Electrical Fault Finding & Emergency Call Outs
Anyone can replace a part and hope. Fault finding is the work of proving what's actually wrong first - which is the difference between a fix that lasts and a repeat visit.
What we get called out to
Most faults fall into a handful of patterns, and the symptom usually narrows down where to look:
- An RCD that trips as soon as it's reset, or trips intermittently
- One circuit dead while the rest of the house is fine
- Lights flickering or dimming when an appliance starts up
- Sockets or switches that are warm, discoloured or crackling
- A breaker that won't stay in after a storm or a power cut
- Outside lights or garden power that stopped working after wet weather
How we go about it
We split the installation down and test rather than guess: isolating circuits to find which one carries the fault, then measuring insulation resistance and continuity to separate a genuine wiring fault from a faulty appliance plugged into it. A large share of RCD tripping turns out to be an appliance rather than the wiring, and that's worth knowing before anyone starts opening up walls.
Once we've found it we'll tell you what it is, what it will take to put right, and whether it's urgent or can wait.
Out of hours
We're available 24/7 for emergency call outs. If you have no power, a burning smell, water near electrics, or exposed live parts, switch off at the consumer unit if it's safe to do so and call us on 07710 646751.
Common questions
Can you tell me over the phone what it will cost?
Not honestly, no - the whole point of fault finding is that the cause is unknown until it's traced. What we can do is be clear about how we charge for the investigation before we start, so there are no surprises.
Is it dangerous to keep resetting a tripped breaker?
A breaker or RCD that trips is doing its job. Repeatedly forcing it back on defeats the protection that's there to stop a fire or a shock. If it won't stay in, leave it off and get it looked at.
I think it's just one appliance. Can I find out myself?
Often you can. Unplug everything on the affected circuit, reset the RCD, then plug items back one at a time. If the trip returns with a particular appliance, that's your culprit. If it trips with nothing plugged in, it's the wiring and you need it tested.
Available 24/7 for emergency call outs
Efficient and friendly service - customer satisfaction at the heart of our values.