Common Electrical Faults Which Can Be Easily Avoided

Posted on: July 17th, 2013 by admin No Comments

We all experience electrical problems in our home far more often than we would like, and they can be simple annoyances like flickering lights or more serious problems like frequent power outages.

Whatever the problems might be, they usually have a cause that can easily be diagnosed – however, the solutions often vary from an easy DIY task to a dangerous job that requires professional help. This latest post runs down some common electrical issues that we’ll all have experienced, and how best to tackle them.

1. Complete Power Outage

It happens more than you might expect (or want!) and, providing it’s not a typical power cut affecting several homes on the grid, the culprit is usually an unexpected surge in power – it can be something like a large appliance overloading your fuse box, or something simple like a light bulb blowing and tripping your power supply.

In these instances, you can usually just switch your power back on – however, if it keeps on happening and you’re unable to determine the cause then an electrician may be required to ensure all wiring is safe and potentially wire new circuits to distribute high loads more effectively.

2. Flickering Lights

Sometimes, flickering lights can be down to using the wrong bulb wattage; higher wattage bulbs will draw more power and be high to the point where problems can occur. Check the rating of the light, and potentially switch to a lower wattage bulb. However, flickering lights can usually be caused by a poor connection, as the power is only able to get through a completed circuit intermittently. If this is the case, then using a reliable electrician is vital – we’ll be able to examine the connection, and any others on the same circuit, and determine the cause, providing a solution safely and effectively.

3. Non-Working Electrical Outlet

The first thing to check if an electrical outlet doesn’t appear to be working is to look at your home’s fuse box – while other outlets elsewhere in your home seem to be working, you’ll almost certainly have several circuits for different areas of the house (ie. one for upstairs and another for downstairs; one for the front of the house, another for the back). If switches have been tripped, you can often just switch them back, and power will be restored. If everything seems normal, however, and you’re certain that it’s isolated to one socket then calling in an electrician is the best solution – particularly if the outlet is somewhere such as a kitchen or bathroom.

With our NICEIC accreditation and experience, we can ensure that the offending outlet is either repaired or replaced safely and in line with all legal and industry best practices.

If you’re experiencing some of these common electrical problems, or you just want to make sure that everything in your home’s electrical setup is safe and as it should be, then look no further than our accredited electricians here at First Strike Electrical.

If you need an electrician in west London, north London or central London, then you can count on us to provide reliable work with exceptional customer service. For more information on our various electrical services, or to get a quote for some work in your home, just call us today on 0203 503 0755 or get in touch using our website’s online contact form.

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