Hey! Matt and Pat here.
Well, the year is now in full swing with the kids back at school and no more public holidays until Easter.
In this newsletter we explain how an energy audit could reduce your electricity bill over summer and throughout the year.
At Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service, we take your safety seriously. To arrange a time for us to visit your home or office, call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au. For your protection, we follow COVIDSafe guidelines.
Cheers,
Matt Cox & Pat Dobbs
For many people, the summer and winter electricity bills can be a bit of a shocker! They are the seasons when we use our cooling and heating most frequently.
We also come across customers who seem to have consistently high power bills throughout the year and they don’t know why.
If you can relate to either of these scenarios, why not ask us for an energy audit for either your home or your small business.
An energy audit (also known as an energy assessment), can help you identify why your electricity bills are high. Often, the solutions can be quite simple so it’s definitely a worthwhile exercise.
We offer 2 types of energy audit.
Option 1: Send us your latest bill
As a first step, look at your last electricity bill or send it to us so we can check it for you. On every energy bill there is a key piece of information we look for and that’s the type of tariff.
Typically, there are 2 types of tariffs for households and small businesses – single rate or time-of-use.
With a single rate tariff you are charged the same, flat rate no matter what time of day you use your electricity.
With time-of-use tariffs, as the name suggests, the cost of your electricity changes – depending on when you use your electricity. That means you will pay more for your electricity at peak periods (normally weekday evenings) and less for your electricity consumption overnight and on the weekend (known as off-peak).
If your electricity contract uses a time-of-use tariff, we can provide you with lots of tips and tricks to modify your energy usage to reduce your power bills.
Option 2: An on-site energy audit
If you are looking for higher reductions on your electricity bill or you already know you are charged a single rate for power, we can come to your home or small business to conduct an energy audit.
While we are looking around, we’ll ask you lots of questions about how you use your power. For example:
What temperature do you normally set your cooling and heating?
What appliances or equipment are constantly on?
Are there any areas that seem draughty?
We’ll also conduct a visual inspection to look at your lights and appliances to see if you have any energy guzzlers.
After our on-site inspection, we’ll prepare an energy audit report for you which will include recommendations on ways you can reduce your electricity bill.
Normally, your energy audit investment with us is $300 + GST. However, if you book your energy audit in February, you will receive it for half price.
But wait. There’s more!
Not only will your energy audit be half price, we’ll also give you a free switchboard check while we’re on-site. This includes checking the condition of your wiring and ensuring your safety switches are working.
If you think your power bill is too high, contact us for an energy audit. This simple investment could pay for itself very quickly.
To arrange a time, either email your latest power bill to info@kuring.com.au or phone 0418 442 578 to arrange a time for our visit.
Happy new year!
We hope you had a great Christmas. We’re back on the tools and looking forward to seeing you this year. If you delayed your electrical projects until after Christmas, now could be a good time to ask us over.
To inspire you, we share our top 2 tips when choosing a ceiling fan plus we have some fun electrical facts to get your imagination sizzling!
Remember, Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service is committed to you and your family’s safety and comfort. Call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au to arrange your appointment.
Cheers,
Matt Cox & Pat Dobbs
We love ceiling fans. They are effective, economical and enhance the cooling effects of your air conditioning system (if you have one). But there are a few things to look for when selecting a ceiling fan:
Our team are experts in installing ceiling fans in both houses and apartments. Call or email the friendly Ku-ring-gai Electrical team on 0418 442 578 or info@kuring.com.au to make a time for your fan installation.
With Valentine’s day just a few weeks away, we’re sharing the love by giving a delicious chocolate hamper to the first 5 customers who book us in February.
All you have to do is mention the chocolate hamper when you make your February booking.
1. An electric fence can operate at 15,000 Volts but it won’t kill you because it has very low Amps.
2. Compare this with the 240 Volts we have in our homes. Do the wrong thing and it can kill you. That’s because domestic electricity has a high Amp rate (also known as current).
3. Here’s where it gets tricky … a 12 Volt car battery can be touched without receiving a shock but if you place a spanner on the terminal, the spanner will melt. How do we know this? As a young man, Matt was working on his car. He wasn’t paying attention and placed his spanner on his car battery terminal. It didn’t take long for the spanner to become red hot – damaging his car battery.
So the moral of these fun facts are:
1. The voltage won’t harm you. High or low, it’s the same result. What will harm you is the Amp.
2. Always use a qualified mechanic. It will save you money in the long run.
For all your home or office wiring needs, contact Ku-ring-gai Electrical on 0418 442 578 or info@kuring.com.au
Hey! Matt and Pat here.
Christmas is just around the corner. For many of us, it comes with a mixture of excitement about our holidays and a rush to get things done.
Pat ticked one thing off his “To Do” list this year. He recently got married. Congratulations Pat and Destyni. To see what else is happening behind the scenes and for inspiration on what’s possible for your home, follow us on Facebook.
At Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service, we take your family’s safety seriously. So in this newsletter, we’ve included a few Christmas safety tips plus a special offer for the first 10 people to book us for January.
For all your home and office wiring needs, call 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au to arrange your appointment.
Cheers,
Matt Cox & Pat Dobbs
Don’t cut corners in the excitement to deck your home with Christmas lights. It could jeopardise the safety of you, your family and guests. To help keep you safe, here are our top 5 safety tips for Christmas.
Tip 1: Christmas trees and lights
If you have a Christmas tree with built-in lights, make sure they
meet the Australian safety standards. Look for an approval
number or compliance symbol. It’s the same with any Christmas
lights you buy to decorate your home.
In addition, be cautious about where you place your Christmas
lights – keep them away from flammable materials like
curtains and couches.
Tip 2: Do a safety check first
When you unpack your Christmas lights, check for any damage, wear or tear. In particular, you don’t want to see frayed cables or loose plugs. Also check for loose or missing globes and only replace them with the same type and voltage. Better still, if your Christmas lights are getting a bit old, go to places like Bunnings to purchase a new set. It could prevent a house fire!
Tip 3: Ditch the double adaptor
Don’t be tempted to use double adaptors to accommodate your Christmas lights or additional appliances such as bar fridges, kettles or slow cookers. They’re so dangerous, we won’t have them in our own homes and we recommend you dispose of yours as well.
Tip 4: Replace your 240V Christmas lights – they’re too dangerous
The problem with 240V Christmas lights is they aren’t earthed so you won’t know there’s a problem until you touch them. You don’t want that! Instead, replace your 240V decorative lights with LED ones. They are usually good value and safe – especially if you have young children around (your own or visitors).
Tip 5: Protect your power cords and powerboards.
Want your home to sparkle inside and out? Don’t load up your powerboards with multiple external lights. Ask us to install external powerpoints. They’re usually easy to install, more convenient and much safer. Plus, you’ll probably find them very handy throughout the year.
If you’d like some extra powerpoints – inside or out – or beautiful garden and path lighting for summer, give us a call on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au to arrange your appointment.
That’s just what newlywed Pat is going to do to raise money for the Cancer Council of Australia as part of their Longest Day fundraiser. While Pat loves golf, he’s a bit worried. It’s expected he will cover approx. 40km around the course. “I’ll probably die!”, says Pat.
But he’s doing it anyway, with a few mates, to raise money for a great cause. Let’s hope the weather is kind on the day.
You can support Pat and the Cancer Council here.
We’re taking a break. Our last working day is Thursday 17 December. We’ll be back on 4 January. We hope you and your family have a wonderful, safe and bright Christmas.
Remember, we’re already taking bookings for next year and the first 10 people to book an appointment in January will receive a 10% discount.
Hey! Matt and Pat here.
Can you believe the countdown to Christmas has begun? While 2020 has been challenging, somehow the year seems to have rushed by.
If you are hoping for lots of catch-ups with family and friends over summer, now is the time to book us in for all your outdoor electrical needs. To inspire you and let you know what’s possible, we’re sharing our top 8 tips for getting your home and outdoor areas ready for summer fun.
We’re all about safety – yours and ours – so when we come to your home or office, we follow COVIDSafe guidelines. To arrange your pre-Christmas visit, call 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au. Remember, we book out quickly this time of year so if you would like a bright Christmas, make your appointment today.
Cheers,
Matt Cox & Pat Dobbs
Things you can do yourself
Tip 1: Did last summer’s poor air quality impact your air conditioner filters?
If you haven’t checked your air conditioning filters for a while, we suggest you do it now. The manufacturers recommend regular cleaning and after the poor air quality from the bushfires last summer, our customers are telling us their air con filters are particularly grubby.
It’s important to clean them as dirty filters make your air conditioner work harder and that means it costs more to cool your home. Cleaning the filters is usually an easy and relatively quick process so make some time to do it this weekend.
Tip 2: Did you turn your ceiling fans to winter mode?
Ceiling fans aren’t just for summer. They all have a reverse mode which helps to warm your home in winter. If you’ve taken advantage of this option, now is the time to turn them back to summer mode.
If you can’t remember, it’s easy to work out. Simply turn your fan on and stand under it. If you can’t feel a breeze, it’s in winter mode. There’s a little button on the top of your fan which changes the operating modes. Again, it’s really easy to do.
Tip 3: Have a swimming pool?
If you turned your pool pump down for winter, now is the time to turn it back up for summer. Running times depend on the size of your pool and the amount of use it gets (e.g. you may need to run it longer if you are having a pool party for the kids).
Typically, 8 hours should be sufficient in summer but check with your pool cleaner or pool equipment supply shop.
Things we can help you with
These days, outdoor comfort and summer entertainment options are almost endless so here are a few suggestions on what’s possible.
Tip 4: Pump up the music with outdoor speakers
The music doesn’t need to stop once you go outside. There are music systems with outdoor speakers that only need an outdoor powerpoint.
Tip 5: Ceiling fans for outdoor patios
When it’s hot, under patio ceiling fans provide a wonderful cooling breeze. Don’t forget the lights! We can install task and mood lighting for your patio to really set the scene.
Tip 6: Outdoor garden lights
If you have looked at this before but decided the cost of running the wiring from your home to your pool, barbeque area or garden was too expensive, there are now options that use a remote control. They operate within a 50-80m range.
Tip 7: Path lighting
There are so many options including sensor and photoelectric cells that automatically turn on when it gets dark. We can help you choose the best option and install them for you.
Tip 8: Garden lighting
We can help you with everything from lighting plans to installation. If your garden is currently being landscaped, ask if you can use your tried and trusted electrician. We work with many landscapers across Sydney.
After such a gloomy year, let us help you amplify your summer fun with some bright and comfort enhancing solutions. For all your summer wiring needs, get in touch by calling 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au.
In last month’s newsletter we talked about induction cooktops. In our article, we said you may not be able to use your favourite pots and pans if they are made from aluminium, copper or glass.
We would like to thank one of our lovely customers, Val Rogers. She recently changed over to induction cooking and tells us her son purchased an Induction Cooktop Converter. Apparently it “works a treat with my glass saucepans and a couple of others that aren’t directly compatible with induction cooking.”
The converters are widely available from places like your induction stovetop retailer.
Thank you Val for letting us know so we can share the information with others.
Hey! Matt and Pat here.
At the risk of giving you bad news, Christmas is only a few months away. So if a kitchen appliance update is on the menu this Christmas, read on as we explain the differences between some kitchen equipment staples.
Plus, for inspiration at home, and some pretty cute pets, check out our Facebook page here.
At Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service, we take your safety seriously. To arrange a time for us to visit your home or office, call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au. For your protection, we follow COVIDSafe guidelines.
Cheers,
Matt Cox & Pat Dobbs
New oven on the menu?
For the at-home chef, an induction stovetop might be the answer. They heat quickly and evenly (unlike gas) and provide almost instant temperature control (unlike a standard electric stove).
They’re electric (so we can install it for you) but they use electromagnetic radiation. Don’t let the term “electromagnetic radiation” scare you. Induction cooking is proven to be safe. But they do work differently to other stoves.
The advantages:
The downside …
Only pots and pans made from ferrous metals (such as cast-iron and some stainless steels) can be used on induction cooktops. That means, if you have favourite aluminium, copper or glass cookware, you won’t be able to use them on your induction stove. To check if your existing cookware is made from ferrous metal, see if one of your fridge magnets sticks to the base. If it does, that piece of cookware is suitable for your induction stovetop.
Whether your stove top is electric or induction, we can install a new one for you in time for Christmas. Just get in touch to make a time. But don’t leave it too long. We often get very busy in the lead up to Christmas.
When it comes to installing your rangehood, there are two ways – ducted and re-circulating. Most rangehoods are set up to do either but you need to decide which method you want to use prior to installation.
With ducted rangehoods, the steam and smoke are vented outside so when it comes to eliminating cooking odours, this type of ducting is the most efficient. However, in apartments and some homes, external ducting may not be possible. That’s when re-circulating installation is used. This method relies on a carbon or charcoal filter to remove odours before pushing the air back into the kitchen.
When choosing a rangehood, ensure it covers your entire stovetop area. Rangehoods usually come in 600mm or 900mm to match the width of your stovetop.
We are experienced at installing both types of rangehoods so get in touch if you’d like yours installed before Christmas.
There’s no need to put up with poor lighting in your kitchen. There are plenty of under bench (or under cupboard) lighting options that can be retro-fitted into existing kitchens or installed as part of a kitchen remodel. These include LED strips and mini recessed lights.
We can also light up your pantry with a light that’s wired to turn on as soon as you open the pantry door.
We’ve checked with Santa and it’s OK for your Christmas kitchen wish list to come early this year. So get in touch with the team from Ku-ring-gai Electrical Service and we’ll help you cook like a celebrity this Christmas.
For all your home and office wiring needs, call us on 0418 442 578 or email info@kuring.com.au
