Blown Wall Socket

1) How long will my electrical wiring last in my Liverpool home?

The electrical system in our homes is not designed to last forever. Most modern wiring systems have a limited life span and will eventually require replacing. A well looked after, maintained and regularly inspected wiring system that is only worked upon by an electrician could last 70 years. We see wiring systems that have made it to this age and are still in use. 

If you have a BLOWN WALL SOCKET then this could be a sign of an aging wiring system that may require inspecting, repairing or replacing. It could also mean that you simply have a faulty socket. 😊

2) Is a blown socket dangerous?

It can be dangerous to have a blown socket yes! It depends on what caused the socket to blow in the first place and what has now happened out of sight behind the socket front. Sockets can blow because they have been subjected to damage, excessive wear and tear, burnt out connections and cables behind the socket front or have had a high fault current run through them. Sockets can also blow if there has been too much power drawn through them, typically kitchen sockets are the most likely to have had excessive power drawn through them. A lot of sockets are not happy to power a washing machine and tumble drier continuously together and will eventually give up and go pop!

If the damage behind leaves wires exposed or leaves bare copper touching bare copper then this can be dangerous. This can lead to a situation where a fire could start or cabling could become further damaged by the initial fault. 

3) What can I do about it myself?

Not a great deal to be honest. There is a great deal of misconception out there that the general public can work on electrical systems and that it is fine to do so. There are a number of things that electricians are able to do that the general public cannot, the most important one is testing. This does not mean switching it on to see if it works, no. An electrician should be able to ensure that the circuit is healthy, does not pose a danger and is correctly earthed continuously throughout. The electrician can check the condition of the circuit with the correct testing, ensure that the polarity is correct and once any installation work has been carried out, they can then check that if there is a fault that the consumer unit / fuse box will work properly. None of this can be done yourself. 

4) What is the best thing to do if I have a problem with a socket?

If you have a BLOWN WALL SOCKET then the best thing to do is to turn the electrical circuit off if it has not already tripped and then call a qualified electrician. An electrician that is registered with the NICEIC is likely to be suitably qualified, insured and regularly inspected to ensure they are working safely. 

If you are unsure of how to turn off your electrical circuit then please call us and we will try to assist you over the phone to make sure your home is safe. 

5) What will an electrician do to my sockets when they arrive?

An electrician will safely isolate your electrical supply using safe isolation procedures then begin their investigations. The socket will be removed, the circuit will be checked with a range of tests using sophisticated test equipment and then the wiring behind the socket will be inspected for damage. 

Depending on the issues that are found it may be possible to:

• Replace the socket

• Only make safe the wiring

• Blank off the socket

• Reinstate power to part or all of the circuit

A good electrician will only restore power to the circuit if it is safe to do so following testing procedures. There are many hidden electrical dangers that do not affect the day-to-day operation of your electrical system meaning that you would not notice them. Certain electrical dangers become lethal when a fault develops and we test to make sure that the circuit is as safe as can be before reinstatement.

6) Will the electrician test all the electrics in my house?

No, the electrician that attends to the socket problem will likely just test the socket circuit and visually inspect for localised damage. There would be no reason to inspect the entire electrical system in your property. 

It is recommended that you have a full electrical inspection carried out at least once every 10 years. This is a recommendation by the IET (Institute of Engineering and Technology). It is known that electrical systems degrade with use and time. Connections work loose, damage can go unnoticed and form dangerous situations and technology that once used to protect us can become obsolete or in some cases fail to protect us in the face of modern appliances and equipment. 

If you have not had a full electrical inspection carried out in the last 10 years then we would strongly recommend that you have this carried out. This would likely fulfil any obligation under your home insurance to keep your home maintained and in good order. It is always worth checking policy documents to ensure that your Gas and Electrical installations are maintained in the correct way to satisfy any requirements of insurers. 

7) Will I get a guarantee for the work carried out?

If we attend to carry out a repair for you then we will warranty the parts and labour for a period of 12 months. There are sometimes extended warranties available and in most cases the NICEIC platinum promise guarantee of 6 years will apply also. 

We will advise you if a repair is temporary or permanent and what may be needed in order to perform a full repair to your electrical installation. If you have had a BLOWN WALL SOCKET then we may recommend that not only is the problem fixed but that your electrical installation is inspected to ensure that there is nothing more sinister occurring hidden away. 

8) What does it cost to replace a socket?

Typically, our minimum charge would apply although this does depend on what else may be wrong. If we were to find other issues with your wiring when we attend then we may need to have a discussion with you and provide a quote to put any further work right. Our first concern is safety not costs. We will not carry out unnecessary works and in any event, we will always discuss costs with you and provide you with a quote beyond our initial attendance fee. 

Please don’t sit and worry about your home electrics, call the professionals and let us help you!