Problems with your home electrical systems can be worrying, but spotting them early can help prevent electrical shocks, fire hazards and even property damage.
So here’s our handy guide that shares how to identify electrical faults, the signs to look for and when to call a qualified electrician to help sort things out.
Quick summary
- Common electrical problems:
- Flickering or dimming lights
- Tripping circuit breakers
- Hot or discoloured outlets
- Burning smells or buzzing noises
- Dead outlets
- Faulty or outdated wiring
- Intermittent power loss
- Look out for warning signs like burning smells, warm outlets, burn marks and circuit breakers tripping frequently.
- If there’s any chance you’re dealing with faulty wiring or electrical problems you don’t understand, speak to a certified electrician for help.
Why electrical issues should never be ignored
Electrical faults are a leading cause of house fires in the UK, with most caused by a seemingly small problem – faulty wiring, flickering lights or simply a loose connection.
But if ignored, those minor ‘just an inconvenience’ problems can quickly escalate in severity, causing electric shocks, fire hazards and further damage to your property.
If you have concerns about any electrical problems in your home, working with a qualified electrician will ensure any installations and fixes meet modern safety standards, resulting in long-term protection for you and your family.
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7 common electrical problems in houses
1. Flickering or dimming lights
- How to spot it: Light bulbs sometimes flicker when you’re using other electrical appliances, or you notice dimming lights in some rooms of your home.
- What it means: Flickering lights can mean anything from loose connections and loose wiring to overloaded circuits or faulty fittings.
- What to do next: If you’re dealing with dim light bulbs or flickering lights, it’s time to speak to an electrician.
2. Tripping circuit breaker in the electrical panel
- How to spot it: If your circuit breaker trips frequently, the obvious sign is consistent power cuts to parts of your home. This is your electrical system’s failsafe to prevent an overloaded circuit.
- What it means: Tripped breakers can mean a few things. If an appliance repeatedly trips a breaker no matter where it’s used, it’s likely a faulty appliance. But is a single outlet causes repeated problems, it may be an overloaded circuit.
- What to do next: If your circuit breaker trips, you’re safe to reset this once and flick the switch back on. But if the problem persists, speak to a certified electrician for professional inspection.
3. Hot or discoloured outlets
- How to spot it: This is an easy one: your light switches and outlets look slightly discoloured, have burn marks or feel hotter than they should. Warm outlets can sometimes be expected with some appliances, but they should never be hot to the touch.
- What it means: Damaged outlets can be warning signs that indicate various issues, including loose, faulty wiring, poor electrical installation or overload.
- What to do next: Contact a professional immediately. You may be advised to flip the circuit breaker to ensure safety until an electrician can provide a permanent fix.
4. Burning smells or buzzing noises
- How to spot it: There’s an odour of burning plastic or you can hear faint buzzing noises near outlets or light fixtures.
- What it means: These issues can mean your electrical system is overheating or the electrical wiring is faulty and may be potentially causing a small electrical fire.
- What to do next: These problems can be severe fire hazards, so speak to an electrician for urgent help.
5. Dead outlets
- How to spot it: You’ve noticed that some power outlets or light switches have stopped working.
- What it means: There may be old wiring or loose connections that have been wired incorrectly. An outlet may look dead but still be hot or live, which can lead to electrical shocks or injuries.
- What to do next: We recommend having an electrician inspect your home’s electrical system to make any necessary upgrades, especially if more outlets have the same problem.
6. Faulty or outdated wiring
- How to spot it: Old wiring often has the potential to cause flickering lights or intermittent power cuts if it’s no longer compliant with modern safety standards.
- What it means: Outdated wiring may lack RCD (Residual Current Device) protection or present fire hazard risks, so electrical wiring may need to be updated or replaced to ensure safety.
- What to do next: Any outdated wiring should only ever be removed and replaced by a certified electrician.
7. Intermittent power loss
- How to spot it: Your brand new appliance all of a sudden loses power, or your full electrical system cuts out.
- What it means: Any recurring power loss can be down to loose wiring or a number of internal electrical faults throughout the entire system.
- What to do next: We recommend speaking to an electrician for any investigation and electrical work that’s required.
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How to find the source of electrical problems
Some common electrical issues are easy to spot due to factors like exposed wires, sparking appliances or damaged cables, but other electrical faults can be harder to identify.
We recommend following these steps to begin identifying some common culprits:
- Visual checks: If something looks off, it probably is. Check for things like burn marks, loose wires or damaged outlets.
- Consumer unit/fuse box: Checking your fuse box (electrical panel) to see which electrical circuit breakers are tripping can help to narrow down potential issues.
- Speak to an electrician: Small electrical faults can lead to bigger, dangerous problems if not handled correctly. You should never attempt any DIY repairs or fixes – speak to a professional immediately for any problems with your home’s electrical system.
When to call a qualified electrician
We’ll begin here by saying that if you’re ever unsure about any electrical faults or problems, speak to a professional immediately.
You should call an electrician if:
- You notice any burning smells, smoke or discolouration around outlets.
- Your circuit breaker trips frequently.
- You see exposed wires or faulty wiring that looks old or damaged.
- You’re buying, selling or renting a property and need an EIRC from a certified electrician.
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Why choose James Frew?
Don’t ignore the warning signs. Some of the most common electrical problems can be solved quickly and easily with the experience of a professional.
Speak to James Frew for service you can rely on to repair your electrical systems:
- Over 100 years of trusted service in Ayrshire and beyond.
- NICEIC-certified electricians for safety and compliance.
- Fast response times for urgent repairs.
- Domestic and commercial expertise.
Preventative measures to keep your home safe
Some common electrical issues can be identified and monitored closely with regular maintenance of your electrical systems.
- Routine checks: Stay on top of electrical issues with regular inspections and EICR reports.
- Upgrade old electrical systems: Performing the necessary upgrades to modernise your systems can help reduce future electrical faults.
- Extra protection: Have an electrician install new appliances like smoke alarms, surge protection devices and RCDs to ensure a safe electrical load throughout your property.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common electrical problems in a house?
Homes can experience a number of electrical problems, with the most popular being:
- Flickering lights
- Tripping breakers
- Hot sockets
- Dead outlets
- Faulty wiring
- Short circuits and ground faults
How do I find an electrical problem in my house?
Things like faulty appliances or burn marks on sockets and light switches could be a sign of some common electrical problems. You can also check your fuse box for any tripped or affected circuits.
Beyond these basic electrical issues, we always recommend speaking to a certified electrician to help with electrical panels, faulty wiring or any other issues.
Is it safe to fix electrical problems myself?
Some basic checks are safe to carry out yourself, but you should never try to repair any electrical wiring, electrical panels or dead outlets. Always speak to a qualified electrician to ensure you’re not at the risk of any electrical shocks, house fires or other property damage.
How often should I have my electrics checked?
Homeowners should have an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) every 10 years, or every 5 years for rented properties.
