There is a wide variety of electrical faults that can occur at home. Some are common, while others rarely happen. Before you attempt to detect or troubleshoot any of them, however, it is important that you know about some of the most common problems. Doing so will prevent unnecessary effort and time spent on your part, as you’ll know whether a potential issue is a problem or not.

Absence of Power in the Electrical Socket

Most homes experience this problem when a circuit breaker has tripped or turned off, or when a fuse has blown. Another common cause is simply a loose wire behind the wall socket. When this happens, determine the cause of the problem first and test the wall socket with a voltage meter or power tester. Absence or lack of power means that there is a loose wire behind the wall socket, which requires further inspection. As always, if you’re at all unsure se to the best course of action, consult a professional.

Presence of a Weird, Fishy Smell

One of the most common electrical faults announces itself with a strange fishy smell from the wall socket or switch. Generally, such a smell is caused by the arcing of electrical device. When the connection to the circuit of an electrical device is damaged, the electricity jumps to complete the circuit, resulting in a fire when the electricity zaps anything along the way. Electrical device arcing can also be a sign of serious damage to both the socket and electrical device. You will need to unplug the device and get in touch with a professional electrical repair service.

Hot Switch

Warm wall switches usually occur in dimming switches, when they are running bulbs that have less than or equal to 600 Watts. When this happens, achieve the wattage required to run the dimmer properly by adding the right amount of bulbs. If the wall socket is hot, however, you’ll need to use a voltage meter to look for a high decrease or increase in voltage.

Half Dark, Half Light

Another one of the most common electrical faults is a circuit breaker problem, resulting in only half of the house having lighting. This occurs when a breaker is turned off, trips due to a power surge, or when a fuse blows. Other causes can include a loose wire or a short circuit. When this happens, check the circuit breaker. If it is on and functional, check your home for a short circuit. Until you find a loose or damaged breaker, call an electrician or check all your sockets and wiring all throughout the house.

Flickering Lights

Problems with lighting fixtures and light bulbs may be linked to a number of causes. Flickering lights, lights that do not turn on or off, and a buzzing sound when lights are on indicate the wrong wattage or a bad connection between the bulb and switch. These problems can be fixed by replacing the bulb.

Contact the Professionals

Do not attempt to fix electrical faults without conducting extensive research or undergoing training. We’d advise you not to take matters into your own hands at all unless you’re qualified. Although these problems are fairly common, it’s always advisable to seek the help of electricians for a safer and more effective remedy. London Electricians offer a wide range of services to fix both the most common and the most complicated electrical problems.

If you are experiencing any problems with your electrical systems, then contact us right away and we’ll help you fix it. It’s always best to consult the professionals when it comes to potential electrical hazards, so don’t waste any more time. Give us a call on 020 8728 9179.