Electrical

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

Playing it Safe: When to Call an Electrician

19th July 2024

Home DIY can be a great way to save money and it could even be enjoyable and satisfying. However, when it comes to electrical repairs and upgrades, it is often safer to leave it to the professionals. Knowing when to have a go yourself and when to call an electrician is important: here’s what you need to know.

Trip switch going regularly

If your trip switch regularly goes, it is most likely that a circuit is overloaded or that you have a faulty appliance or wiring. Before you call an electrician, think about any patterns: does your fuse box trip when you put a specific appliance on? You can start by unplugging every appliance before resetting the trip switch and plugging them back in and switching them on one by one. If a specific appliance causes the circuit to trip again, you may have your culprit. Double check it by plugging it into a different circuit. If the appliance trips that circuit, too, you have definitely identified the problem. If the appliance doesn’t trip the different circuit, it is likely that the original one is overloaded or faulty and it is time to call an electrician.

Flickering lights or bulbs burning out

If your bulbs burn out regularly or you notice lights flickering, it could be a sign of power surges or loose wiring. It isn’t a good idea to try to deal with the problem yourself; call an electrician for advice.

Warm or hot switches

Warm or hot switches are another warning sign that could also be the result of loose wiring or too much being plugged into a single circuit. If you notice that switches are warm, or if you notice scorch marks, slightly melted casings, or smell burning, call an emergency electrician immediately.

High energy bills

If you notice a spike in your energy consumption without changing anything at home, you could have a fault in your equipment or wiring. Call an electrician to do some diagnostic tests to save you from spending money on wasted energy.

At Trust A Trader we are committed to helping our customers to find local tradespeople that they know they can trust. Our directory of vetted electricians have been rated and reviewed by customers so that you can call an electrician with complete peace of mind. If you are in any doubt at all as to the safety of your electrical systems or a specific appliance, switch everything off and call an electrician for advice. They will be able to advise you as to whether or not your situation is an emergency and will tell you what you need to do to keep you and others in your home safe.

To find a trusted electrician near you, take a look at our directory. For more advice, follow Trust A Trader on Facebook or X.

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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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