Electricians in CairnsBuilt for the heat, tested by the wet.

What makes Cairns different?

Rain, and a lot of it. The Cairns station averages 1,958.1 mm a year, with about 15 to 16 rain days a month from January to March, and afternoon humidity climbs to 71% in February. Moisture in an outdoor fitting, a garden light or a pond pump is a classic cause of a safety switch that trips in the wet and behaves itself in the dry.

Cyclones and floods. Cyclone Jasper's flooding in December 2023 pushed the Barron River past its March 1977 record, and Freshwater Creek broke its banks, threatening Redlynch, Brinsmead and lower Freshwater. When Cyclone Larry crossed near Innisfail in 2006, most of the damage in Cairns came from fallen power lines and trees hitting houses.

A long, thin city with more units than most regional centres. Cairns stretches from Edmonton to Ellis Beach, with new estates on old cane land, and 15.7% of occupied homes in the council area were flats or apartments at the 2021 Census. In a unit, talk to the body corporate before any work that touches the main board or common areas.

Jobs that tend to come up in Cairns

Tripping in the wet. Outdoor power points, garden lighting and pool or pond pumps are the usual suspects. Start with power keeps tripping, then get someone who does fault finding if it keeps happening.

Weatherproof outdoor power. Fittings outside need the right covers and the right spot, away from where water pools. Outdoor power points explains the options.

Fans and cooling. Warm nights most of the year mean fans and split systems run constantly, sometimes on circuits that already carry a lot. Ceiling fans covers what's involved.

Smoke alarms in houses and units. Every Queensland home, townhouse and unit needs interconnected photoelectric alarms by 1 January 2027. Interconnected smoke alarms explains how they talk to each other.

Storm and flood repairs. Testing wet wiring and appliances, and replacing what can't be saved.