Most of us never think about our home's wiring until something goes wrong. But a few minutes of awareness can catch problems early — before they become a shock hazard or a fire. Here's a homeowner-friendly checklist of what to look for, what you can safely check yourself, and the signs that mean it's time to call a licensed electrician.
Start at the switchboard
Your switchboard tells you a lot at a glance. Modern boards have rows of circuit breakers and at least one safety switch (RCD). If yours still has ceramic fuses with fuse wire, or you can't find a safety switch, your home is missing protection that's now standard — and that's worth acting on.
Press the 'test' button on each safety switch occasionally (it should trip and cut the power, then reset) to confirm it works. If a switch won't trip on test, won't reset, or the board is warm, buzzing or scorched, call an electrician — don't poke around inside it.
Check powerpoints and switches
Walk the house and look at your outlets and switches. Warning signs include any that are warm to touch, discoloured or scorched, cracked, loose in the wall, or that spark when you plug something in. Two-pin un-earthed outlets are a sign of older wiring.
Be wary of double adapters and stacked power boards, especially behind entertainment units and in home offices — overloading outlets is a common cause of overheating. If you're constantly short of outlets, that's usually a sign you need more powerpoints installed rather than more adapters.
Smoke alarms and the obvious hazards
Test your smoke alarms and check they're not past their expiry (alarms don't last forever — most need replacing roughly every ten years). Make sure there's adequate coverage, particularly near sleeping areas.
Around the home, keep an eye out for damaged or frayed cords, leads run under rugs or pinched in doorways, and powerpoints near water without proper protection. Outdoors, check that weatherproof outlets are actually sealed and undamaged after storms.
Know the signs that need a professional
Some symptoms always warrant a licensed electrician: a burning smell with no obvious source, lights flickering across the whole house, frequent tripping that isn't one faulty appliance, a mild tingle from taps or appliances, or any sparking, buzzing or scorching.
If your home is older and has never had an electrical safety inspection, that's the single best way to get peace of mind — a professional checks everything behind the walls that a homeowner can't see. And remember: any actual electrical work must legally be carried out by a licensed electrician in NSW.
Want a professional set of eyes on your wiring? Book an electrical safety inspection with Blackwire anywhere in Western Sydney.
This article is general information only. Pricing figures are indicative and vary by job. All electrical work in NSW must be carried out by a licensed electrician.
