Identifying the source of an electrical fault

Electrical breakdown cover comes as part and parcel of our standard home emergency cover service plan, so if you have 247 Home Rescue protection and an electrical breakdown or emergency occurs to your home’s electricity supply, you simply have to give us a call on our 24/7 claims line, and we will arrange an emergency repair as quickly as possible.

But domestic electrical systems can break down in a wide array of different ways, and you may be able to resolve the problem yourself in just a few moments, depending on the source of the failure. Consider the following factors to discover where the issue is and what you can do about it.

If your home’s electricity supply is still working

How many items are affected?

If just one item is affected, then this item likely has a broken plug fuse or has malfunctioned. If the fuse has blown, then replace the fuse. If the appliance is faulty or malfunctioning, then get it repaired or replaced – if you have appliance cover, this might not cost you a penny!

If a series of items are affected, then you should check your fuse box, as a circuit breaker may have tripped or a fuse may have blown. Turn off all the appliances on the circuit and then reset your circuit breakers by putting the switch in an upright position or replacing the fuse in your fuse box. Then, manually check every appliance and fitting on the circuit by turning them on one at a time to find out which one is broken.

If your home’s electricity supply is off

Has your main fuse tripped?

Look at your fuse box to see if it has a whole-house RCD. This can trip if one of your fuses blows. Press the reset button or turn the main fuse back up to turn your electrics back on. If you cannot reset your fuse box, then there is likely a serious electrical breakdown somewhere in your home; you should contact a Part P electrician to examine your domestic electricity supply.

Call 247 Home Rescue if you have your electrics protected through our home emergency cover and we will deal with this for you.

Is the problem affecting your neighbours?

If your main fuse has not tripped, check to see if your neighbours are also affected by the electrical problem. If your neighbours’ electricity is working, then the issue may be a “phase fault,” afflicting only one of the three “phases” sent through your local electricity substation.

If your neighbours’ homes are affected, then the issue will be a total blackout. In both cases, you will need to contact your electricity company.

Got an electrical fault?

For emergency electrical repairs within 24 hours of the date you discover them, take out a home emergency cover plan with 247 Home Rescue.

Discuss our policies with our customer service staff by dialing 0345 3192 247, or simply browse through our website to find the right service contract for your unique requirements. Maybe one of our complete home emergency, appliance and boiler cover plans could be perfect for you?