Electrical

Top tips and guidance for home electrics, rewiring, lighting, and electrical safety.

Staying Safe: When You Need to Call an Electrician

5th February 2025

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.

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Find clear, practical answers to common electrical questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

What should I do in an electrical emergency at home?

Switch off the power at the consumer unit if it's safe to do so - don't try to unplug a sparking appliance by hand. If there's an electrical fire, don't use water - use a dry powder or CO2 extinguisher, or get outside safely and call 999. If someone's received a shock, don't touch them until the power is definitely off - use something non-conductive like a wooden broom handle to separate them from the source. Call 999 for anything serious. Once the danger's passed, don't turn the power back on until an electrician has checked things over.
Can I have an EV charger installed at home?

Yes, and for most homes with off-street parking it's a pretty straightforward job taking half a day or so. A dedicated 7kW home charger will charge most EVs overnight and is much faster and safer than using a standard three-pin socket for regular charging. It needs to be installed by a qualified electrician and must comply with wiring regulations. The government's OZEV scheme has offered grants for home charger installation - worth checking the current position on GOV.UK.
What is PAT testing and do I need it?

PAT testing checks electrical appliances for safety - things like kettles, laptops, extension leads, and power tools. For most homeowners, there's no legal requirement. Landlords do need to make sure appliances in a rental are safe though, and it's required in most workplaces too. If you run a business from home or regularly use second-hand electrical equipment, it's worth getting done. An electrician or PAT specialist can tell you what applies to your situation.
Why does my circuit breaker keep tripping?

Breakers trip to protect the circuit - it's the system doing its job. The usual culprits are too many high-draw appliances on one circuit, a single faulty appliance, damaged wiring, or a breaker that's starting to fail. If it keeps tripping even after you've unplugged things, or several breakers are going at once, stop resetting it and call an electrician. Persistent tripping can be a sign of something more serious.
How do I know if my home's electrics are safe?

Watch out for breakers tripping frequently, flickering lights, scorch marks around sockets, burning smells, buzzing from the consumer unit, or sockets that feel warm. If your property was built before the 1970s, the wiring may not meet current standards even if everything seems to be working fine. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is the proper way to check - legally required for landlords, and worth doing for any home that hasn't been looked at in the past ten years.
What is an EICR and do I need one as a homeowner?

An EICR is a formal check of your home's wiring, sockets, and consumer unit by a qualified electrician - think of it as a health check for your electrics. It flags anything that's deteriorated, isn't up to standard, or needs attention. It's legally required for landlords but optional for homeowners, though it's a smart move if you're buying a property, haven't had one in over ten years, or are planning significant electrical work.
What is RCD protection and does my home have it?

An RCD (Residual Current Device) is a safety switch that cuts the power almost instantly if it detects a fault, dramatically reducing the risk of electrocution or fire. Modern consumer units should have RCD protection across most circuits. To check if yours does, look at your consumer unit - if you see buttons marked 'RCD' or 'T', you've got some protection in place. If it's just old-style fuses with no RCDs, it's worth speaking to an electrician about an upgrade.
What electrical work legally requires a qualified electrician in the UK?

Under Part P of the Building Regulations, certain electrical work has to be done by a registered electrician - or at least notified to your local authority. This covers most bathroom work, replacing or installing a consumer unit, adding new circuits, and anything near a pool or outdoor structure. Straightforward like-for-like swaps in other rooms might be fine as DIY, but anything involving the consumer unit, rewiring, or new circuits should really go to a professional.

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