Help centre
Short, direct answers to the questions we hear most about power, switchboards, lighting, air conditioning, heating and rentals. Each one says what is going on, what you can safely do and when to get it looked at.
Questions by topic
104 questions in 8 topics
Power & faults
13- An appliance stopped working after a storm. Was it a surge?It may have been.
- Why can I hear crackling in my walls or ceiling?Most creaks and ticks in walls and ceilings come from timber, roofing and pipes expanding and contracting, or from animals.
- Why didn't everything come back on after a power outage?When the power comes back, some things need help to restart.
- Why do my lights dim when the air conditioner or fridge starts?A brief dip as a motor starts is common.
- Why do my lights flicker on windy days?If your lights flicker when the wind blows, the overhead line to your house is the first suspect.
- Why do plugs keep falling out of my power point?Plugs drop out when the contacts inside the outlet have lost their grip, or when the outlet itself has come loose from the wall.
- Why does my light switch buzz or feel warm?A dimmer can hum faintly and feel a little warm, because it is an electronic device that sheds some heat while it works.
- Why does my oven trip the power when I turn it on?Most often an oven element has failed or taken in moisture, and current is leaking to earth, which trips the safety switch.
- Why does my power point only work some of the time?A power point that comes and goes has a connection that is making and breaking contact.
- Why does my washing machine or dishwasher trip the safety switch?Water and worn heating elements are the usual causes.
- Why does the kettle or toaster trip the safety switch?Usually the appliance has a fault that lets a little current leak to earth.
- Why is my power point warm?A plug that feels slightly warm after a heater or kettle has run for a while can be normal.
- Why is there no power to my shed or garage?Start at the switchboards.
Switchboards & safety switches
13- Do I need to be home for a switchboard upgrade?Someone should be there at the start and at the end, and the electrician needs access to the switchboard and to the rooms inside for testing.
- How do I tell which switch has tripped on my switchboard?Open the switchboard door and look along the rows of switches.
- Is a safety switch power point the same as a safety switch on the board?No.
- Is my meter box the same as my switchboard?Not quite, though they are often in the same place.
- My meter box door is broken or won't close. Who fixes it?The property owner.
- What do the numbers and letters on my circuit breakers mean?The number is the breaker's rating in amps: the current it can carry continuously without tripping.
- What is a sub-board, and do I have one?A sub-board is a smaller switchboard fed by its own cable from a circuit breaker on your main switchboard.
- What is the off-peak or timer switch on my switchboard?It controls an off-peak circuit, usually for electric storage hot water and sometimes for slab heating or a pool pump.
- What's the difference between a safety switch and a circuit breaker?A safety switch protects people.
- Why does a Licensed Electrical Inspector need to check my new switchboard?Because replacing a main switchboard is prescribed work in Victoria.
- Why does my main switch trip?Many main switches are only isolators and can't trip on their own.
- Why does my safety switch trip when the power comes back on?When the power comes back, everything restarts at once.
- Will my fridge and freezer be OK during a switchboard upgrade?Usually, with some planning.
Lighting & power points
13- Can a power point be added to my kitchen island?Usually, yes.
- My power point cover is cracked. Is it safe to use?No.
- One downlight has stopped working. Is it the globe or the fitting?Check whether it has a removable globe.
- Why do my LED lights buzz or hum?Most buzzing LEDs come from a mismatch rather than a fault: a dimmer built for old halogen globes, an LED driver that doesn't suit the dimmer, an old transformer left in…
- Why do my light globes keep blowing?Globes that fail early usually have help.
- Why do my lights turn on or off by themselves?Lights that switch on or off by themselves are usually following instructions you've forgotten: a smart switch schedule, a routine in an app, a motion or daylight…
- Why does my bathroom heat lamp turn itself off?Most heat lamp and 3-in-1 units have a thermal cut-out that switches the heat off when the unit gets too hot, then lets it come back once it cools.
- Why does my ceiling fan work but the light doesn't?If the fan runs but its light doesn't, the fault is on the light side: a failed globe or LED module, a light setting on the remote or wall control, or a loose connection…
- Why does my sensor light stay on or keep turning on all night?A sensor light that stays on or keeps triggering all night is usually seeing something: swaying plants, pets, possums, insects drawn to the light, or warm air from an…
- Why does my two-way light switch only work from one end?A light switched from two places relies on two switches joined by a pair of wires, so either switch can redirect the power.
- Why has the ceiling around my light gone brown?A brown ring hugging the edge of a light is usually heat or dust.
- Why is there water inside my outdoor light?Water gets into outdoor lights through perished seals, cracked lenses, unsealed cable entries or a fitting that isn't rated for where it's mounted.
- Why isn't my bathroom exhaust fan clearing the steam?When the fan runs but the mirror still fogs, the air isn't getting out.
Air conditioning
13- How do I clean my split system filters?Turn the unit off, lift the front panel, slide the filters out and vacuum off the dust.
- My air conditioner won't respond to the remote. What can I check?Start with the remote: fresh batteries, a clear line to the indoor unit, and no lock symbol or odd mode on its display.
- My air conditioner won't restart after a power outage. What now?Give it a few minutes first.
- My evaporative cooler won't start. What can I check?Start with the wall controller and the power: check the controller's display, the circuit breaker and safety switch at the switchboard, and any winter or off-season…
- What is the switch next to my outdoor unit for?It's an isolating switch that cuts all power to the air conditioner, so a technician can work on the system safely without relying on the switchboard.
- Why does my air conditioner keep switching on and off?Frequent stopping and starting, called short cycling, usually means the unit reaches its set temperature too quickly or keeps tripping its own protection.
- Why does my air conditioner turn off by itself?Most often a setting is doing it: an off timer, sleep mode, an eco or quiet mode, or an app schedule someone else set up.
- Why has one zone stopped working on my ducted system?When one zone gets no air but the rest work, check the controller first: the zone may be switched off, on a schedule or, with temperature-controlled zones, already at…
- Why is my air conditioner blowing out black specks?Black specks are almost always mould and grime from inside the unit.
- Why is my evaporative cooler noisy?Most cooler noise comes from wear and loose parts: fan bearings that grind or squeal, a worn or slipping belt, panels and pad frames rattling in the wind, a pump humming…
- Why is there ice on my air conditioner pipes?Ice on the pipes or coil in cooling mode means the coil is running colder than it should.
- Why isn't the fan on my outdoor unit spinning?A still outdoor fan isn't always a fault.
- Why won't the louvres on my split system move?First check the swing setting on the remote.
Heating & hot water
13- Does my gas ducted heater have a filter I can clean?Many do.
- Is ice on my heat pump hot water unit normal?A light frost on the heat pump's fins on a cold morning is normal.
- Is it normal for my hot water system to drip from the valve?A little water from the relief valve drain while the tank is heating is normal, because water expands as it heats and the valve lets the extra out.
- Is it safe to leave the heating on overnight?It depends on the heater.
- My electric hot water has gone cold. What can I check?Start at the switchboard: look for a tripped hot water circuit breaker or safety switch and reset it once.
- My gas heater flame looks different. Is that a problem?Yes, treat it as one.
- Should my heat pump hot water run during the day or overnight?If you can choose, run it during the day.
- Why do my heating ducts tick or bang when the heater starts?Light ticking, or a single soft pop as the heating starts or stops, is usually metal parts warming and expanding: the heater's plenum, the return air box, duct collars…
- Why does my electric heater trip the safety switch?A safety switch trips when it detects electricity leaking to earth, and portable heaters are a common cause.
- Why does my heater smell when I turn it on for the first time in winter?A dusty, slightly burnt smell on the first run of the season is usually dust burning off the heat exchanger, coil or element, and it fades.
- Why does my hot water run out faster than it used to?Usually something has changed in the tank or in how it's heated.
- Why does my hot water smell like rotten eggs?A rotten egg smell that comes only from the hot tap usually starts inside the storage tank.
- Why does my reverse-cycle heat the ceiling and leave my feet cold?Warm air rises, so a high-wall unit blowing gently forward can leave a warm layer at the ceiling and cool air at floor level.
Safety at home
14- A power line to my house is down or sagging. What should I do?Stay well away and keep everyone else clear.
- Are old round or Bakelite light switches safe?Many still work, but age is the concern, not the shape.
- Do power point covers protect children?They help a little, but they're not the main protection.
- How do I avoid cables when drilling or hanging pictures?Assume a cable could be anywhere until you've ruled it out.
- How do I check when my smoke alarm expires?Twist the alarm off its base or open the battery cover, as you would to change the battery, and look for a date on the back or under the battery.
- How many appliances can I plug into one power board?It's the total load that counts, not the number of sockets.
- I felt a tingle from a tap or appliance. What should I do?Treat it as a warning.
- Is it safe if my power board or extension lead gets warm?A power board or extension lead should stay at about room temperature.
- Is my old electric blanket safe to use?Possibly, but check it before each winter.
- Should I unplug appliances during a thunderstorm?For sensitive and expensive electronics, yes, ideally before the storm arrives.
- Water is dripping from a light fitting. What should I do?Don't touch the light switch, on or off.
- What should I do if a power point or appliance gets wet?Don't touch it.
- What should I do if my carbon monoxide alarm goes off?Treat it as real.
- Who trims trees near the power line to my house?It depends whose tree and whose line.
Rentals & landlords
12- Am I allowed to change the smoke alarm battery in my rental?Yes.
- Can a rental's failed gas hot water be replaced with gas after March 2027?No.
- Can one reverse-cycle air conditioner meet both rental heating and cooling standards?Yes.
- Do older leases now need gas and electrical safety checks?Yes.
- Does a rental have to meet minimum standards before it's advertised?Yes.
- How often does a rental need an electrical safety check?At least once every 2 years.
- My rental has no fixed heater in the living area. Is that allowed?No.
- What does an annual rental smoke alarm check involve?It's a yearly visit to confirm every smoke alarm is correctly installed and working.
- What happens if the heater in my rental breaks after March 2027?If it can be repaired, it's repaired as an urgent repair, as it is now.
- What records should a landlord keep after a rental electrical check?Keep the electrician's written record of the check.
- Who is qualified to do a rental gas safety check?A licensed or registered gasfitter endorsed for Type A gas appliance servicing.
- Who is responsible for servicing the air conditioner in a rental?The rental provider, for an air conditioner they supplied.
Booking & visits
13- Can I book a Saturday appointment?Yes.
- Do I need to be home for the visit?Not always, but someone needs to give us access to everything the job involves.
- How can I check an electrician is licensed and registered?Ask to see the electrician's licence, and check the business's Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) number.
- How do I describe an electrical fault in my enquiry?Tell us what stopped working, when it started, what was running at the time and what the switchboard shows.
- How do I prepare for an air conditioning service or installation?Clear a working space around the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, make sure the roof manhole is easy to reach if you have a ducted system, and secure pets.
- How should I prepare for an electrician's visit?Clear access to the switchboard and the areas we'll be working in, clear the space under the roof manhole, and write a short list of every job you'd like done.
- Something seems unsafe while I wait for the visit. What should I do?Stop using whatever seems unsafe, switch it off at the switchboard if it's safe to reach, and keep people and pets away from it.
- What happens after I send an enquiry?Once you send it, you'll see a reference on screen.
- What happens during an electrical or air conditioning visit?We arrive at the time we confirmed, look at the job with you, explain what we've found and your options, and give you the price before work starts.
- What happens if extra work is found during the job?We stop and tell you.
- What photos help with an electrical enquiry?Three or four clear photos usually do it: the switchboard with its door open and every cover left in place, a wider shot of where the job is, and any appliance or…
- When will I know the price?Before any work starts.
- Which suburbs do you work in?We currently cover 24 suburbs across Melbourne's west, worked from our base in Altona Meadows.
Other ways to find an answer
- Problem finderPick what is happening and see the likely cause and the next step.Open
- Safety at homeWhat is safe to check yourself, and what to leave to a licensed electrician.Open
- Booking and quote FAQsQuotes, access, timing and how a visit runs.Open
- In-depth guidesLonger reads for planning an upgrade or choosing a system.Open