Electrician in Pakenham, VIC
Electrical work in Pakenham
Pakenham has several layers, and the work sits in all of them. There is the old railway town around Main Street and the line to Gippsland, which arrived in 1877. There is the Housing Commission estate, built on land the Commission bought up. And there are the newer estates, including Lakeside, Heritage Springs and Cardinia Lakes, that made Pakenham one of the growth areas on the south-east edge. Toomuc Creek runs through the west side, with a linear park along it.
In the older streets the houses stand on their own blocks with a side gate and the meter box on the side wall, and the railway or a creek reserve is never far away. On the newer estates the houses sit close to the street and to each other, driveways are short, and the street can be tight when builders' vans are parked on it, so tell us where we can stand. Tell us who holds the key if the house is empty.
The Housing Commission houses and the houses built north of town in the 1990s, when Pakenham Hills Primary School opened, were wired when a house carried far fewer circuits than now. They have usually been extended, and circuits added to the board one at a time. The newest estates are the reverse: a modern board, and the work is adding what the owner wants later, such as an outdoor circuit or a charger.
What we do here most
What a town of old streets and new estates keeps needing
Each layer of the town asks for something different. The old streets need their boards looked at, the older estate houses need extending, and the newer estates want things added to a modern board.
Renovations
Opening up an older estate kitchen
Many houses from the Housing Commission years have been extended at the back since they were built. When a kitchen is opened into a living area, the wiring in the old wall has to be re-planned, not just extended. We find out where the cables run before anything is cut, then give the new room its own circuits for the oven, the dishwasher and the power points along the bench.
Car Chargers
A charger on a newer estate house
Houses on estates such as Lakeside and Heritage Springs often have a garage with the board on its wall or just inside, which keeps the cable run short. Before we fit a charger we check how much spare capacity the board has, because a charger runs steadily for hours, alongside the oven and the heater. The consultation covers where the unit goes, which board feeds it and whether the board has room.
New Build Electricals
Wiring a new house before the walls close
In a new estate house we are on site at two stages. The first is before the wall lining goes up, when cable is run to every light, point and appliance. The second is at the end, when switches, points and the board are fitted and tested. Missing the first stage means cutting into finished walls later, so decide where the TV and the furniture go in time.
Electrical Inspection
Wiring check on a house near the old centre
A house near Main Street or the railway has often had several owners and been altered by several tradespeople. We open the switchboard and check the main switch, the spare ways and the earthing, then test the lights and points in each room. You get a safety report, so you know what is sound and what needs attention.
If it is urgent
If the power drops in Pakenham
- 1Check whether the whole street is dark or only your house, and look at your board for a tripped breaker or safety switch.
- 2Leave the board alone if there is a burning smell or water near it, keep away from fallen lines, and do not reset a breaker that trips straight back.
- 3When you call, tell us whether the house is in an older street or on a newer estate, where the board is, and where we can park. We answer the phone at any hour, every day.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What electrical services do you provide?
We do domestic and commercial electrical work. That covers repairs, circuit breaker replacement, switches, outlets, lighting, appliance installation, switchboard upgrades, safety inspections, car chargers, renovations and new builds. The services page lists each one.
What happens when I call?
You describe what is going on: which room, what the power was doing, and whether a breaker has tripped. We ask a few questions and tell you what we think it is and what the next step is. If it is urgent, we say so and deal with that first.
Do you do emergency callouts at any hour?
Yes. We answer the phone at any hour, every day, and emergency callouts run at any hour too. If something smells hot, a switch is sparking or the power will not come back, call rather than send a message.
Do you handle new builds and renovations?
Yes. For a new build we work through the electrical from the switchboard out, including power points, lighting and cabling for appliances, data and security. For a renovation we work around what is already in the walls, and we coordinate with the builder where there is one.
Can you upgrade the switchboard in my older home?
Yes. Older switchboards often struggle with the load of modern appliances and can be a safety risk. We open the board, look at what is there and tell you what needs replacing, whether that is a few breakers or the whole board.
How often should I have an electrical inspection?
About every 5 years for a standard home. Have one sooner when you are buying a property, when the home has outdated wiring, or when breakers trip often. We check the wiring, the switchboard and the circuit breakers, and you get a plain report with recommendations.
Can you install an electric car charger?
Yes. We start with a consultation on your property's electrical system to decide where the charger should go and what suits your car. If the switchboard or wiring needs work to carry it, we do that as part of the job, then test the charger and show you how it works.
Do you install and replace lights?
Yes, inside and out. That includes downlights, pendants, wall lights, LED upgrades, and outdoor and garden lighting. We can also fit switches and dimmers to go with them.
Can you add or replace outlets and switches?
Yes. We fit new outlets where you need them, swap worn or faulty ones, and replace switches. If an outlet keeps failing, we check the circuit behind it rather than just changing the faceplate.
Do you connect ovens, dishwashers and other appliances?
Yes. That includes ovens, cooktops, rangehoods, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers. Some need their own circuit or a hardwired connection, and we set that up and test it. We can take the old appliance away on request.
What should I send with an enquiry?
Photos help. A shot of the switchboard with the cover open (only if you can do it safely), the faulty fitting, or the room where you want the work done. Add a line on what happened just before it stopped.
Which areas do you cover, and what if my suburb is not listed?
We work across Melbourne and the surrounding areas: the south-east, Casey and Cardinia, plus Box Hill, Hampton and South Yarra. The service areas page lists the places we work most often. If yours is not there, call and tell us the suburb, because the list is not a boundary.
Everything we do here
Services in Pakenham, VIC
These are the services we offer across Pakenham, from the old streets near the station to the newer estates.
Local, and on the phone
Electrical work in Pakenham
Tell us whether the house is in the older part of town or on a newer estate, and where the board is: outside, in the garage or in a hallway. That decides what we expect to find and what we bring.
0432 167 19624 hours a day, 7 days a week
Not urgent? Send us the job instead