Electrical Repairs & Emergency Faults

Consumer Unit

Most modern houses will have a consumer unit. Some older properties may still have a fuse box, and if that is the case in your property it is well worth considering an upgrade to a more modern unit, as they are generally much safer.

The various switches, also known as breakers, are usually in the up position when on, and are spring-loaded to snap down to the off position if a fault is detected. The breakers should ideally be labelled to indicate which area or circuit they control.

The red breakers are typically the master breakers and will turn everything on or off. The blue breakers are usually RCDs, or residual current devices, designed to shut things down instantly if a short circuit or fault is detected. Some properties may have one, while others may have more.

You can operate the switches, but do not remove the cover to access the wiring behind them. That should always be left to a qualified electrician.

I Have No Power in the House at All

The first thing to check is whether your neighbours also have no power. If more than one building is affected, it is likely to be a power cut and your next step should be contacting the electricity network operator to find out when supply is expected to return.

If your property is the only one affected, check the consumer unit. Have any breakers tripped? If so, turn off the red master switch, reset the breaker that has tripped, and then turn the master switch back on.

If power returns and everything stays on, the issue may have been temporary. If not, and a breaker snaps down again immediately, it is time to call an electrician. If you are able, you can continue by checking whether a socket circuit or appliance is causing the fault.

Some or All of My Sockets Are Not Working

Unless you have recently had building work done, water damage, or accidental cable damage from drilling or hammering into a wall, the cause is often an appliance fault tripping the RCD for those sockets.

Dishwashers, washing machines and fan heaters are common causes. Go around the house and physically unplug everything connected to the affected sockets. Do not just switch them off at the wall.

What to do next

• Once everything is unplugged, go back to the consumer unit and switch the breakers back on.
• If the breakers will not stay up and trip again immediately, call an electrician.
• If they stay on, leave the power on and begin plugging appliances back in one at a time.
• If the circuit trips again after plugging in a particular item, that appliance is likely to be the problem.
• Leave the faulty item unplugged, reset the consumer unit again and continue checking the rest.

If you identify one appliance as the cause, it may need replacing or assessing by an appliance repair specialist rather than an electrician.

Some or All of My Lights Are Not Working

If your lights are not working but your sockets are, there is likely to be an issue with a switch, wiring damage or a fault at the consumer unit itself.

Lighting faults usually need tracing properly to identify the cause, so this is the point where a qualified electrician is needed to test the circuit and locate the fault safely.

One Particular Light or Socket Is Not Working

If it is a light with its own dedicated switch, the most obvious cause is often the bulb itself. If replacing the bulb with a known working one does not solve the issue, the switch may have failed. Bathroom pull-cord switches in particular are known to fail more easily than some other switch types.

If a single socket is not working, check for visible signs of scorching, soot or discolouration around the plug socket or faceplate. If any of these signs are present, avoid using the socket and contact an electrician.

An Appliance Is Not Working

Emergency electricians generally work on the fixed wiring infrastructure of the property and are not usually equipped to repair appliances themselves.

If the issue is with a cooker, washing machine, dishwasher, fridge or similar item, you may need an appliance specialist rather than an electrician, unless the issue clearly relates to the power supply feeding that appliance.

Fridges, Freezers and Power Outages

Fridges and freezers are well insulated. As long as you keep the doors or lids closed, even in warm weather your food should remain safe for many hours.

If you have medication that must be kept chilled, consider whether a neighbour or nearby family member could temporarily provide a little fridge space while the issue is being resolved.

If there are other working sockets elsewhere in the property, it may be possible to use an extension lead temporarily to keep your fridge or freezer running, provided this can be done safely and without creating a trip hazard.