Ceiling fans use far less power than air conditioning and can make a room feel noticeably cooler. Set them to spin anticlockwise in summer, which pushes air down onto you. Running fans alongside your air con on a slightly higher temperature setting reduces the load on both your switchboard and your power bill.
Check Your Smoke Alarms
Summer brings more barbecues, more appliances running and, in some areas, bushfire smoke. Press the test button on every smoke alarm, replace any flat batteries and check the manufacture date on the back. Alarms have a limited service life, so older units should be replaced rather than just given new batteries.
When to Call an Electrician
Some things are worth getting checked before summer rather than after something fails:
Frequent tripping or blown fuses
Flickering or dimming lights when appliances start
Warm powerpoints or switches
A switchboard with no safety switches
Plans to add air con, a pool pump or an EV charger
Electrical work in Victoria must be carried out by a licensed electrician. Our team holds a Registered Electrical Contractor licence (REC 26076) and A Grade Electrician licences, and our Managing Director brings over 12 years of experience to every job.
Get Your Home Summer Ready
A little preparation now saves a lot of stress when the first heatwave hits. If your switchboard is getting old, your air con keeps tripping the power or you simply want peace of mind before summer, contact Melbourne Wiring Services for a free, obligation-free quote. We will check your system and recommend only what your home actually needs.