How to find an Electrical fault

Stressless Electrics Warrington are here to give you some advice on what to do when you find yourself suffering an electrical fault.

Electrical Faults

Electrical faults can come in many forms. Some cannot be ignored; the total loss of power or lighting will have you calling in your local qualified electrician without hesitation. Others can seem minor, more an inconvenience than a fault that needs an electrician’s opinion. All too often these easily ignored electrical faults can be signs of something more serious occurring. Whilst it can be tempting to try and find and fix a fault for yourself, for your safety it is best to call in an expert. A qualified and experienced electrician will know how to find the source of your electrical fault and keep your home safe. It is important that you only use a registered, qualified electrician to find and repair your electrical fault. Electricity is incredibly dangerous if mishandled and you should only use an electrician you can trust to keep you and your home safe.

Common Electrical Faults

There are many electrical faults that you could find in your Warrington home. Some of the most common are:

1.    Fuse Board Tripping – The circuit breakers on your fuse board or consumer unit are designed to trip if they detect an electrical fault. In most cases, you can just simply switch the power back on and carry on with your day. If the fuse board keeps tripping and power cannot be restored, then you have an ongoing electrical fault. This could be something simple such as a socket being overloaded by an extension cord or could be a deeper problem. Make a note of which circuit is tripping, unplug any appliances on that circuit and call your local electrician to come and find the fault.

2.    Flickering Lights – If your lights are flickering or dimming then you could potentially have a fault in your wiring. Do they flicker when other appliances are switched on? If so, this can indicate the power demands are too high. You can try changing the bulb before calling an electrician but if the problem persists, you need an expert to find the fault.

3.    Burning Smell – A burning smell should never be ignored as it means fire damage has begun. If you can locate the source of the smell and can do so safely then switch off the socket and unplug any appliances. You can also switch off power at your fuse board if you are concerned. It is vitally important that you call in a qualified electrician immediately who can find the fault and make things safe.

4.    Problems with Sockets or Switches – Sockets and light switches should never be warm to touch. If they are showing signs of discolouration, charring or are buzzing then there is likely to be a fault in the wiring and a fire could result. This is also the case if a socket has stopped working or only works intermittently. A registered electrician will ascertain if the fault is with the outlet or in your homes wiring.

5.    Damaged or Exposed Wiring – Damaged or exposed wiring is a serious electrical fault to find. There is a high risk of both electrical fire and potentially fatal electric shock. If you find any wiring is damaged, then your local electrician should be contacted immediately to replace the wiring.

If you are experiencing any electrical issues, call in your local, experienced electrician. If you are based in Warrington or the surrounding areas, Stressless Electrics will be happy to help find and repair your electrical fault. Our NICEIC registered, reliable and fully qualified electricians have the skills and experience to keep your home. We can get you back up and running whenever an electrical fault occurs. If you need a fault-finding electrician, call us today.