Whether it’s outdoor living or EV charging, outdoor power sources are becoming more popular. Here are five reasons why.
1. Convenience and accessibility
Outdoor power means that you can happily charge appliances, heat your hot tub, light up your garden, charge your phone, or listen to music outside without worrying about trip hazards and ugly extension cables.
2. EV charging
If you’ve got an EV or you’re planning on investing in an electric vehicle sometime in the future, it’s worth investing in an external charging point. When properly installed, EV chargers can cope with higher power loads, which means that they are less likely to overheat or trip your electrics.
3. Weatherproof and durable
External power points are designed to withstand the weather, keeping you safe while still allowing you to enjoy outdoor living.
4. Save energy
Rather than keeping electrical items on all the time or walking up and down your garden to switch them on and off, external electricity points allow you the convenience of power at your fingertips, as well as saving energy. Speak to your electrician about installing Wi-Fi control or timers to optimise savings.
5. Increase saleability
External power speaks volumes about your lifestyle and can be an attractive feature for prospective homeowners.
Safely installing external power points
There are some jobs that should be left to the professionals, and anything to do with electricity usually falls into that category. Speak to an electrician to get a quote for what you want; remember this may cost more than internal electrical work as you’ll need weatherproof sockets. Your electrician will be able to advise you on how many sockets you need, and where, but it’s a good idea for you to have a good think about practical use of the sockets so that they are convenient for you now, and into the future. Consider whether you have a hot tub, EV, lights, and whether they are likely to be in the same place or if they may move around. It’s important that you avoid overloading circuits, so it’s a good idea to have more than one power point if you think you’ll want to plug more than a couple of appliances in at a time.
Once your electrician has installed your power sockets, you need to make sure that you take care of them. Keep an eye out for wear and tear, or signs of weather damage. Contact your electrician if you notice power surges, or any circuits trip.
Installing external power is a great way to take your outdoor living to the next level, and for EV owners it brings additional convenience and kerb appeal. Make sure that you get the job done by a professional so that you get a top notch result and you and your home stay safe. For more tips, follow Trust A Trader on Facebook or Twitter.