Electrical Fault Finding

As experienced residential electricians, we often see the same kinds of problems cropping up in properties across the Medway Towns. Just some of the most common electrical problems we see include:

• Tripping RCDs - We often have people asking "why does my fuse box keep tripping?". This is one of the most common electrical faults we're called out to diagnose in Chatham and Medway.

  The cause can vary depending on the age and condition of your property's wiring. In older Victorian and Edwardian properties around the Chatham Historic Dockyard, Richmond Road, and New Road areas, historic wiring issues are frequently to blame if the property hasn't been rewired since the original installation. Original wiring from this era was never designed to handle modern electrical loads from appliances like washing machines, tumble dryers, and multiple devices charging simultaneously.

  RCD tripping can also be caused by a faulty appliance, water ingress into electrics (particularly common in bathrooms and kitchens), or a genuine fault that the RCD is correctly detecting and protecting you from. Our fault finding service uses specialist testing equipment to identify the exact cause and recommend the appropriate fix - whether that's repairing a specific circuit, replacing a faulty appliance connection, or advising on a full rewire for older properties.

• Burning smells from sockets/consumer units - If you notice a burning smell coming from a socket or your consumer unit, this needs immediate attention as it can indicate dangerous overheating that could lead to an electrical fire. Turn off your electricity immediately using the switch on your consumer unit.

  Common causes include overloading the socket by plugging too many high-power appliances into a single outlet or extension lead. We also frequently see problems caused by cheap third-party phone or laptop chargers that don't meet UK safety standards - these can overheat and damage the socket itself, leaving scorch marks or melted plastic.

  Loose connections within the socket or consumer unit are another common culprit, particularly in properties where electrical work has been carried out by unqualified individuals. Loose wiring creates resistance, which generates heat. If you smell burning, turn off the power at your consumer unit if it's safe to do so and call us immediately for emergency fault finding.

• Flickering lights - Flickering lights are not only annoying but can indicate underlying electrical faults that need investigating. While occasionally flickering can be as simple as a loose bulb, persistent flickering usually points to a more serious issue.

  Common causes include faulty wiring in the lighting circuit, a damaged light fitting or connection, or overloading on a particular circuit in your consumer unit. In some Chatham properties, particularly 1960s-1980s builds in areas like Walderslade and Lordswood, we find outdated wiring that's struggling to cope with today’s modern lighting demands.

  Flickering can also be caused by a poor connection at the consumer unit, a failing circuit breaker, or issues with the neutral connection. Our fault finding service will test the entire lighting circuit to identify exactly where the problem lies and provide you with a clear explanation and quote for the repair.

• Dead sockets/circuits - Finding a socket or entire circuit that's completely dead can be frustrating, especially if you're not sure what's caused it. While less common than tripping RCDs, dead circuits do occur and can have various causes.

  DIY electrical accidents are a frequent culprit - we've attended many callouts where a homeowner has accidentally drilled through a cable while putting up shelves or pictures, or cut through wiring during renovation work. Water ingress is another common cause, particularly in kitchens, bathrooms, and garages where damp can penetrate junction boxes or socket back boxes and cause the circuit to fail.

  Sometimes a dead circuit is caused by a failed connection in the consumer unit itself, or a circuit breaker that has failed in the "off" position and won't reset. Our electricians use specialist testing equipment to trace circuits and identify exactly where the fault lies, even when it's hidden behind walls or under floors.

• Intermittent power loss - Intermittent electrical faults are often the trickiest to diagnose because they come and go, making it difficult to identify the exact cause without specialist fault finding equipment and experience.

  These faults can be caused by loose connections that only fail under certain conditions (such as when a particular appliance is running), thermal issues where components fail when they heat up then work again when they have cooled down, or rodent damage to cables in loft spaces or under floors that only causes problems when wiring moves or flexes.

  Diagnosing intermittent faults requires patience and proper testing equipment including insulation resistance testers, earth loop impedance testers, and sometimes thermal imaging cameras to identify hot spots. We'll systematically test each circuit and connection to track down the fault, even if it means returning at the time of day when the problem typically occurs. Our fault finding service is charged transparently, and we'll always explain what we've found and what's needed to fix it.