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From the lights in your home to the microwave, refrigerator, television, washing machine, security system, and everything in between; all of it relies on electricity and the system’s proper functioning.
Due to several reasons, such as general wear and tear, misuse, and lack of servicing and maintenance, your electrical system may not work as it should and may start to malfunction.
These issues may manifest in several different ways – some serious, some not so much – and you may need the help of a professional electrician to troubleshoot them.
Simple issues such as changing a simple light bulb may not require professional help. However, for issues that are serious and beyond your understanding, it is always best to not put yourself at risk and hire a professional electrician who can safely complete the job without putting themselves or others at risk.
Many security companies, such as Calder Electrical, offer electric home call out services where a professional electrician will come to your house equipped with all the tools needed to get the job done safely and efficiently.
Read on to find out more about electric home call out services, what is involved in these services, the different types, electrical emergencies, and much more:
Electric home call out services refer to seeking the help of a certified professional in case of any electricity-related issues in your home.
From circuits tripping, loss of power, and broken items that need repairing to checking your electrical system for any safety hazards and risks, a call out service can be used to rectify and solve any such problems.
There are several types of electric home call out services, the majority of which are urgent in nature such as when there are faults in the system.
Electrical faults can be highly inconvenient and frustrating, and not to forget, extremely dangerous. Therefore, it is important that whenever such an issue arises, you must call a professional electrician and get it fixed as soon as possible.
The most common electric home call outs are related to faulty wiring, power surges, or animals, such as rats and squirrels, chewing on the wires.
If you are experiencing a loss of power to your home or there is any other issue that is putting you and your family at risk, you must seek professional services to troubleshoot it and keep your home safe.
Emergency call out services offer a minimal response time and try to fix the issue in as little time as possible.
Some of the most common faults covered in electric home call out services include:
Power surges can be caused by a number of things such as lightning strikes, damaged power lines, faulty appliances, and faulty wiring in your house.
While these power surges last less than a second, frequent power surges can be detrimental to your electrical appliances and components and can significantly reduce their life.
If you experience frequent power surges in your home, the culprit is probably an appliance or the wiring itself. To be sure, it is best to consult with a professional and get the issue fixed quickly.
High-wattage appliances such as microwaves and hair dryers can cause the circuit breakers to trip, especially when other appliances are also consuming power from the same source.
A circuit breaker’s job is to cut the power when the system gets overloaded. Therefore, by tripping, it is merely doing its job. The issue arises when it happens too frequently.
Try to assess what is causing the circuit breaker to trip so frequently. If it is a particular appliance, try using it at a low setting or connecting it to a different power source. Consult with a professional if the issue persists.
One of the main causes of circuits tripping is overloading. Not only can this be a nuisance but also turn into a serious safety risk due to the increased chance of sparks and fires.
To prevent circuits from overloading, remove any devices that aren’t in use, minimise the use of extension cords, do not overburden a single circuit, and be mindful of how you connect your devices and appliances around the house.
If the issue persists, call a professional electrician to look into the issue and solve it immediately before it turns into a safety hazard.
Proper lighting plays an important part in home security. It not only adds function and aesthetics to your property but also keeps intruders away.
Faulty indoor and outdoor lighting and sockets can be attributed to subpar craftsmanship and products. If you notice that the lights around your home are not working properly and are dimming, buzzing, or creating a humming noise, call a professional electrician right away.
Electric shocks can be very nasty. Some may be mild in nature but others can be extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
They typically happen when you switch on or off a device and could be the result of a faulty appliance or bad wiring.
Instead of trying to figure out the source of the issue by plugging in another device, which could risk damaging it or result in another electric shock, it is best to speak with an electrician and have them look into the matter.
Electrical faults and issues can lead to serious consequences if left untreated. Other than causing power disruptions, they could also lead to something more serious, such as electrical fires.
Electrical faults are one of the top reasons for fires in many households in the UK. Therefore, it is extremely important that the electrical systems and components are all safe for use in your home.
A home electrical emergency is when the electrical wires or equipment require immediate attention. As discussed, not addressing such issues could have serious consequences, which is why it is crucial to have them assessed and fixed by a certified professional through emergency electric home call out services.
There are several obvious signs of an electrical emergency which include:
A burning smell coming from the wires, sockets, or appliances is a clear sign of an electrical emergency. It can often be difficult to identify the source of the smell and, if left untreated, it may turn into an electrical fire.
If something like this happens, unplug all the devices connected to the outlet and refrain from using it until it is inspected by a professional electrician.
A buzzing or humming sound coming from the breaker or consumer unit could indicate that the circuit breakers are not working. It means that they are trying to trip off the power but some issue is preventing them from doing so.
If that is the case, call a professional electrician to inspect the issue as soon as possible since this can be incredibly dangerous if there is an issue with the system and the circuit breakers are unable to disconnect the power.
Where there’s smoke, there’s a fire. Smoke coming out of a socket can mean that something is smouldering inside the wiring.
This is a serious cause for concern that must be looked into without wasting any time. In such instances, shut off the power immediately and contact the emergency home call out services to look into the matter and fix it before it turns into an electrical fire.
Loss of power can disrupt the day-to-day operations of your home since almost everything these days is dependent on electricity to work.
The response for this will depend on whether the power outage affects just your property or other houses in the neighbourhood as well.
If it is the latter, it is usually a matter for the electricity supplier to look into. If it affects only one property, it could be due to a local fault that needs to be investigated by an electrician.
An electrical fire is an emergency for which you should call the Fire and Rescue Services. If not contained at the right time, it can spread and cause harm to both life and property.
Once any risk to life has been eliminated, an electrician can perform an assessment to determine what caused the fire and fix it to prevent future fires.
Electric faults can creep up on you, especially if you’ve been careless about regular servicing and maintenance. These faults can oftentimes be life-threatening and must, therefore, be treated as a priority.
The average cost for an electric home call out service can vary depending on several factors such as your location, the nature of the fault, and whether or not the job is during normal working hours or out of hours.
Every electrician will charge a different call out fee but you can expect to pay anywhere between £45 and £100. This fee is completely separate from any charges for labour, which is usually an hourly rate.
An electrician’s standard hourly rate and call out fee are generally connected in that the latter is often twice that of the former.
Although there are no set rules and regulations when it comes to the fee, the service company needs to make the customer aware of the call out charges before attending to the issue. If not, the customer may not be obliged to pay.
Under the provisions of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, an electrician must not only make it clear to the customer that they will be charged a call out fee but also what it is. It must be clarified that the call out charges are separate from any repair work that may be done.
Electrical emergencies such as burning, weird odours, buzzing and humming sounds, and electrical fires can not only cause major inconvenience but also be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening.
Such faults and issues also have an adverse effect on the health of your electrical system and the components and appliances connected to it.
To prevent such electrical emergencies from arising, you need to have your electrical installations regularly serviced and maintained.
Electrical installations need maintenance and servicing on a regular basis, as recommended in the British standard wiring regulations. This can be done by undertaking detailed visual inspections to full electrical testing.
Electrical testing and inspections are carried out to make sure that your home’s electrical wiring is safe, functioning to its full capacity, and that all the appliances can continue to run without any issues.
They can be carried out on all kinds of properties and are basically what may stand between you and damages caused by electrical fires.
Electrical testing and inspections are conducted to:
According to the wiring regulations BS 7671, every domestic property’s electrical installations must be regularly inspected and tested every 5 to 10 years to rule out any defective electrical work and safety hazards.
If you are a landlord renting out your home to someone, it is your responsibility to get the electrics tested every 5 years, or whenever there is a change in occupancy, to make sure they are safe to use by your tenants.
In addition to the fixed wiring on the property, you also need to make sure that the portable appliances, such as refrigerators, microwaves, televisions, coffee machines, dishwashers, and washing machines, are safe to use.
It is recommended to conduct a Portable Appliance Test (PAT) between 3 to 12 months depending on the type and usage of the appliance.
An electrical inspection is broken down into two parts: a visual inspection and a detailed inspection.
A visual inspection is carried out to inspect any visible signs of damage or defect, after which a Visual Inspection Report (VIR) is generated. The report provides a general summary of the electrical installation’s health by recording all the observations and recommendations.
During a visual inspection, an electrician is likely to check the fuse board, sockets, lights, plugs, switches, cables and leads, earthing and bonding, visible signs of wear and tear, and burning, as well as the kitchen and bathroom safety.
A detailed inspection refers to an extremely thorough check that identifies any damages, defects, or deterioration that may have been missed in the initial checks.
It involves testing all the circuits, appliances, machinery, and installations around the home, determining whether the current installations are satisfactory for continued use or not.
An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report), which is more detailed than a visual report, is made at the end of the inspection. It is a detailed summary of the conditions of the electrics in your home and whether they comply with the current British Standards for electrical safety.
Calder Electrical has been providing electrical services to residential, commercial, and industrial properties for over 40 years and we are specialists in all aspects of electrical installations, maintenance, and testing.
We are NICEIC registered, follow the current wiring regulations, and have experienced and fully qualified electrical engineers on hand to deliver a professional and high-quality service.
If you have unplanned issues within your home or business, we can provide a call out service to rectify and solve any problems. Anything from circuits tripping, loss of power, and broken items that need repairing, to checking for potential faults and safety hazards.
Our team can generate a Visual Inspection Report (VIR) to identify anything visual that does not comply with the standards or looks unsafe, as well as a full Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) where we identify and test each circuit to make sure they are not deteriorating and are safe for use within the current standards and regulations set by the BS 7671.
We can also provide PAT testing of appliances to make sure that any items such as kettles, computers, and microwaves are safe for use in the home and workplace.
Contact us here or call us on 0800 612 3001 to talk to our certified team of electricians right away!
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