Call an electrician immediately if you’re concerned about electrical faults such as burning smells, tripping circuits or sparking from outlets.
The first part of electrical fault finding involves securing the property by safe isolation procedures. This involves using a voltage indicator to switch off power to any suspicion circuits. As A Bathe Electrics are experienced in electrical fault finding, we then use a range of visual and electrical tests to locate the fault. We also use a range of diagnostics approaches such as dividing a circuit into smaller sections to then test each part to pinpoint the fault.
What common electrical faults should I look out for?
Like a number of older homes in Hopwood, electrical faults are quite common because of outdated electrical installations. We recently worked with a homeowner on Radford Road who experienced a buzzing sound but couldn’t identify where the noise was coming from. Our experience with electrical fault finding suggested an issue with the outdated fuse board, particularly a failed circuit breaker.
Electrical faults can present themselves in a number of ways so contact us if you’re concerned with flickering lights, intermittent loss of power or damage to outlets.
What does an electrical fault finding electrician do?
When the customer in Hopwood contacted us to discuss electrical fault finding services, we gathered as much information as possible before attending the property. As electricians, we want to know where the fault might be localised, if the property has had any recent electrical upgrades and how long the faults have been noticed for.
Next we carry out a series of visual checks on visible electrical systems followed by various electrical testing to confirm the fault. Insulation resistance testing may be performed to make sure deteriorated insulation doesn’t contribute to leakage current. We also conduct RCD testing to make sure they work and trip within the 40 millisecond timeframe.
How long does electrical fault finding take?
We know most individuals are extremely busy during the working week, either working from home or doing endless school runs. So we understand how disruptive it can be having an electrician in your home. Electrical fault finding typically takes the team anywhere between 2-4 hours. Factors such as the size of your property and the complexity of the fault can affect how long it takes us to investigate and carry out remedial work.
Do I need to be home during electrical fault finding?
We do require a responsible adult to be present at the property during electrical fault finding services. Electricians will need access to the consumer unit, outlets and may need to investigate electrical appliances to identify the fault. Most importantly, when the team does find the main fault, we need the homeowner present to discuss any immediate remedial options. Immediate remedial work might include replacing RCDs for a particular circuit if you experienced constant tripping.
If you need electrical fault finding services in Hopwood, A Bathe Electrics have an easy booking service which includes a home visit to see exactly what we’re dealing with. Call us on 0121 517 0598
