If you aren't happy with some or all of the power points in your home, you can change or reconfigure them. When might you want to do this?



1. Your power points are faulty

In some cases, you need to change power points because they develop a problem that could be hazardous. For example, you might see scorch marks on the point, or it might start to overheat plugs.

If you have a faulty power point, you should stop using it immediately and call in an electrician. While the fault is often localised, it could still be dangerous. You could also have a bigger problem in your home's electrics that needs attention.

2. Your power points are damaged

Power points don't last forever. They can get damaged. For example, they might crack. They might start to loosen off the wall or sag out of position. They might not take plugs easily any longer. You might have to use force to get a plug in or out of a socket.

While a power point might technically still work in these circumstances, this isn't an ideal situation. The damage could lead to electrical problems if you don't get it fixed.

3. You want to upgrade your power points

People use more technology products nowadays. You might want to upgrade your points to manage your devices more easily.

For example, if you have devices like smartphones or tablets, then you might use adaptor plugs to charge them. You might lose valuable socket space to the devices you need to charge. You might have to juggle the items you plug in at any given time, which can be inconvenient.

Here, you can upgrade some or all of your power points to make them more flexible. You can buy points that have USB charging slots in them as well as spaces for regular plugs. You can use these points to power regular items and charge your devices at the same time.

4. You need more power points

If you live in an older home, then you might not have enough power points for your needs. You probably have a lot more equipment and devices than the people who originally lived there.

If you don't have enough power points, then you can get an electrician to install extra ones. They can assess your electrics and work out if you can add new points or change existing ones to add outlets. For example, you might be able to change a single power point to a double one.

5. You want to childproof your power points

Parents of young children need to childproof their power points. You need to keep your kids safe from electric shocks until they are old to understand that fingers and objects shouldn't go in a socket.

In some cases, you can simply buy and install power point safety plugs to block sockets. However, you might find it a chore to have to constantly put in and remove the plugs when you need to use a socket. If you forget to replace a safety plug after using a power point, then the point becomes dangerous again.

You can install power points with built-in safety features. For example, some points have shutters that close socket points when you take out a plug. This prevents kids from poking anything into the socket.

It's also a good idea to review your power points if you need to use extension leads because you're short on sockets. Leads can be hazardous around young children. They can trip over their wires and might try to play with the extensions. It might make better sense to have more points installed to make your home safer here.

For expert advice and a fast power point installation, contact Smart-Safe Electrical Services. We can help you make the changes you need safely and cost-effectively.