Planning for a renovation seems to be a never-ending business. But despite hours and hours of head-scratching, you’re probably going to miss something. Consequences range from mere inconvenience to total disaster.
Today we’re going to talk about electric sockets: where they should go, how many should there be, and the reasons behind. If managed properly, the thorough planning for electric sockets can bring great convenience to your life, and make you love your home more!
The ‘wheres’ and ‘whys’
Kitchen
The basic: one for each corner.
Think about the sheer amount of electrical appliances in the kitchen: microwave, oven, sanitizing cupboard, dishwasher, induction cooker…
We recommend a row of six sockets for each wall in the kitchen, and some extra ones within a 40cm distance to the countertop.
Avoid the sink and anywhere close to water supply.
Bathroom
One socket next to the vanity for the blow dryer and the curling iron.
One next to the toilet in case you want to install a smart toilet in a future upgrade. If the washing machine is going to be in the bathroom, remember to leave a space for its socket too.
Corridor
The corridor is probably the most overlooked place in the house. It would be inconvenient to have no sockets in this area.
If you’re using a fan in the corridor and there’s no socket, you’ll have to plug it in from the bedroom or the living room. The door might not be able to close properly because of the wires.
Bedroom
Normally two sockets will be installed on both sides of the nightstand for lamps and smartphone chargers. We recommend choose sockets with USB hubs so that the 13A main socket is available for other appliances.
Points of consideration for electric socket installation
Do not install sockets with switches on top of inflammable object. Should the object catch fire and damage the cover, the wires will be exposed to moisture and cause a short circuit, or even a fire hazard.
Sockets on the higher portion of the wall should be installed at least 1.8 meter above the floor.
On the lower portion, install the sockets at least 0.3 meter above the floor.
Sockets in the kitchen and the bathroom should be least 1.5 meter above the floor, and for the air-con, 2 meters above the floor.
Install an additional protective cover for wall sockets with switches to prevent moisture and oil from entering them. This is a must for households with children; tiny fingers and electrifying holes aren’t a good mix.
Sockets in the kitchen should not be anywhere near the stoves. The heat will cause rapid damage to the sockets.
