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Southcombe Electrical

FAQ

Everything you've been wondering.

The same questions come up week in, week out. Here's the straight answers.

  • ★★★★★ 5.0
  • Based on 124+ reviews
  • Most reviewed sparky in Whanganui
Getting started2 questions
Is the quote really free?

Yes, every quote is free and there's no obligation. We come out to your place, look at the job properly, and email you a fixed price. No charge for the visit, no pressure to go ahead. Just an honest number so you know what you're working with.

Solar is the one exception. A solar quote means a proper system design, sized to your roof, your usage and your switchboard, and that takes real time to get right. So solar isn't free. Ring us and we'll tell you what it costs before we start.

To keep our free quoting service available for genuine enquiries, we may choose not to provide further free quotes where we have previously prepared multiple quotes for the same customer and none have been accepted. Preparing quotes takes time, so we appreciate your understanding.

How quickly can you come out?

Usually within a couple of days for a site visit. For urgent stuff we can get there same day or after hours. Give us a ring and we'll let you know how soon we can be there.

Pricing2 questions
How much does a typical job cost?

Depends on the job. Heat pumps, switchboards and new installs each have their own price range, but we'll always give you a fixed quote so you know exactly what you're paying before we start. Send us a few details about the job and we'll come back with an honest number.

For some jobs where the scope cannot be confirmed until work begins, we may provide an estimate price instead of a quote. Smaller jobs, maintenance and fault finding may be charged based on labour, travel and materials used.

Do you give a fixed price or charge by the hour?

Fixed price, every time. We come out, look at the job, work out exactly what materials and time it'll take, and send you a quote with everything spelled out. You know what you're paying before we lift a tool. No surprises at the end.

For most quoted work we provide a fixed price so you know what you are paying for before we start. Jobs over $1,000 we do ask for a deposit to start the work.

Safety & quality3 questions
Is my switchboard safe to leave the way it is?

If your switchboard's older than 40 years or has ceramic fuses instead of breakers, it's worth a look. Old boards can struggle with modern loads like heat pumps, EVs and appliances, which can mean fire risk or nuisance tripping. We can come out, check it over, and tell you honestly whether it needs upgrading or it's fine for now.

Do you give a safety certificate?

Yes. Every job that gets done gets its certificate, and it comes attached to your invoice, so the paperwork arrives with the bill rather than you having to chase it.

That matters for landlords, insurance claims, and selling your house down the track. The only jobs that do not get one are the ones with no electrical work in them, like hanging a picture for you.

What's the warranty on your work?

Anything we do wrong, we'll make right. Every time. Give us a call and we'll come back and sort it, generally one year parts and labour on our workmanship.

The warranty does not cover faults caused by misuse, damage, alterations by others, normal wear and tear, or faults with the product itself.

Gear like heat pumps and solar panels comes with its own manufacturer warranty on top. If the product itself fails, you claim that warranty and you won't pay for the replacement part, but our time to fit it is chargeable.

Emergency4 questions
Do you actually answer the phone after hours?

Not always, and we would rather say so. Evenings and weekends we are with our families like you are, so the phone does not always get picked up.

What we do promise: leave a voicemail or send a text on 022 358 6658 and we listen to every one. If it is urgent we ring you back and tell you honestly how soon we can be there. Plenty of people call us after they have rung round half a dozen sparkies and had nobody turn up. We turn up.

What counts as an emergency call-out?

Anything that's a safety risk or leaves you without power. No power to the house, a burning smell from a powerpoint or switchboard, a tripped board you can't reset, or anything that doesn't feel right. If you're not sure, give us a ring and we'll talk you through it.

Do you work weekends?

Weekends aren't part of our standard week, so we can't promise one the way we can promise a weekday. Some of our team do work Saturdays and Sundays, though, so it is worth asking.

If something has gone wrong and it can't wait until Monday, ring us and leave a message. We'll do our best to arrange someone and we'll tell you straight away if we can't, rather than leave you waiting on a maybe. Weekend and after-hours call-outs carry a callout fee on top of the work, and we'll tell you what it is before we head out.

Is there an after-hours charge?

Yes, after-hours and weekend call-outs come with a callout fee on top of the work. We'll tell you what it is before we head out so there are no surprises. For genuine emergencies we don't hold things up over money, we get there first and sort the rest after.

Just ask. We're happy to chat.

No question's a silly one. Tell us what's going on and we'll come back to you the same day.

A photo of your switchboard or the job helps us quote it properly. Images, PDF, Word or Excel, up to 10MB each.