Table of Contents
- Who do I call if I have an electrical emergency?
- What if the problem is with the electricity meter?
- Electrical problem with Fuse Box / Trip Switches
- Issue that an Emergency Electrician Can Help With
- Fuses Blowing
- Switches Tripping
- Intermittent Power Problems
- Flashing Lights
- Loose Electrical Accessories
- Fusebox Popping
An electrical emergency can be a frightening time for all, stay calm & take these steps...
Back to top1) Who do I call if I have an electrical emergency?
- How bad is the emergency?
- Is equipment smoking?
- Is there fire?
- Popping or crackling?
- Sparking or arcing?
If there is smoke or fire then you should call the emergency services immediately and they will advise what to do. If there are other electrical problems that do not warrant the attendance of the fire service then this is a different situation. In a general electrical emergency, you should call 105. At the time of writing, this is a freephone number.
When you call this number, you are automatically put through to your local electricity network operator. They will then be able to advise you what steps to take. Certain electrical emergency situations will be dealt with by your local electricity network provider and others by a specialist emergency electrician.
If the electrical emergency is due to a fault in the street, an issue with the incoming electricity supply or its equipment before the electric meter then normally the local electricity network provider will be able to assist you.
Back to top2) What if the problem is with the electricity meter?
If your electrical emergency is down to your electric meter itself then the best course of action is to call the electricity company to ask if there are any issue that they are aware of. They may be able to guide you through getting your power reinstated.
If you are not sure who your electricity supplier is then you can use the following link to take you to OFGEMS site which should help you find your electricity supplier.
Back to top3) Electrical problem with Fuse Box / Trip Switches
If your electrical emergency is a result of an issue with your own electrical installation, that is, everything after the electric meter itself, then it is time to call a 24-hour electrician to come and investigate the issue for you. Electrical problems with circuits, consumer units, fuse boxes and other electrical accessories and cables within your home is your responsibility and the job of an electrician to find the problem and fix it for you.
Emergency electricians can fix, repair, and replace a variety of electrical equipment for you along with making safe any electrics that are dangerous at the time.
Back to top4) Issue that an Emergency Electrician Can Help With
- Fuses Blowing
- Switches Tripping (https://www.electricalfaultsfixed.co.uk/blog/trip-switch-fuse-box-wont-stay)
- Intermittent Power Problems (https://www.electricalfaultsfixed.co.uk/blog/fuse-box-tripping-nothing-plugged)
- Flickering Lights (https://www.electricalfaultsfixed.co.uk/blog/lights-flickering-house)
- Loose electrical accessories (https://www.electricalfaultsfixed.co.uk/blog/loose-plug-socket)
- Fusebox Popping (https://www.electricalfaultsfixed.co.uk/blog/loud-bang-fuse-box)
5) Fuses Blowing
Fuses blow because there are electrical problems creating high electrical fault currents in the system.
These problems cannot be identified for sure without an electrician and their specialised test equipment. An electrician can check your electrical system to find where the faults are, what is happening and WHY. This process can take 30 minutes to several hours and can result in extensive repairs depending upon the nature of the issue.
When fuses blow there is a large amount of electrical energy released. This is in the form of heat and sound. There can also be a blackening of the surrounding area depending upon the type of fuse that has blown.
With older style fuse boxes, the method of electrical circuit protection is a FUSE WIRE. This is a single thin wire that is connected into a FUSE CARRIER. The result is a very crude device that offers minimal electrical protection and no electric shock protection to the users of the electrical installation.
Back to top6) Switches Tripping
Whilst a nuisance, these switches trip to protect the electrical cabling in the installation from damage and, depending upon the type of switch, to offer electric shock protection, fire protection and surge protection.
Switches should NEVER be reset in succession more than once or twice WITHOUT THE CAUSE being identified.
Spoiler Alert! - The cause of a switch tripping is rarely a faulty switch. It’s never usually that simple. The cause is, more often than not, something wrong with the appliances, electrical accessories or electrical cables that form your homes electrical system.
That means that the cause needs to be identified by a professional in many cases. If you are struggling and need some help before calling a professional then try our help sheets section to enable you to carry out some investigations prior to the arrival of your emergency electrician.
https://www.electricalfaultsfixed.co.uk/helpsheets-downloads
Back to top7) Intermittent Power Problems
Intermittent power problems can sometimes be caused by the power supply entering your home and if you suspect that this is the cause then the first thing you should do is call 105 as mentioned above.
If there are intermittent power problems that are not related to the supply from the street then you need an emergency electrician to investigate. These types of power issues will rarely resolve themselves and are often indicative of serious problems hidden in the electrical system.
It takes quite a lot for an electrical system to finally start showing symptoms and by the time it does there are often many dangers and costly repairs to contend with so it’s best to have these problems checked out immediately.
Back to top8) Flashing Lights
If you have flashing lights that are not intended to flash then there are issues. This could indicate that there are loose connections, loose wires, damaged cables, or overheating problems with the electrical system.
There could also be other causes that are not as severe but nevertheless should be investigated and rectified. Faulty transformers, dimmer switches, electronic control units, incorrect bulbs for light fixtures and other compatibility issues can result in flashing lights causing havoc with the wiring system.
Back to top9) Loose Electrical Accessories
Any loose electrical equipment is a real hazard and introduces risk of electric shock and damage to the equipment itself. If sockets, switches, wall outlets or fuse boxes are loose then these should be addressed immediately. When these items are loose, there is the chance that a slight knock could dislodge them for good resulting in exposed live parts, risk of electric shock and burns.
Most electrical accessories can be fixed by a professional without too much hassle. Some require repairs to be carried out behind the scenes such as rethreading boxes, repairing boxes, resecuring boxes, plaster repairs, strengthening to the wall and ceiling where they are installed and so on.
An emergency electrician is capable of fixing most of these issues without drama.
Back to top10) Fusebox Popping
This is one of the most serious electrical problems that you can experience. If it is safe to do so, turn off the electrical supply and call your local emergency electrical specialist for advice and attendance to fix the issue.
A consumer unit or Fusebox that is making loud pops and banging noises is almost certainly a fire risk and could cause a lot of damage in the home.
We are an emergency electrician covering the Liverpool – Leigh area and in between. Use our contact page to get in touch.
https://www.electricalfaultsfixed.co.uk/contact
If it is an emergency that you need us to attend to as soon as possible then please call rather than email as we are likely to answer the phone immediately.
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