Category Archives: Tips

Energex Positive Payback

Energex rewards customers and businesses who connect energy hungry appliances to economy tariffs or who install technologies that make their equipment operate more efficiently when the electricity network experiences peak demand.
For more information please see the below. AJ Palmer Electrical can assist you in connecting your appliances to these tariffs today. Give us a call!

AJ Palmer Electrical - Energex Positive Payback

Energex Positive Payback

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Winter is coming… Heating Installation

Winter is fast approaching and some of us are already starting to feel the chill in the air. Our heating installation experts at AJ Palmer Electrical can provide a quality service to install the right heating option for your needs and intended usage.

All electrical heaters come with their own list of Pros and Cons, depending on the level of usage, location and size of the room you are trying to heat.  Electrical Fire Heaters and Panel heaters are a popular, energy efficient and safe choice when it comes to Heating appliances and AJ Palmer Electrical can provide the right advice when it comes down to making these important decisions.  Our solutions are safe, energy saving and include all manufactures warranties.

Heating Installation

Electric Fire Heater

Alternatively – if you already have an Electrical heating appliance that may not have seen the light of day since last winter, it is important that you conduct some safety checks prior to using them.

Electric heaters such as Radiant Heaters, Oil-filled Column Heaters, Convection Heaters and Fan Heaters should be checked for obvious damage before use.  Things to look for are rusted reflectors and frayed or damaged power cords from rodents, old age or over use.

AJ Palmer Electrical offer testing and tagging services for home users and businesses and will ensure your mind is at ease when using your heating appliances this winter.

Indoor heaters pose many risks which can vary depending on the type of heater and must always be used with caution. Following a few key safety tips, will help to keep you and your family safe and warm this winter:

  • Never leave electric heaters unattended.
  • Place the heater in a location away from heavy foot traffic or children & pets and on a level surface.
  • Avoid placing portable heaters on table tops – unless specifically designed for this purpose.
  • Keep flammable materials away from all heaters – this includes curtains, upholstery, towels and clothes.
  • Avoid plugging your heater into power boards, double adaptors and extension cords. Heaters draw large amounts of power and may overload the supply.

Call AJ Palmer today for a free quote for all your heating needs – Heating Installation, Testing & Tagging, or advice on the right system for you!

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Economy Tariff 33 Extended Rewards

Pool Pump Installation Rewards Economy Tariff 33

A pool pump is one of the top electricity draining items that can lead to large electricity bills well into the thousands if you are not signed up to the Economy Tariff 33. The energy used by each individual pool will vary across households.  30% of the household electricity costs can be attributed to the pool pump. This can be more than your washing machine, dryer and dishwasher combined!

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As the weather warms up, make sure your air conditioning system is ready to take the heat. The last thing you want is to have your air conditioner unit break during a hot summer day. Having your air conditioning system work properly is essential so you can stay comfortable.

When you start to do your spring-cleaning, include your air conditioning system on your to-do list. This maintenance will ensure you stay cool when temperatures begin to soar.  

Air Conditioner

Follow these awesome tips by AJ Palmer Electrical for a happy & healthy Air Conditioner.

How to prepare your air conditioner for the summer months

1. Run Your Air Conditioner Before It Gets Hot

Most home owners wait until the heat feels unbearable to turn on their air conditioning system. If your air conditioner has broken over the winter, you won’t have a way to stay cool in the summer. Additionally, repair time will likely take longer because the first few weeks of summer are often a busy time of year for electricians.

Start your air conditioner at least a month before summer to make sure everything works properly. If your system doesn’t run smoothly, give AJ Palmer Electrical a call!

To test your air conditioner, clean the area around it to prevent debris from getting into it. Then,
remove the cover on the outdoor unit. Turn on the system and close the humidifier bypass. Give your system an hour to start cooling. After an hour, make sure the system is cooling and that the unit condenser doesn’t show signs of icing.

2. Check the Air Filters

If you have some experience, you can likely change the filter without help from from our electricians. You may need to replace the filter as often as every 30 days if you use your unit frequently.

More expensive filters may last up to six months without needing replacement, depending on the brand.

You should check the filters, heat pump and furnace. Home owners who don’t change their filters often may overwork their systems, which leads to equipment failure and costly repairs.

3. Clean the Vents

Make sure your system has proper airflow. If you can’t feel air blowing smoothly throughout your home, you may need to clean the vents. To clean this area, remove the unit cover and remove accumulated debris. Regularly cleaning your unit will ensure your system runs efficiently and lasts longer.

4. Check the Insulation and Ductwork

Check your ductwork for any leaks. If you suspect a problem, have a HVAC technician perform a pressure test. This test will determine if your ductwork is running efficiently. If needed, a technician can also seal and insulate leaks to enhance the performance of your cooling system. AJ Palmer Certified Master electricians may also be able to assist with this step.

5. Program the Thermostat

Running your air conditioner all day and night will cost you a lot of money on your energy bill. Instead, set your thermostat to run less often when you’re away from home.

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, consider installing one. These devices can help you save money on your energy bill and extend the life of your air conditioning system. You may want to consider installing a Wi-Fi-compatible system so you can adjust the temperature from your mobile device.

6. Update Your System

Springtime is the perfect season to upgrade your current unit if you have an older system. A new air conditioning unit will reduce the risk of the unit breaking down. It can also save you money throughout the summer. Consult with AJ Palmer Electrical to help you determine a suitable  system for your home.

Try these simple spring-cleaning tips so you can extend the life of your cooling system and save on your utility bill. Remember the small details  can make a big
difference.

For more information, give AJ Palmer Electrical a call. We service all suburbs in and around North Brisbane!

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4 Ways to Reduce Your Energy Bills

A look at your monthly energy bills might cause your jaw to drop. If your energy usage (and overall costs) are significantly higher than you expected, you may wonder how to bring those numbers down.

After all,you don’t want to spend a fortune on energy bills-especially if you have other expenses and fun activities you need to pay for.

By adding efficient appliances to your home is the best way to reduce your consumption. But if you can’t afford these sometimes-costly appliances, you may wonder if you can even lower your bills at all.

Reduce your building’s energy consumption and bills at little or no extra cost!

Origin Energy Bill

Avoid bill shock by following AJ Palmer Electrical hot tips!

1. Use Your Ceiling Fans

If your home or office has ceiling fans, use them. In the warm summer months, this extra breeze allows cool air to circulate regularly throughout each room. As a result, your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to cool down your building.

Likewise, you can change the direction the fan turns so they can circulate warm air in the cooler months. Simply flip the switch on the fan and turn the device on.

2. Properly Fill Your Dishwasher

Dishwashers stand as one of the best modern conveniences we have. But they can also use more electricty than
expected. Unless you replace your dishwasher with an efficient model, you won’t reduce the amount of electricity this appliance uses.

However, if you properly fill your dishwasher before you run it, you won’t have to use it as much, reducing the amount of energy you use to wash dishes. Avoid running the dishwasher when it’s only partially full. Stack your dishes methodically so you can fit more pieces inside the trays. Then, run the dishwasher once it’s been completely filled. The fewer loads of dishes you wash, the less energy your building uses.

3. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water

Likewise, washers consume a lot of energy. Specifically, washers use a lot of electricity to heat water up each cycle. But if you wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot, you’ll easily reduce your consumption.

If you must wash clothing in warm or hot water, try to use your washer later at night. Some energy companies may offer discounted rates for using energy during non-peak hours (typically after 10pm.), so you may just save some money by doing laundry in the evening.

4. Unplug Unused Items at Night

Even if your electronics and appliances are turned off, they still use energy if they’re plugged into the outlet. Before you go to bed each night, walk through your home and unplug any electronics and appliances that aren’t being used, including:

  • Blenders
  • Electric can openers
  • Hair appliances
  • Laptops (specifically their chargers)
  • Phones and the chargers
  • Slow cookers
  • Toaster ovens

If you have certain appliances or electronics that can’t be unplugged in the evening, set them on a timer so they use less energy.

For example, if you watch TV just before you go to sleep, you can set a timer so that the device shuts off at a certain hour. Even though it will still use energy as it’s plugged in, it won’t consume as much energy as it would if it had been left on all night.

Ready to cut your energy consumption and save on energy costs? Use the tips above to get started. Once you make a few small changes around your home or office, you’ll be surprised at how much you can save on your energy bills.

For larger changes, talk to a local electrician and a contractor. These professionals can tell you which items best work for your property type. They’ll also make any modifications to your building so you can keep everyone inside safe from any potential risks.

To learn more about how an electrician can help you improve your home or office building, read our other blog articles.

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Problems With Your Electrical? 5 Reasons to Hire a Professional

When your lights flicker or your electrical outlets spark, you may feel tempted to grab your tool belt and set to work. After all, how hard could electrical repairs be?

But before you switch off that circuit breaker, keep in mind that some jobs are best left to the
professionals, including your electrical.

NO DIY Electrical

Leave your electrical work to AJ Palmer Electrical

If you’re not convinced, take a look at the reasons why we should do that electrical work for you!

1. Safety

As a DIY-er, you may already understand that some home repairs come with varying levels of risk. You may crush your thumb as you try to hit a nail with your hammer. Or you may fall off the roof when you attempt to clean the gutters.

But when you struggle with your electrical, you increase your risk for injury dramatically. Electric shock can damage the nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. It can also lead to fires and severe property damage.

2. Cost-Efficiency

When you fix most things on your own, you can save a great deal in parts and labour. You can find replacement fixtures on sale, and you don’t have to worry about paying yourself.

However, you don’t have a guarantee that your electrical repairs will last you for days, let alone months or even years. If your appliances must run on poorly fixed wiring or circuits, you may soon see premature wear and tear on connecting motors and gears. As a result, you may need to continually replace varying parts of your unit or machine. And in extreme cases, you may have to replace your entire appliance.

3. Speed

Unless you have an electrician’s background or education, you may have to teach yourself a few things before you can properly diagnose or repair a problem.

To replace a worn-out outlet or fan belt, for example, you may need to read multiple articles, watch countless videos and ask a few friends for advice before you feel comfortable enough handling the job on your own. And despite your research, you may still struggle to handle unfamiliar tools and force parts to slide into small spaces.

4. Accuracy

Lights flicker for various reasons. The bulb might not properly connect to the socket. The circuit may have come loose. Another appliance may have overwhelmed your home’s ampacity.

Unless you have the right tools for a diagnosis, you may struggle to accurately pinpoint the precise nature of your electrical problem. Though you can guess and check each theory, you may feel overwhelmed at the sheer number of possible solutions to your unique situation.

Furthermore, as you tear into your walls or pull out your wiring to find the problem, you may cause additional damage to other parts of your electrical. What starts out as a loose connection could quickly spiral into a snapped cable.

5. Legal

Australian law allows you to swap out dead lightbulbs and install battery-operated smoke detectors without too much fuss.

However, due to high safety risks, most electrical work requires an experienced, licensed professional. If you attempt to do your own wiring without a license, you could potentially incur penalties of up to $100,000 and even end up with two years of jail time. If your unprofessional wiring causes death or injury, the penalties will become even more severe.

Consequently, you should never replace a light switch, install a new power point, replace a plug on the end of a lead or perform similar electrical tasks on your own.

Don’t Wait to Call an Expert

Although you can handle a variety of DIY projects, don’t hesitate to call AJ Palmer Electrical for all your electrical needs in North Brisbane and surrounding suburbs.

For more information please see Worksafe QLD

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