Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. All PERL Plumbing and PERL Electrical businesses are a nationwide member group of locally owned plumbing and electrical businesses that trade under the respective PERL business banners.  The combined size of the group affords them a number of benefits that come from being part of a large group, such as access to systems, training and support to help them run businesses effectively, networking within the group, national leveraged advantages not obtainable for standalone businesses (buying power, national wholesaler discounts, large regional and national customer) and the credibility that belonging to a national reputable brand with proven industry leadership success.

PERL businesses are locally owned and operated.  As such you can be confident of getting the full attention from the moment our trusted PERL plumbers and electricians arrive on site. Whether for a big job or a small one, the finished result will be guaranteed as safe, compliant, and the optimal solution for your specific requirements.

When this happens it means that the switch has detected a fault in the electrical system. Depending on the type of fault detected sometimes the safety switch can be reset. However you should never attempt to continue resetting the safety switch as it can affect the operation of the device if a future fault were to occur. The cheapest and easiest way out is to call a trusted PERL electrician to diagnose. Safety switches are a must have so if you suspect your switchboard has not been fitted with one of these, contact a PERL electrician as soon as possible and they will get you sorted.

Modern day switchboards come with switch type circuit breakers and safety switches which help to save lives and prevent the potential for electrocution. Not only are these switchboards safer they are designed to allow resetting of circuits easier. Faults and problems are easier to detect and the chance of an electrical fire is greatly decreased.  If you are concerned about old how old or effective your switchboard is contact us to discuss.

Yes. A circuit breaker is designed to protect the cables and accessories installed in your premises only. A safety switch is designed to protect you, your family and employees. However, electrical safety switches do not protect under all circumstances. Our licensed PERL electrician will supply and install the most appropriate one of these for you.

We recommend that you should have an electrical inspection carried out if:

• You are purchasing a property that has been occupied.
• The property is more than 20 years old.
• If it is more than 12 months since one has been done.
• If you are concerned about how any of the equipment may have been installed.

Just like annual servicing of our cars, electrical systems also benefit from scheduled preventative maintenance.  It is also far cheaper to schedule regular electrical preventative maintenance than it is to deal with a breakdown, which can stop progress and cost your business money in lost trading.  PERL Electrical will schedule annual maintenance checks to ensure any potential issues are discovered and rectified before they threaten the safety of your family or work colleagues’ and potential damage to property.

Yes.  One of our licensed, local electricians can provide you with a comprehensive inspection report and then will talk you through what may need to be done.  Please note however that a standard building inspection is generally only a visual inspection.  Electrical wiring may not be included and may require a special purpose inspection which we can discuss when you call us to discuss.

Yes.  All our PERL electricians are fully qualified and maintain their knowledge with frequent up to date training from Site Safe a national Health and Safety training provider.  All PERL electricians comply with all New Zealand safety and training regulations.

Yes. LED downlights have 70% less energy usage for running costs, about one-eighth that of a halogen, and one-half that of a fluorescent. More and more people are saving energy by switching to energy saving LED’s. The low quarterly electrical bills eventually pay for the greater investment of LED lighting installation and increased benefits to actual energy savings.  PERL Electrical undertake LED conversion for full or partial upgrades for your house/business.

A qualified, licensed electrician and possibly an apprentice who possesses the required skills & experience to complete all works.  Nobody wants to spend all day sitting in doors waiting for an electrician to arrive, wondering when they’ll eventually get there.  That’s why PERL electricians not only always aim to be on time, the attending PERL electrician or representative will call you prior to their scheduled arrival to introduce themselves and to notify you of their estimated time of arrival. We’d hate for you to be inconvenienced by us showing up late, so we do everything to make sure tardiness never happens.

Test and Tag is a system where our local PERL electricians will test all the electrical equipment in a workplace for faults ensuring it is safe to be used by employees. The electrician will then attach a tag to the piece of equipment stating the date it was tested and when the next test is due.

Electrical work can be dangerous, and despite care being taken, sometimes things can go wrong.  You can have peace of mind knowing that all PERL Electrical businesses have comprehensive insurance including a current Public Liability Insurance policy.  If in the unlikely event something happens this insurance not only protects our electrician on the job, but also you, your family, and any other people entering your property in the years to come.

An estimate is a crucial piece of information when hiring an electrician, but even better is an electrician that offers a variety of cost options. Most electricians will agree that paying by the hour is a good way to get value for money on small jobs, while a fixed rate provides peace of mind that you won’t blow the budget on a big job.  At PERL Electrical, we offer an estimate that includes a breakdown of everything, including materials, incidentals, labour and things that may affect the performance of electrical work. We then let you decide how YOU want to pay. Should you choose a fixed rate, there’s no hidden costs or nasty surprises at the end.  If you choose a “charge up” account then our electricians will

Yes.  After hours and emergency call outs will incur additional charges. Give us a call to discuss.

We provide a paper copy that you can file with the records for all jobs that we complete.

Generally this is an electrical issue, sometimes it can be plumbing. Call during daytime hours, and we should be able to tell you which it is.

Be it damaged wiring insulation… or the bulb running at an inappropriate wattage, this is an electrical fire hazard. It’s all too easy to forget and make compromises about electrical safety, but smoking light fitting issues need to be treated seriously. Our qualified PERL electrician can rectify this quickly so if you have a smoking light fitting, turn off the electrical switch breaker for the area concerned and call us urgently to discuss.

In today’s health and safety conscious world there is very little that you can do yourself, and anything you do undertake needs to be checked by an inspector. You can find out more info HERE.

Right at the planning stage so that we can provide guidance and advise on the best solution for you at a price you can afford.  We will work with your builder and other trades to get the job done right first time.  We can also recommend a trusted local PERL Plumber to complete your plumbing needs with the same level of care and quality workmanship.

This can be a simple matter of an electrician looking at the condition of wiring, or it might require an inspector that provides certification. We work with reputable inspectors in this area. Please contact your local PERL Electrical for advice.

Check the manufactures instructions included with your fitting and they will let you know if an electrician is required for the install. If you are unsure it is always best to have it installed by a qualified electrician. 

When adjusting the temperature of your cylinder dangerous cables are exposed so it is best that you have this completed by one of PERL’s trusted electricians.

Every set up is different and can be complicated so we recommend you call PERL Electrical to help set this up for you.

For older style ovens, check the timer hasn’t been set as this is often the cause for ovens not working.  Simply reset the timer and see if that works.  If you continue to have issues, contact your local PERL Electrical branch for advice.

No. This is best replaced by an electrician.  Call PERL Electrical to discuss.

Try another bulb, if there is no change call PERL Electrical as it is possible you have a lose wire which can potentially be dangerous.

You’re facing a dilemma – do you undertake your home electrical renovation under a fixed-price or a charge-up contract?  There’s one thing everyone knows about renovations, it’s that they can be expensive.  There are generally two types of building industry contract used in New Zealand – fixed-price contracts, and charge-up or cost-plus-margin contracts. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and either can be appropriate, depending on the type of job you’re doing and how closely you want to monitor your budget.

With a fixed-price contracts your local PERL electrician can create a detailed quotation for your renovation project and the price within your contract will be based on that quote.  Although these contracts can include exceptions for some elements of the job – for example, if trenching, excavation and earth moving is required – you’ll generally end up paying the quoted price.

Charge-up contracts work differently. For this contract type your local PERL electrician will give you a rough estimate of the project cost before you start, but the final price could be significantly different.  With this type of contract, your PERL electrician will charge you for the actual labour and materials they use on the project.

If controlling your budget is important to you, a fixed-price contract is usually a better option. Because these contracts give you a price up front, they’re easier to budget for – and often easier to get finance for as well. Unless you have a large cash reserve put aside, banks can be reluctant to lend on a project without having a set price ahead of time.

When it comes to choosing an electrician, fixed-price contracts can make it easier to compare quotes. A good electrician or business will give you a set price with a breakdown of materials, labour and subcontractors, and a detailed scope of work, so you can pretty accurately compare what you’re getting and how much it will cost.

There’s also the argument that fixed-price contracts lead to your project being done more quickly. The idea is, electricians lose money if the job goes over time or budget, so they’re motivated to work harder, get things done more quickly, and find the best prices on materials. Of course, if you’re employing a reputable business like your local PERL Electrical, you will be able to trust that they’ll be working hard anyway, but this is a potential benefit of the fixed-price contract.

However, ‘fixed price’ doesn’t mean it can’t change. There’s no way to get a contract with every element fixed, particularly in a renovation situation when the condition of certain parts of the house can’t be seen or established, so there will always be some room for add-ons and price changes. Most fixed price contracts will exclude some elements from the price.

Charge-up contracts, also known as cost-plus-margin contracts, can be riskier. Because you start with a rough estimate and pay for the actual work done as you go, it’s harder to know what the final cost will be.  Despite this additional risk and uncertainty, some homeowners prefer this situation as paying as you go means you’ll have paid for the work done – and no more.

While charge-up contracts are useful in some situations, they can have disadvantages as well. As the homeowner, you’re the one taking on the risk of overruns, which could mean you end up paying far more than the original estimate. Because you don’t know the price up front, they’re harder to budget for – and can make it harder to secure finance.

In many ways choosing the right contract is less important than choosing the right electrician.  Many of the disadvantages of both fixed-price and charge-up contracts can be avoided if you choose a professional, experienced and principled electrician.  PERL electricians put in the hard work up front by taking the time to carefully scope and specify your project to give you an accurate estimate or quote, whether you choose a fixed-price or charge-up contract. They will also do their best to keep things on time and on budget, even if you’re the one paying for overruns.  Talk to your trusted local PERL electrician about what’s right for you.