Why Have My Electrics Gone Off?

Are you also facing a power outage, and you can’t figure out the reason behind it? Then let me tell you that there can be a dozen reasons behind no electricity in your house. Some of these problems are far easier to resolve than others. Some of the most common causes of power outages are listed below:

1- Overloaded Circuit:

An overloaded circuit is the most common cause of power outages. It happens when too many appliances are drawing power from the same circuit. You can either unplug some of the appliances or move them to another circuit to fix this.

2- Faulty Wiring:

Faulty wiring is another common cause of power outages. It can happen for many reasons, such as bad connections, loose wires, or damaged insulation. To fix this, you should call a professional electrician.

3- Storm Damage:

Storms can damage power lines and transformers, causing power outages. You should contact your power company to fix this and report the outage.

4- Equipment Failure:

Equipment failure is another common cause of power outages. It can happen for many reasons, such as a blown a fuse, a tripped breaker, or a malfunctioning power strip. You should check the equipment and replace the faulty part to fix this.

5- Power Grid Problems:

Power grid problems are another common cause of power outages. It can happen for many reasons, such as a downed power line, a transformer failure, or a power plant shutdown. You should contact your power company to fix this and report the outage.

Apart from these common problems, there are a few questions that you need to ask yourself:

Did You Pay Your Bills?

A common question to ask is if your electricity has gone off. If you don’t pay your utility bills, your gas and electricity provider will cut your energy supply off. They should provide you with notice that they intend to disconnect you.

Although energy firms are not renowned for delivering excellent customer service standards, they should be able to arrange installment payments or help you get back on track with your bills before they cut you off.

You can regain your electricity supply by agreeing with the power company. If you cannot do so yourself, organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau can help you.

Do You Have a Prepayment Meter?

The problem with your electricity supply could be as simple as a lack of cash in the prepayment meter. Check that you have topped up the meter; if the meter has run out of money, your electrics should turn back on again when you put some more cash in it. If the meter is faulty, contact your landlord or your energy supplier.

Is There a Power Cut?

If the electricity has gone off in your house, look outside. Are your neighbors also experiencing a power outage? If so, your local area may have lost its electricity supply. Your network operator may be able to give you a rough estimate of the length of the power cut.

You might be able to find information about local power cuts on the internet. If you reach the webpage, you can see whether anyone in your local area is posting Twitter statuses about the electricity outage or reading updates from local energy suppliers.

Have Your Fuses Tripped?

If your electricity cuts out when you turn on a light switch or electrical appliance, this strongly suggests that your fuses have tripped. Fuses can trip at any time, so if you don’t know why you have no electricity supply, it’s worth looking at the fuse box.

When fuse boxes detect a problem, such as an unusual power surge, residual current devices (RCDs) ‘trip’ and cut off the power supply to the rest of the house. All your switches should be pointing upwards; if one is down, flick it back on again. You may also have to switch the main fuse back up as well.

If you flick the switch and it won’t stay upright, the faulty switch or appliance may still be plugged in and turned on, and your RCDs are still trying to protect you. Unplug the broken appliance or turn off the faulty switch and try again. For more information, read “My fuse box keeps tripping – help!“

Avoiding Home Emergencies in Blackouts

If your home is still safe and sound, but the electricity isn’t working, you will have to change your habits slightly to protect your family’s well-being. You’ll need another light source – torches and flashlights are safer than candles and open flames – and might need to prepare a meal. Eating out or ordering a takeaway is far safer than attempting to cook in a power cut.

When the power is out, go around your house and check that your cookers, grills, and other heating appliances are turned off and cleared of debris. Turn everything unnecessary off, if possible, as things that are switched on will start working again when the power comes back, which could lead to fire or electric shock.

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Can’t Resolve the Problem?

If you can’t fix the problem yourself, there may be something wrong with your electricity supply, and you will need the help of a qualified, Part P-approved electrician.

Although it is advised that you call 105 if you spot any damage to electricity power lines that could put you, or someone else, in danger. Or visit https://www.powercut105.com/ to determine your network operator by entering your postcode.

Don’t attempt to make any changes to your electricals if you are unsure or not confident. Some electrical work in the home requires compliance with Part P building control and must be done according to BS7671 wiring regulations. Don’t forget – electricity is hazardous and can kill you.

Instead, call 24|7 Home Rescue on 0345 3192 247, and we can help. Our Home Emergency cover will deal with your electrical emergencies. Firstly our technical team will run through straightforward troubleshooting with you over the phone to see if your problem can be resolved quickly. If not, we will send one of our qualified and highly knowledgeable Part P-certified engineers to visit you and solve your problem.