Fault finding and electrical repairs
Tripping breakers, dead circuits and intermittent faults traced to the actual cause.
In short
Electrical fault finding means tracing a problem back to its cause rather than treating the symptom. A breaker that trips, a circuit that is dead or a light that flickers is the end of the story, not the start of it, and the fault is usually somewhere else entirely: a nail through a cable under a floor, water in an outside socket, a failing appliance, or a loose connection that has been slowly heating up for months. Testing narrows it down circuit by circuit until the actual point of failure is found.
The temptation with a tripping breaker is to keep switching it back on. That works right up until it does not, and in the meantime the fault causing it is still there. Most faults fall into a small number of categories, and testing tells you which one you have rather than leaving you to guess.
Faults we get called out to most
- An RCD that trips, sometimes at the same time every day, sometimes at random
- One circuit dead while everything else works
- Lights flickering or dimming when an appliance kicks in
- Sockets that work intermittently, or stop working when something is plugged in
- A burning smell, or a socket or switch that is warm to the touch
- Outdoor sockets and garden lighting that fail after heavy rain
What the job involves
Every property is different, but the shape of the work is usually the same. Here is how a typical fault finding and electrical repairs job runs.
Find out what actually happens
When it trips, what is running at the time, whether it is worse in wet weather. This narrows it down faster than any meter does, so the questions are not filler.
Split the installation down
Circuits are isolated and tested in turn to find which one carries the fault, rather than replacing parts and hoping.
Test to locate it
Insulation resistance and continuity testing locates a breakdown to a section of a circuit, so the floor comes up in one place instead of six.
Repair it properly
The damaged section is repaired or replaced, connections remade, and the cause dealt with rather than covered up.
Re-test and confirm
The circuit is tested again after the repair to prove it is actually fixed, and you are told what caused it so it does not come back.
Want someone to take a look?
Call 07557 448945 or send a photo on WhatsApp and you will get a straight answer on what it needs.
Fault finding and electrical repairs near you
S. Sparham Electrical covers Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Pick your area for local detail, or call 07557 448945 if you are not sure whether you are in range.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my RCD keep tripping?
An RCD trips when it detects current leaking to earth. Common causes are a faulty appliance such as a kettle, an immersion heater or a washing machine, water in an outside socket or light, damaged cable, or accumulated small leakages across several circuits adding up to enough to trip. Unplugging everything on the affected circuit and switching back on is the quickest way to tell whether it is an appliance or the wiring.
Can you find a fault without pulling the house apart?
Usually, yes. Testing locates a fault to a section of circuit rather than a whole house, so a floor might come up in one spot rather than everywhere. Some faults, particularly in buried cable, do mean opening something up, but only after the testing says where.
Is a warm plug socket dangerous?
A socket that is warm to the touch, discoloured or smells of hot plastic should be stopped using and looked at. It usually means a loose connection arcing behind the faceplate, which generates heat and is a genuine fire risk. It does not fix itself.
Why do my lights flicker when the shower comes on?
A brief dip when a large load starts is normal to a degree. Persistent flickering, or dimming that stays while the appliance runs, points to a loose connection, an undersized or shared circuit, or a problem on the incoming supply. It is worth testing rather than living with.
What if the fault is in an appliance and not the wiring?
You get told that. Plenty of call-outs for tripping circuits end with a faulty appliance rather than a wiring fault, and there is no sense charging to rewire something that is working fine.
Who is doing the work
Before anyone works on your electrics it is worth knowing what they are trained to do. This is what Stephen Sparham holds.