Thanks to technology, our homes can be a haven of convenience and innovation.
And regardless of the age of your home, you can experience all the electrical modernity you could ever need.
Thanks to retrofitting!
Electrical retrofitting boosts your home’s electrical systems, making it safer, more efficient, and able to handle the demands of the digital age.
So, what is retrofitting, how can it make your home or workplace better, and how can you make it happen? Let’s find out now.
Retrofitting Electrics: What You Need To Know
What Is Retrofitting?
Retrofitting is a term that is commonly thrown around in renovation circles. It’s often used in the electrical and construction industries and refers to the process of updating or modifying an existing structure or system. The modifications will generally incorporate new features, technologies or some form of improvements.
When it comes to your electrics, retrofitting generally refers to upgrading or enhancing your electrical systems to meet modern safety standards, improve your energy efficiency, make your home or workplace ‘smarter’, or simply meet your specific needs.
What Can Be Retrofitted?
Almost anything can be retrofitted by the right electrician. But, here are some of the more common electrical retrofitting projects:
- Switchboard Upgrade: If you have an older home, your current switchboard may not be sufficient for modern electrical needs. Upgrading gives you more capacity, better safety features, and greater control over your electrical system.
- LED Lighting: Traditional incandescent or fluorescent lighting systems are not energy efficient. That’s why retrofitting LED lighting systems has become so popular. Not only can they reduce your energy consumption and lower your power bill, but they also provide better lighting quality.
- Smart Home Upgrades: Homes of all ages are getting smarter with the ability to retrofit smart home technology. Security systems, thermostat control, device hubs, and energy monitoring are just some of the popular technologies that can be retrofitted to make your home more convenient and energy efficient.
- Electrical Safety: Older homes and workplaces may have outdated wiring, outlets or circuitry that pose a safety hazard. Retrofitting can include rewriting or replacing outdated power points to make your buildings safer.
- Heating/Cooling: Keeping your home warm, dry and ventilated is easy when you retrofit a heat pump or ventilation system.
The Retrofitting Process
Time to get some upgrades at your home or workplace? Then, it’s time to get retrofitting! Here are the steps you can follow to get the process underway:
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Find The Right Electrician
Whether you are looking to complete a minor or major project, you will want to work with an electrician you can trust. That means one that is skilled and knowledgeable in retrofitting. Check out our recent blog on how to find the right electrician, or give our experienced team a call if you are based in the Auckland region.
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Consultation
Let’s have a chat about your project. We’ll discuss what you want to do so that we can understand your end objective. Are you looking to make your home or workplace safer, more energy efficient, or simply more convenient to live or work in?
From there, we can make suggestions about the best solution and if there are multiple minor projects we can group together to create even greater efficiency for you.
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Site Assessment
Depending on the project, it is helpful for our team to conduct a thorough assessment of the job site. That way we can examine your existing electrical system and understand the condition of your wiring, outlets, switchboard, and any other relevant components. From there, we can identify any potential challenges and understand exactly what we are working with.
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Design and Plan
The next step is over to us and we will create a retrofit plan based on our initial consultation and the site visit that we undertook. The plan will outline the scope of the work, including the specific upgrades, modifications or additions that are needed.
It will also contain a detailed quote with an estimate of the costs involved with the project, including materials, labour and any permits or inspections required.
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Pre-work
Once we have agreed on the scope and budget of the project, the pre-work can begin. That would include applying for any necessary permits and setting a timeline for when the work will be carried out.
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Retrofit Time!
It’s now time to get the job done. The retrofit will be carried out according to the approved plan by our skilled team. We will ensure the utmost safety standards are adhered to and the best quality materials are used.
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Inspection And Testing
To ensure everything is safe and fit for purpose before we leave, our skilled electricians will carry out an official inspection to ensure everything is working well and the retrofit complies with NZ electrical safety standards. We’ll also invite you to walk through and check that you are happy with the work that has been completed. If any further modifications are required as a result of the inspection, these will be conducted immediately.
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The Docs
Once everyone is happy with the result and the project has been signed off, our team will provide you with any relevant documentation, such as warranties, instruction manuals, or certificates of compliance. We’ll also walk you through how to use your new systems so that you understand the controls and maintenance requirements.
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Follow Ups
Communication is incredibly important to us, which is why we will keep you updated throughout every step of your retrofit project. And after the fact, you are most welcome to contact us with any questions or queries. Plus, if your system requires ongoing maintenance, we’ll be in touch with you to organise that when the necessary amount of time has passed.
Ready To Retrofit?
Time to get started on your electrical retrofitting project? Then, get in touch with our team now to start discussing your requirements.
From there, we can work on a plan for making your home or workplace smarter, safer, more energy efficient… or all three!