Socket outlet check: Better too many than too few
The rude awakening often comes quickly, especially when you move into finished rental or owner-occupied apartments: Too few sockets in the kitchen and bathroom, the bed in the bedroom has to go somewhere else after all, but there are no options for plugging in a bedside lamp.
For homes that are still under construction, you can still intervene in time – but how many sockets does a home need? And what do I need to bear in mind? We asked Ing. Michael Osmann, real estate developer and specialist for renovations of old buildings and new buildings with the character of old buildings (osmann.at).
What do I need to consider in terms of sockets when I am remodeling my home or moving into a new apartment?
The main problem is that people often don’t think about the furnishings until they have finished painting the apartment. This is too late because the sockets are installed very early on. In principle, it is advisable to make a plan in advance. What do I have, what do I need, what do I want?
Let’s go into detail – what needs to be considered in the kitchen and bathroom?
The kitchen definitely needs to be planned in advance. If you decide on a kitchen island after the fact, you will have a problem. People cook more nowadays, so it’s crucial to determine in advance which appliances you use frequently and have permanently on the worktop. Classics such as coffee machines, kettles and the like are now joined by modern food processors, smoothie makers, etc., which can also be used. If you use a lot of appliances, I recommend sockets that are integrated into the worktop or under the wall unit. This makes them less conspicuous.
And in the bathroom?
A hidden socket in the drawer for a hairdryer makes sense and is becoming increasingly common. Otherwise, the question arises as to how many people use the bathroom and which appliances are in constant use. Electric toothbrushes, oral irrigators, the shaver. You should take all this into account.
Let’s move on to the living/sleeping area.
In the bedroom, the bedside light should be able to be switched on from the bed – this is convenient. But I need to know how wide my bed is beforehand. People often work to standard here – and suddenly the light switches disappear behind the headboard. Pointless. The installation of the TV set must also be decided in advance. In the living area, you need to decide in advance where the couch will be placed and where the TV will be. Nowadays, floor outlets for floor lamps are very popular for couches. And switchable sockets also make sense – you can achieve indirect lighting with a single click and don’t have to switch on every single lamp separately.
Outdoor areas are also being used more and more these days, and they also require sockets.
Whether it’s a robotic lawnmower, electric barbecue, heating sponges or even a TV – the same applies here: Think about what you want beforehand and then install plenty of sockets. Better too many than too few – that is actually the main credo when it comes to power supply.
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