Electricians in LauncestonFrosty mornings, old houses and a city behind levees.

Built a long time ago

The City of Launceston calls itself Australia's third oldest city, with some of the country's best-preserved architectural heritage. Most CBD buildings date from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and Newstead is a well-known example of the city's Federation housing.

Houses of that age have often been rewired in stages, so a modern switch can sit on a much older circuit. Before you renovate, add a heat pump or put in an induction cooktop, an electrician who works on older homes can test what's there and tell you what the house can actually carry.

Winter is the real test

Foggy mornings and long cold spells mean heaters, heat pumps and electric blankets running for months. That's when a tired circuit shows itself: breakers that trip in the evening, lights that dim when the heater kicks in, or a power point that's warm to touch.

A warm power point or a hot plastic smell isn't something to live with until spring. Switch that circuit off at the board if you can do it safely, unplug what's on it, and get it looked at.

Bigger jobs: three-phase, meters and the street connection

Moving from single phase to three-phase is a connection alteration in TasNetworks' rules. When TasNetworks works on a connection, the installation must first be brought up to current rules, which often means fixing low service line clearances. Meters installed in Tasmania since 1 December 2017 aren't owned or maintained by TasNetworks, and for new solar it's your retailer that arranges any metering work. Only licensed electrical contractors can lodge works requests through TasNetworks' Connections Portal, so your electrician handles that side. Three-phase power explains when it's worth it.