Five Common Reasons for calling an Electrician

When we get calls from customers requesting an NICEIC electrician on London, we get asked on several occasions if their job is big enough to call in an electrician.

Unfortunately we also carry out work where an electrical problem has been left for far too long and has caused expensive damage to the property.

So as London electrical contractors, what jobs do you think we get called to most often? Contrary to popular belief we do not very often get called out to high profile 'the lights have gone out jobs' it's the lower profile jobs that we attend to in our domestic work that sees us carrying out a range of electrical services across London on a daily basis.

Is my problem significant?

Any electrician who carries out domestic work will be well used to hearing the question over the phone “is my problem big enough for you” Our reply to the question incidentally is that if something electrical is concerning you, it is always better to call an electrician. Better to be safe than be sorry.

Our blog today talks about the 5 most common reasons we are called out to customer homes across London. If you have any similar problems in your home then please do not hesitate to call us here at Fulcher Edwards for some advice.

Five common problems that need attention from an electrician

1. Changes in power levels/power fluctuations

If you notice a change in power level on small appliances you are using, this may be a sign of an electrical wiring problem in your home. Most people first notice this when they use more powerful appliances such as hair dryers. Before you call an electrician, it is worth carrying out a visual inspection of the appliance first to rule out any damage such as damaged flex and loose plugs.

2. Flickering lights, tripping of power

We get several calls from our clients saying they have problems with the lights going out or flickering lights but they can't find any obvious problem. We think it is important to have an understanding of the condition of your electrical system in your home. It is recommended that home owners have an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) carried out at least once every 10 years. Over the years, new circuits can be added and upgrades carried out and it is important that your internal electrical wiring is able to keep up with the additional demands placed on it. An EICR can also determine if any areas of your electrical system are unsafe and where improvements can be made. Over time internal cables can deteriorate and flickering lights and persistent tripping are definitely signs that all is not right.

3. Replacement electrical fittings required

We recommend checking sockets and switches regularly for signs of wear and tear. Cracks, breaks, scorch marks and smells of burning and buzzing noises coming from sockets are all signs that all is not well. If you notice this happening in your home switch off and unplug the appliance immediately and consult a qualified registered electrician. If your socket is broken and you can see the wiring behind it or you have even a hairline crack on a switch, it can be dangerous and it could give you an electric shock. Again stop using it and call a London electrical contractor.

4. Overloaded sockets

Many house holders use extension leads as a means of being able to plug additional electrical items in. however, many people do not realise that you cannot plug what you like into an extension lead and still expect it to work! There is a brilliant socket overload calculator on the Electrical Safety Council website, you can use it to calculate if the appliances you are using are overloading your extension lead. Did you know that simply plugging in a kettle and toaster will overload a 4 plug 13Amp extension lead?

One other note about extension leads, always use a bar extension lead such as the one pictured in the socket overload calculator. Do not use a multi plug adapter as these are unsafe.

5. Incorrectly sized shower cable

We get this problem a lot when the customer has recently had a new shower fitted. Remember if you purchase an electric shower, you will need an electrician to power it up. Do not be tempted to do it yourself or get the plumber to do it. It is very important that the correct size cable is used for the shower Kw size. On several occasions we have seen near misses where cables have melted causing the shower casing to melt and set alight due to the wrong sized cable. Remember that water and electricity do not mix, so if a problem does occur, you are in double the danger.

Conclusion

All these points if left undetected can cause fire in your home and risk of electrical shock – or worse – if left unresolved. If you suspect an electrical problem in your home, do not delay in calling out an electrician.

A small problem that will be easy and cost effective to fix can escalate into a significant problem in a short space of time. Remember electrical deterioration can happen over a number of years before finally alerting you which means it is important to act straight away.

Here at Fulcher Edwards, we work on a daily basis in clients homes in and around London fixing typical problems like those above. If you think we can help you, please do not hesitate to get in touch!