Electricity is something that most people living in the Western world take for granted. From lights to doing the washing, boiling the kettle to sending an email, most of us use electricity on a daily or even hourly basis without even thinking about it. Until it goes wrong.
We all know that electricity can be dangerous, but when your electricity starts acting out of the ordinary, it can be hard to know when it is a quick fix or when it is time to call the professionals in. Here are five times when you might need to call someone out.
Flickering lights
Lights usually flicker when there is an issue with the wiring, for example an overloaded circuit or problems with your fuse box. In a storm, this can be normal, but if your lights are flickering for no reason, it is advisable that you contact a local electrician to take a look and identify any problems before they get worse.
Smell of burning or signs of scorching
If you notice scorch marks around your plug socket or you notice a smell of burning, switch off your power completely and call an electrician straight away.
Electric shocks
If you receive an electric shock – even a very mild one – while you are using or plugging in an appliance, stop using it straight away and contact an electrician. It could be a simple fix, such as a faulty appliance or grounding issue, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Fuse going or circuits tripping
A circuit trips to protect your home from potentially serious issues. This usually happens when a circuit is overloaded (so there are too many things plugged in), or when the circuit is faulty. If you notice that the circuit trips when you plug a specific item in, move the item (if you can) and try it on a different circuit. If resetting the circuit breaker doesn’t fix your problem, or it keeps happening, call an electrician.
Power loss
Power loss can be hugely convenient. If your power goes, first check whether it is a problem that is unique to your property or if it has affected the whole area (go online if you can and you should be able to find local issues. If you seem to be the only one affected, contact a local electrician immediately – they will be able to advise whether it is a problem with your electricity or if you need to speak to your electricity provider.
It can be tempting to ignore problems with your electricity out of fear of the consequences, but if you put it off, the problem is not going to go away. Search for trusted and rated electricians near you with Trust A Trader – you can call beforehand to find out if they charge a callout fee and give them a brief outline of your problem to avoid unexpected bills.