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4 Questions You Must Ask if You’re Updating Your Home’s Electrics
Recharge your electrical fittings with this simple guide to planning your home’s technology
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Whether you’re building a property from scratch, renovating an existing house or simply giving one room an overhaul, designing a safe and efficient electrical system should be high up on your priority list. Not only can a well-planned system take advantage of innovative new technologies to make life a little simpler, it can also put your mind at rest that your electrics are trustworthy and all up to date.
“You are meant to have your home’s electrics checked by a professional electrician every 10 years if you own the property and every five years if you rent or a tenancy is changed,” says Phill Ratcliffe, a Schneider UK registered electrician partner. “That way you will know if they are still safe, and you’ll also be able to pick the electrician’s brains on what can and can’t be done to your electrics.”
Read on to discover four key questions to ask when updating your home’s electrics.
“You are meant to have your home’s electrics checked by a professional electrician every 10 years if you own the property and every five years if you rent or a tenancy is changed,” says Phill Ratcliffe, a Schneider UK registered electrician partner. “That way you will know if they are still safe, and you’ll also be able to pick the electrician’s brains on what can and can’t be done to your electrics.”
Read on to discover four key questions to ask when updating your home’s electrics.
What’s My Electrical Plan?
An electrical plan is a bit like a lighting plan that takes into account how you use your home and all your family’s needs. Therefore, designing your electrical plan right at the start of your project will ensure you install fittings, such as the sockets, plugs and USB points, in the most efficient and practical areas and avoid costly adjustments down the line.
Think about the function of the room and have a rough idea of the furniture layout, so that you can get a clear vision of where your lights and electrical equipment will be located. It’s also worth considering what percentage of the budget you’re willing to spend on the electrics in each space as this will determine how many sockets to install or if you can afford any innovative devices.
Bonus tip: Look into installing a fully-automated smart home system with regards to the lighting, sockets and heating. This will not only make your home more energy efficient by helping to reduce electrical consumption, it will also benefit the environment, too.
An electrical plan is a bit like a lighting plan that takes into account how you use your home and all your family’s needs. Therefore, designing your electrical plan right at the start of your project will ensure you install fittings, such as the sockets, plugs and USB points, in the most efficient and practical areas and avoid costly adjustments down the line.
Think about the function of the room and have a rough idea of the furniture layout, so that you can get a clear vision of where your lights and electrical equipment will be located. It’s also worth considering what percentage of the budget you’re willing to spend on the electrics in each space as this will determine how many sockets to install or if you can afford any innovative devices.
Bonus tip: Look into installing a fully-automated smart home system with regards to the lighting, sockets and heating. This will not only make your home more energy efficient by helping to reduce electrical consumption, it will also benefit the environment, too.
Where Do I Put the Plugs?
Once you have your behind-the-scenes electrical layout sorted, you can start planning your visible electrics, such as the plugs and switches. It’s a good idea to have as many sockets as possible, to avoid the need for extension leads, and ensure you position them where you think you’ll use them. “The best place to start is by deciding what you’re going to be plugging in,” says Phill. “Think about how many appliances you have. Although they don’t all need to be plugged in at the same time, the busy spots, such as behind the TV, need at least two double sockets as a minimum.”
When it comes to positioning light switches, work out how you ‘flow’ through the room. “In a room with one entrance, the light switch needs to be near the door so it can be turned on and off as you enter,” says Phill. “But if a room has multiple entrances and exits, you may want to consider having a switch at each door.”
Bonus tip: As more devices arrive in our homes, so does the need for charging points. Avoid cluttering kitchen surfaces and dining tables by creating dedicated charging areas that feature a socket with a USB charger. You can also keep everything neat and tidy by opting for a socket with a charging shelf for your phone or tablet, so that there are no messy cords.
Once you have your behind-the-scenes electrical layout sorted, you can start planning your visible electrics, such as the plugs and switches. It’s a good idea to have as many sockets as possible, to avoid the need for extension leads, and ensure you position them where you think you’ll use them. “The best place to start is by deciding what you’re going to be plugging in,” says Phill. “Think about how many appliances you have. Although they don’t all need to be plugged in at the same time, the busy spots, such as behind the TV, need at least two double sockets as a minimum.”
When it comes to positioning light switches, work out how you ‘flow’ through the room. “In a room with one entrance, the light switch needs to be near the door so it can be turned on and off as you enter,” says Phill. “But if a room has multiple entrances and exits, you may want to consider having a switch at each door.”
Bonus tip: As more devices arrive in our homes, so does the need for charging points. Avoid cluttering kitchen surfaces and dining tables by creating dedicated charging areas that feature a socket with a USB charger. You can also keep everything neat and tidy by opting for a socket with a charging shelf for your phone or tablet, so that there are no messy cords.
Which Style Suits My Home?
Gone are the days when the only
options for electrical fittings were white plastic devices. These days you can find a switch and socket with a surface finish that will complement your interior style perfectly. From finishes such as mocha bronze to polished chrome, pick fittings that will either grab your attention or subtly merge into the background.
There are also designs that offer a screwless flat surface for the ultimate in minimal, contemporary style. Perfect for spaces like calm, serene bedrooms.
Bonus tip: Choose innovative fittings that have been designed to make your life easier, such as the sleek screwless flat plate that can be popped off via an easy-release slot, to make decorating around them a simple task.
Gone are the days when the only
options for electrical fittings were white plastic devices. These days you can find a switch and socket with a surface finish that will complement your interior style perfectly. From finishes such as mocha bronze to polished chrome, pick fittings that will either grab your attention or subtly merge into the background.
There are also designs that offer a screwless flat surface for the ultimate in minimal, contemporary style. Perfect for spaces like calm, serene bedrooms.
Bonus tip: Choose innovative fittings that have been designed to make your life easier, such as the sleek screwless flat plate that can be popped off via an easy-release slot, to make decorating around them a simple task.
How Do I Install These Safely?
You might be a competent DIYer and feel totally at ease with rewiring a plug or fitting a dimmer switch, but when it comes to more complicated electrics, it’s important to call in the experts. Why? Well, if the work isn’t done properly, there could be potential consequences and safety risks.
“Getting a professional in is by far the best course of action,” says Phill. “A professional does it for a living and can do the job a lot faster. They have all the tools and knowledge, and in some instances, the work being done may need to be notified to building control. There is no skirting round this, either – it’s the law and you could face hefty fines if you don’t act accordingly.”
Bonus tip: Find a local electrician who is registered with a government-approved body, like NAPIT, NICEIC, STROMA etc, who can officially sign off the work and give peace of mind that it has been done properly. For partnered electricians on Houzz, click here.
Tell us: Do you have any tips for others designing the electrical layout in their house? Share with your fellow Houzzers in the Comments.
You might be a competent DIYer and feel totally at ease with rewiring a plug or fitting a dimmer switch, but when it comes to more complicated electrics, it’s important to call in the experts. Why? Well, if the work isn’t done properly, there could be potential consequences and safety risks.
“Getting a professional in is by far the best course of action,” says Phill. “A professional does it for a living and can do the job a lot faster. They have all the tools and knowledge, and in some instances, the work being done may need to be notified to building control. There is no skirting round this, either – it’s the law and you could face hefty fines if you don’t act accordingly.”
Bonus tip: Find a local electrician who is registered with a government-approved body, like NAPIT, NICEIC, STROMA etc, who can officially sign off the work and give peace of mind that it has been done properly. For partnered electricians on Houzz, click here.
Tell us: Do you have any tips for others designing the electrical layout in their house? Share with your fellow Houzzers in the Comments.
- This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Schneider Electric helps to bring your home to life with a comprehensive range of solutions to meet your... Leer más
Schneider Electric helps to bring your home to life with a comprehensive range of solutions to meet your... Leer más