Top 5 Electrical Safety Tips for Homeowners in Sydney
Electricity is something we use every day without much thought – but it can pose serious hazards if not managed safely. Sydney homes, especially older ones, can have hidden electrical dangers ranging from deteriorated wiring to overloaded power points. As a homeowner (or even a renter), being proactive about electrical safety can prevent fires, injuries, and expensive damage to appliances. The following are five key electrical safety tips to practice in your home. They’re simple but effective steps to keep everyone safe and sound.
1. Install and Test Your Safety Switches (RCDs)
One of the most important safety devices in any home is the safety switch, also called an RCD. This device cuts power in milliseconds if there’s an electrical fault or shock – potentially saving a life. In NSW, safety switches are required on new circuits and strongly recommended on all existing circuits. Make sure your switchboard has RCDs protecting all power and lighting circuits. If your home only has old-style fuses or circuit breakers, talk to an electrician about safety switches as soon as possible.
If you do have safety switches, test them regularly. Every six months, press the “T” or “Test” button on each RCD in your switchboard. The power should trip off immediately. Reset the switch to restore power. If a safety switch doesn’t trip when tested, or if it trips frequently for no obvious reason, get it checked out. Never bypass or remove a safety switch – if it’s tripping, it’s doing its job detecting a problem (like a faulty appliance or wiring issue).
Safety switches provide a crucial layer of protection against electrocution. They’re like seatbelts for your home’s electrical system – you hope you never need them, but you’ll be glad they’re there in an emergency.
2. Avoid Overloading Power Points and Circuits
Overloaded outlets and power boards are a common cause of electrical fires and failures. It’s easy to get complacent and keep piggy-backing adapters or plugging a tangle of appliances into one socket. The wiring in your walls and the outlets themselves can only handle so much current before they overheat.
Tips to prevent overloads:
One appliance, one outlet: High-wattage appliances like heaters, air conditioners, washing machines, dryers, and kettles should each have their own wall socket. Don’t run multiple high-power devices off the same power board or double adapter. For example, plugging a space heater and a hairdryer into the same outlet via a double adaptor is asking for trouble – together they draw far more current than the outlet is rated for.
Use quality power boards with surge protection: If you need to connect multiple low-power devices (computer, monitor, printer, etc.), use a good quality power board rather than a cheap multi-plug adapter. Look for boards with overload protection (they often have a reset button or fuse) and spaced-out sockets. Avoid daisy-chaining power boards (plugging one board into another).
Watch for warning signs: If you notice an outlet or plug is hot to the touch, or you hear buzzing/crackling from a socket, unplug devices immediately and have that outlet inspected. Similarly, flickering lights or frequently tripping circuit breakers can indicate an overloaded circuit or faulty wiring. Don’t ignore these signs – they’re telling you to lighten the load or fix an issue.
Spread out heavy usage: In older Sydney homes, often multiple rooms or the whole house might be on one lighting circuit and one power circuit. Be mindful not to run too many appliances simultaneously on the same circuit (for instance, microwave, toaster, coffee machine, and kettle all at once in the kitchen might trip the breaker). If your household’s needs have outgrown the circuitry, an electrician can help add new circuits to better distribute the load.
By avoiding overloads, you not only reduce fire risk but also extend the life of your electrical components. Overheating wears out outlets and can damage appliance power supplies. Keep an eye on how things are plugged in, and you’ll maintain a safer home.
3. Check Cords, Plugs and Appliances Regularly
The humble electrical cord is a common point of failure that can lead to shocks or fires. We often tuck them behind furniture, run them under rugs, or leave them coiled up and forgotten. Over time, cords can become frayed, cracked, or internally damaged – especially if they’ve been pinched or bent sharply.
Make it a habit to inspect your appliance cords and extension leads every so often:
Look for damage: If you see any insulation damage (cuts, abrasions, exposed wires) or if the cord feels stiff, brittle or kinked, it’s time to replace it or have it repaired by a professional. Do not use tape as a “fix” – that’s only a temporary patch at best. A damaged cord can arc or overheat.
Check plugs: Ensure the plug isn’t loose or wobbly. If the cord is pulling out of the plug or you see loose wires when you look at the plug’s base, stop using it. Also, when plugging into outlets, it should fit snugly. A loose plug in a wall socket can overheat (you might notice it doesn’t grip well or partially falls out). An electrician can replace a worn-out outlet to fix this.
Avoid DIY wiring on plugs or appliances: In Australia, it’s generally illegal (and dangerous) for unlicensed individuals to re-wire plugs or do internal appliance repairs. If an appliance isn’t working right or a cord is faulty, get a professional to repair it, or replace the appliance. The cost of a new kettle or toaster is nothing compared to the cost of a fire.
Extension lead safety: Only use extension cords as a temporary solution, not a permanent fix. If you find you’re using an extension lead every day (for example, to reach an appliance), consider having an extra outlet installed closer instead. When using extension leads, fully unwind them – a coiled lead in use can overheat like a toaster coil. And keep them away from water (e.g., don’t leave an extension lead running through a wet backyard for the lawnmower – use an outdoor-rated extension lead and outlet).
Unplug with care: When unplugging something, grip the plug, not the cord, to pull it out. Yanking by the cord can loosen the connections over time. Also, turn off switches before plugging or unplugging to avoid sparks.
Taking a few moments to check cords and plugs can prevent both electric shocks and potential fire hazards. If anything seems off – a burning smell, an appliance that intermittently loses power, scorch marks on an outlet – unplug it and have it checked out.
4. Be Cautious with Electricity Around Water (Indoors and Outdoors)
We all learn as kids that water and electricity is a deadly combination. Yet a lot of home accidents happen in kitchens, bathrooms, or outdoor areas when this rule is forgotten. Here’s how to stay safe:
Dry hands, dry area: Never operate electrical switches or appliances with wet hands or while touching a metal tap. In the bathroom, for instance, make sure your hands are dry before using hairdryers or shavers, and keep those devices away from sinks and bathtubs. If an appliance falls into water, do not reach in to grab it – first go and switch off the circuit at the switchboard (or unplug it if the plug is accessible dry). Better a ruined appliance than a life-threatening shock.
Install RCDs on wet area circuits: Ensure that circuits supplying bathrooms, kitchens, laundries, pools, or outdoor outlets are protected by safety switches (RCDs). In fact, nowadays all power circuits should have RCD protection, but double-check for wet-area outlets especially. This will cut power faster if any fault occurs around water.
Use outdoor-rated equipment outdoors: Only use extension cords, lights, and appliances outside if they are designed for it. Outdoor-rated cords have additional insulation and waterproofing. For example, your garden tools should plug into an outlet that has a weatherproof cover, or use a portable RCD adapter for extra safety. If you’re hanging up Christmas lights, use lights specifically made for outdoor use (and ideally on an RCD-protected circuit).
Keep electrical devices away from pools or spas: Never leave plugged-in devices (even an extension cord or radio) near the edge of a pool or spa where they could accidentally fall in. The mix of electricity and a large body of water where people are present is extremely dangerous. Also, ensure your pool pump and associated electricals are installed by professionals with proper grounding and safety compliance.
Know the location of your mains switch: In case something does go wrong (like a flooding situation or an appliance shorting out), you should know how to quickly turn off all power to the house at the main switch. This can prevent electrocution if water is encroaching on outlets, for example.
Sydney’s storms can also create water-related electrical hazards – if water leaks through a light fitting or into the switchboard, don’t touch the electrical system. Turn off power and call an electrician. When it comes to water and electricity, a moment of caution can avert a disaster, so always think twice in these environments.
5. Leave Electrical Repairs and Upgrades to the Professionals
A key safety tip – and one that we at ETS Electrical will always emphasize – is do not DIY electrical work. In Australia, it’s not just dangerous, it’s illegal for an unlicensed person to do almost any fixed electrical work. That includes things like installing new power points, moving light switches, repairing wiring, or working on the switchboard. The risks are high: you could get a severe shock or cause a fire, and you’ll also void insurance and face fines.
What you CAN do safely: change light bulbs, plug in and unplug appliances, replace batteries, and reset circuit breakers. Just about everything else, call a licensed electrician.
Some homeowners are handy with tools and figure they can watch a YouTube video and rewire an outlet or replace a light fitting. Please resist that temptation. We’ve been called to many a Sydney home to fix DIY electrical jobs that were done incorrectly – exposed live wires in walls, incorrect connections, dangerous overheating – accidents waiting to happen. The few dollars saved are never worth the potential for electrocution or burning your house down.
Hire a licensed electrician for any installation, repair or significant electrical alteration. Not only will it be done safely and up to code, but you’ll have peace of mind. Professionals will also issue a compliance certificate for the work, which is important for insurance and warranty purposes.
If you’re not sure whether a task requires an electrician, here’s a simple rule: if it’s beyond plugging something in or changing a bulb, assume you need a licensed sparkie. Even installing a new ceiling fan or hardwired oven should be done by a pro. Your safety is priceless.
(On a related note: if you ever feel a tingle or mild shock from any switch, tap, or appliance, that’s a red alert – something is very wrong electrically. Stop using it and call an electrician immediately.)