Mitigating Storm Damage on Your Business Premises

Storm damage can be catastrophic when you are maintaining a business, especially if you have commercial properties. Just like most natural disasters, even with the best planning, will not stop the storm from happening. You cannot dictate Mother Nature on where it will hit. However, there are several things you can do to mitigate, limit, and protect your business against the effects of storm damage.
Taking preventive steps to protect your business from storm damage is an action that you should not leave to the last minute. Instead, you should consistently assess your risk and take the necessary moves to do your business in the best position at all times. Remind yourself: ‘I need to hire a repairman, maintenance guy or electrician near me’.

Here are some of the ways to mitigate the storm manage that you can do for your business:

Protecting the Roof
The roof is especially vulnerable when strong winds hit, and loose tiles can fly off at any time. It will leave your property exposed to the wet weather. You need to do regular inspections because it is necessary to make sure that it is in good condition at all times. During inspection look for any debris from broken tiles or slates in the ground all over your property, check for any leaning chimneys or any loose bricks from the chimney and check for loose gutter or any blockages.
As a preventive measure, you can fit heating tape around the underside of the gutter to prevent the ice from accumulating. If there is anything that needs repairs, you need to call a professional as soon as possible.

Preventing High Replacement Costs

Since you cannot prevent the storm from coming, you need to have the right insurance policies for your business. Insurance is essential for your business; without any financial protection against all the potential damages caused by the storm. Without insurance, you will be taking out massive amounts for your repairs, and in the worst case, you can even go out of business.
One of the essential insurance policies that you need for your business is called Business Interruption Insurance. It will protect the business from disturbances the will stop its operations. It covers disruptions to your business like a storm or hurricane.

Managing Energy Bills
You have to keep your business energy efficient during the storm. To do this, check if the property has proper insulation. If the cold air is coming into your property, the hot air will escape. This can create pressure on your heating system to keep your business warm.
Again, you need to do a thorough inspection of your property and check for things like rattling doors and windows and gaps in the outside walls. When you have a rattling window or door, it means cold air is seeping through the unsealed cracks. It can be remedied by using caulk to seal the cracks. The gaps in the walls are usually found in the exterior corners. You can seal these cracks with foam or caulk to prevent water and cold air from getting into your business premises.

Electrical Safety
The storm season can wreak havoc on your electricity. To make sure that your is electrically safe during a storm, you need to prepare your business. You need to install a safety switch and test it regularly, particularly before the storm. You should also know where to turn off your gas, power, and water supply during an emergency. If you have electrical equipment that you are not using, keep them in a safe place. During the actual storm, switch off and unplug all your electrical equipment. For business who have solar OV systems, shut them down following the safe isolation procedures.

McIntosh Electrical offers the best ‘electrical services near me’ for businesses in the Sydney area. They have certified Master Electricians who can provide creative and intelligent solutions for the electrical works needed in your commercial property. Call them today for a free consultation.

 

Essential Electrical Upgrades to Consider for Your New Kitchen

Remodelling and renovating your kitchen can be rewarding, and increase the value of your home, but you will also need to consider upgrading the electrical components such as new power points, switches and new circuits, along with your new cabinetry. Adding new appliances, such as ovens, dishwashers and fridges, is adding load to the existing wiring, which can often be old, damaged or simply non-compliant.

New Australian Electrical Standards AS/NZ3000(2018) Standards also require ovens and cooktops to have their own circuits and safety switches on each individual circuit. Older homes often have outdated wiring systems that may no longer able to support modern appliances. This all needs to be taken into consideration prior to renovating, and pre-planning with a qualified and licensed electrician is key to getting it right and staying on budget.

The rule of thumb is if the appliance operates with a motor, it has to have its own circuit.
If you have renovation plans, you might be asking yourself, “where can I find an electrician near me?” to incorporate electrical upgrades to your project. Here are some of the enhancements that you may need to include.

Your Electrical Circuits 

The kitchen should have at least seven circuits or more if there are more appliances to be added. There is the 15-amp primary lighting circuit, five circuits dedicated to your specific appliances and two 20-amp circuits for small appliances.

The primary lighting circuit is what powers the task lighting, ceiling fixtures, and recessed lighting. The lighting circuit depends on the total wattage of the combined light that will be connected to the circuit. However, it should be sufficient enough to control the lighting inside the kitchen.

The refrigerator has gotten more extensive and more sophisticated; at least 20-amp and the are0-volt circuit is required to power this appliance plus you must make sure there is no other electrical load.
Electric range circuit should be dedicated to the cooking area of the new kitchen. It also needs an exclusive outlet to avoid overloading.

Microwave is also another kitchen appliance that demands more power, and an outlet solely dedicated to it should be included in your upgrade plans.
The food disposer keeps the kitchen clean and is a relatively new device. It also needs its own circuit and outlet.

Your Lighting System

A newly renovated kitchen will not have much impact if space has poor lighting. If you have increased the size of your kitchen, you need to add more lights. Accent lighting can highlight and illuminate the frequently used areas in the kitchen. Placing them over the stove, island benches, and over the kitchen table can bring openness and warmth to your kitchen.

Most accent lights these days are energy efficient LED’s, such as LED strip-lighting and LED Down Lights. These LED’s use one-fifth of the power of halogen lights are long-lasting, come in a fantastic range of colours and styles, but are still affordable.

Your Light Dimmers

In any room, lighting sets the tone and mood. While it is required for your kitchen to be adequately lit, you also have the option to change them into something out of the ordinary. The change will be a rewarding one. If you want to set a romantic mood in the kitchen, you can dim the lights. If space is adjacent to the living area, you can make a distinction between the areas by installing light dimmers. These dimmers can be paired with many bulb types like LED or CFL. You just need to install a dimmable bulb with a dimmable light switch.

Your Additional Data Ports

Did you know that USB and data ports can be incorporated into power points or individually around the kitchen area? Chances are, the device you are using to read this article now uses a USB connection to charge. The USB cable is now as standard as conventional electrical plugs, and the future for kitchen appliances are geared towards USB charging. Although your home value will not increase by adding USB outlets in the kitchen, you still need them to plug your phone, iPad, and other devices and will thereby become useful in the future.

Why Hire a Licensed Electrician to do the Job?

If you are a homeowner who needs electrical upgrades for your kitchen, don’t just think ‘I’ll hire anybody who offers electrician services near me’. Go for the one who has experience in the electrical field. First, electricity is complicated and dangerous. Only licensed electricians have undergone extensive training and are updated with the latest in electrical codes.

For upgrades of service panels that provide electricity to your kitchen, you need to have a licensed electrician who understands the requirements. Upgrading the electrical service panels are required to supply your kitchen with adequate electricity.

Only a licensed electrician can install additional outlets in your home or convert your existing outlets to GFCIs or ground fault circuit interrupters. They know that electrical code requires that at least one of the outlets in the kitchen is a GFCI outlet. These outlets are designed to shut off the power when water comes in contact with electricity, or there is an imbalance in the electricity load.

Another reason why you should hire a licensed electrician to do the job is when it comes to replacing light fixtures; they understand the amperage of the circuit and the wattage of the lighting fixture. There are specific measures that only licensed electricians to know when it comes to replacing the light fixture.

Above all, licensed electricians are up to date in complying to the electricity code. Both national and local authorities have set forth these guidelines that detail the standards in electrical safety. If your home is not compliant, it is not only dangerous but as a homeowner, you will be fined.

To answer the question of ‘who is an electrician near me who can help in implementing the electrical upgrades in my kitchen?’, ask the licensed electricians at McIntosh Electrical. They can help you with light and dimmer installation, additional circuit and outlets, USB outlets, and many other electrical services.

Mcintosh Electrical

Their Master Electricians are always ready and at your service. They offer commercial, residential, and industrial electrical services. They also provide 24-hour, seven days a week, and 365 days a year service for all your electrical needs. Contact them today, and one of the friendly members of the team will help you.

Why Is It Essential to Have Emergency Electricians on Your Speed Dial?

An electrician’s job involves repairing and servicing electrical appliances, wiring, and electrical maintenance. Their job is an integral part of our day to day living. We cannot manage without electricity, and all our technological advances will mean nothing if we don’t have electricity. Every we encounter problems with our electrical system we have emergency electricians Sydney to call.

The science behind electricity is complicated as it is measured in volts with terms to understand such as resistance, voltage, and current. Electricians understand them, but the focus of this discussion, however, is about the emergency electricians near me.

Importance of Emergency Electricians

Ever since Benjamin Franklin rediscovered electricity, there was no turning back. Electricity is so powerful that it can fuel the thirst for technology. However, as much as electricity can power things, it can also burn things and endanger lives.

Many catastrophes happened because of electricity. Home accidents often cause residential mishaps due to faulty electrical wirings or appliances. Faulty installations should not be ignored as they can lead to short circuit. When you have faulty wirings, you better call the emergency electrician Sydney immediately.

Sometimes we get lucky that the problem comes to notice before an accident. What the homeowner can do when they see something odd about their electrical system is to shut off the power to prevent further danger and damage. They can call regular electricians who are available during normal working hours.

However, if the incident is beyond the work hours or on weekends and holidays, they can call an emergency electrician. The emergency electricians are on call electricians who are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Most companies or contractors can send the emergency electricians near me within the hour.

Principles that Govern Emergency Electricians

• Emergency electricians Sydney can arrive within the hour 90% of the time.
• They have minor parts and materials with them for the emergency service.
• They are focused on mitigating the risk as quickly as possible.

Examples of Electrical Issues that Warrants an Emergency Electrician

It is essential to differentiate some electrical repairs over the others. To understand what is risky and what it isn’t could mean life and death. Some electrical problems pose a higher risk because it could result in property damage or loss of life.

Here are some of the common issues we may face at home that warrants for an emergency electrician:

• Exposed Wires – if you see any exposed wires, then you should take this as a serious alarm. Exposed wires can result in electrocution, and it could pose an increased threat of fire.
• When The Wire Comes into Contact with Water – if you see a pool of water near wiring, it is essential to be careful and avoid it entirely. When water comes in contact with electrical wiring, there is a considerable risk of electrocution.
• When an Electrical Socket is Smoking – when you see a cloud of smoke coming out of an outlet, it could result in a fire, it is crucial to call the emergency electrician Sydney immediately.
• Switches and Outlets are Warm to Touch – it could be a result of massive demand on the circuit or something more dangerous.

As a home owner, it is vital to understand the situations that warrant calling an emergency electrician. In Sydney, you can count on McIntosh Electrical to respond quickly during your emergencies. They have the reputation of being the best emergency electricians around.

Emergency Electrician Near Me: Top 5 Tips to Find the Best Electrician in Sydney

When you type the word emergency electrician near me on any search engine, you will have a long list of electricians, and half of it are paid advertisements. So how do you really know which one in the list is the right electrician that can handle your job efficiently, safely, and comply with the highest standards? All you need to do is to scroll down until you find McIntosh Electrical in Sydney.

They provide local electricians who can provide 5-star service for residential and commercial requirements. Whether you are dealing with major electrical repairs, remodeling, or any problem that deals with electricity, you don’t have to type ‘local electrician near me’ anymore. Go straight to their website and book an appointment.

Because running a search in the search engine for electricians can have confusing results, here are the five tips for you to find the right local electrician in Sydney.

• Check how many years they have been an electrician in your area.

We are not saying that new electricians are bad because they are not. They don’t have the experience for what you might need them to do. Remember that safety is a huge issue when it comes to electricity and you need to choose the local electrician near you who have been working in the area for several years. They already know the building code and may have encountered a problem in the past that is like yours.

• Do they have ratings and review that you can verify?

When looking for local electricians, you would naturally ask your friends, acquaintances for recommendations. While online, you can also check out some useful resources that will tell you what other customers have to say about the local electricians on the list. Focus your scavenger hunt on reputable review sites and check whether the electrician you have set your sight on has any awards for excellent service quality.

• Ask three essential questions to your shortlisted electrician.

There are three significant questions that you should check with the electricians in your shortlist. These are searching questions that will give you in-depth details about them. First, ask them about their safety record to know that you are in safe hands. Second is to ask about their license, bond, and insurance. All electricians in Sydney are required to meet specific standards regularly to maintain their licenses. And lastly, you should ask them about their compliance with the National Electrical Code.

• Do they provide the right services?

Not all electricians near you are complete and well-rounded electricians. Some specialize only in specific areas. You need to carefully examine their service list to determine if the local electrician can provide what you need. When you search “electrician near me,” make sure that you know what type of service you require.

• What is the rate from “local electrician near me” list?

It is best to request an estimate from the local electricians on your list. Not all electricians will have the same bid, and the best one should spend considerable time examining your home and what electrical issue you may have before writing an estimate.

If you have to go through the five tips in finding the right local electrician near you in Sydney, we are sure that McIntosh Electrical will be on top of your list.