You’ve just gotten home from work and all you want to do is lay in bed watching TikTok. There’s only one problem: your phone is dead and the electrical socket closest to your bed refuses to work.
Electrical faults are inconvenient, but there are ways to get to the root of the issue so you can fix it as soon as possible. It’s also important to be able to determine whether it’s a simple fix or if you need to call a professional.
Read on to learn how you can detect electrical Faults.
Take Safety Precautions
Electrical circuits aren’t something to play around with. Before you get started determining the problem, make sure you’ve taken the proper safety precautions. You should also make sure that you remain in compliance with any building regulations.
Switch off the power at the main breaker box, and remove the circuit fuse for the dead circuit. You can determine which circuit is dead by turning off all circuit switches, and then turning them back on again. The dead circuit is the one that trips, or turns off, once you switch it back on.
Common Causes of Electrical Faults
If a circuit is dead, it may be caused by a specific item or major appliance on the circuit. Unplug all appliances and turn off all lights connected to the circuit. Do this one at a time so you can determine which one is causing the circuit to trip.
Once you’ve determined the faulty appliance, you can fix it or call a qualified repair person to do so. However, if you find that there isn’t one root cause of the problem, you may have a deeper issue such as faulty wiring or death of all circuits.
If all circuits are dead, you may have an issue with your residual current device, or RCD, a device that protects the circuits in your building. If this is the case, try resetting the RCD. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to call a qualified electrician.
Another cause of the problem may be faulty wiring. There are several indicators you can check for to see if this is the case. Some of these signs include frayed wiring, bent plugs or damaged electrical sockets, uncovered electrical boxes, and the use of multiple extension cords / power strips.
To solve a case of faulty wiring, you can replace the damaged outlets, and even outdated circuit breakers if you have the electrical knowledge. However, for more complicated issues with the wiring, you should never attempt to fix the issue yourself. Instead, call a licensed electrician.
When hiring a professional, there are several factors to consider. This will ensure you’re getting optimal service. In an emergency, check out 24 hour electrical services for immediate aid.
More Home Electric Resources
If you find you’re out of your depth and the issue with your electrical faults isn’t fixed by following the steps above, it may be time to call a professional electrician.
Check out more of our resources for help determining whether a professional is needed.
