Not every electrical job is a big one. A lot of what we do for homeowners is a short list of small jobs that have been waiting for a while. This visit, to a house in Collier Row, Romford (RM5), is a good example: one outdoor socket and some lighting, all sorted in a single visit.
What the homeowner asked for
The list for the day was:
- an outdoor socket at the front of the house
- a new light under the stairs, swapped for a bulkhead light
- some lights that were out elsewhere in the house, to be replaced where needed
The outdoor socket
Our engineer fitted a new external double socket on the front wall. To keep the job neat, the cable was taken through the wall from the back of an existing socket in the lounge, so the new socket sits on the outside wall with no long cable runs across the front of the house.
An outdoor socket is one of the most useful small upgrades you can make. It means no more trailing extension leads out of a window or under a door for:
- pressure washers and car vacuums
- hedge trimmers and lawnmowers
- Christmas and garden lights
The light under the stairs
The old light under the stairs was replaced with a round LED bulkhead. Bulkheads are a good choice for cupboards and under-stairs spaces. They are tough, sit close to the ceiling so they don’t get knocked, and the LED versions use very little power.
Lights out in the loft bedroom
In the loft bedroom, three GU10 lamps had stopped working. We replaced them with LED GU10s. A first-floor hallway fitting that takes a different type of bulb (G9) was noted for a separate quote, so the homeowner knows exactly what is left to do.
Why it matters
Small jobs like these are easy to put off, but they make a home safer and easier to live with. A proper outdoor socket is much safer than an extension lead running out through a window, and working lights on stairs and in cupboards help prevent trips and falls.
Thinking about an outdoor socket? Things to know
- Use an electrician. Adding an outdoor socket is work that needs to be done and tested properly. It must have RCD protection, and it should be a weatherproof type made for outside use.
- Think about where you need it. Front for the car, back for the garden. Fitting one through from an inside socket, as we did here, keeps the job quick and tidy.
- Close the cover. Outdoor sockets are only weatherproof with the lid shut. Look for one that closes with the plug still in.
- Group small jobs together. If you have a list of lights, sockets or switches to sort, one visit is better than several.
Need an electrician in Romford?
See our electrical services, LED lighting, garden and outbuilding electrics and our Romford page. You may also like our outdoor lighting guide and our EICR remedial work in Collier Row case study.
We cover London and Essex, with our own engineers working every day across Chigwell, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, Woodford, Ilford, Romford, Brentwood and Epping. Call 020 8227 0035 or request a quote.