There will never be enough power outlets in our device-filled world. If you are fed up with extension leads running across rooms or constantly unplugging items to charge your phone, it is time to get some extra sockets. This is how you can safely and effectively tackle this electrical upgrade.
Assess Your Current Needs
First of all, walk around your home and see the trouble areas. How many devices do you have in a room: Phones, laptops and lamps? or TV’s, gaming consoles, kitchen appliances. Seasonal: Items such as Christmas lighting, portable heaters etc.
The modern home translates to roughly a double socket every 2-3m along walls, with extra within easy reach of desks/entertainment centres/kitchen worktops. Most bedrooms require the provision of additional sockets for charging elements at bedside level, and for reading lights. For an Electrician Cheltenham, visit www.blu-fish.co.uk/electrical-services-cheltenham
Understanding the Installation Process
Adding sockets isn’t always straightforward. Your electrician is going to have to start by looking at your existing circuits and seeing if they can handle an extra circuit. Occasionally you can spur new sockets off existing ones, but often a new circuit from the consumer unit is needed.
How easy or difficult it is will also largely depend on the construction of your home. If your house has solid walls, getting wired Internet installed in every room can require some disruptive installation; depending on the layout of your home – running cables between floors is often done by lifting floorboards or accessing ceiling voids.
Planning for Different Room Types
Living Areas – Entertainment set ups, lighting requirements and charging stations USB ports are becoming more common to charge devices using all of their power without the need for a plug adapter.
Kitchens – Include appliances, coffee makers and blenders. Also, note that kitchen circuits are often subset to special requirements and hence need dedicated supplies for high-power appliances.
Bedrooms – Think about charging, reading light and why there might be a need for a home workspace.
Home Offices: Size generously – computers, monitors, printers and networking gear. It pays to consider a dedicated circuit for high-demand setups.
Cost Considerations
Installation costs of sockets differ tremendously depending upon the complexity. A straightforward addition to an existing circuit may come in at around £80-£150 per socket, while new circuits or really difficult access routes can hike the price up massively – especially if chasing is required for cables.
Safety and Compliance
Building Regulations Part P require that any new socket installations conform to the regulations; your electrician should be able to show you certificates detailing how this work meets safety standards. Do not try to wire up your own sockets – bad wiring causes fires, or gets you shocked at best.