Electricity is a vital part of keeping your home running as it should.
But, sometimes issues occur and you may discover an electrical fault or you might experience a full blown electrical emergency.
Instead of panicking, you should follow a set of simple steps to protect yourself, your family and your home until an electrician can resolve the problem.
Discover what to do if you have an electrical fault now.
What To Do If You Discover An Electrical Fault
Safety First
The very first priority is to make sure that everyone is safe before anything else. That means establishing if there is any immediate danger like smoke, sparks or a burning smell. If you discover any of those things, evacuate everyone in the house and call emergency services if necessary.
Once you have everyone out of danger, you can take further steps if it is safe to do so. Electricity can be very dangerous, so make sure you proceed with caution.
Turn Off The Power
If it is not an electrical emergency and simply a minor fault, then you’ll want to isolate the power fault by turning off the electrical supply to the affected area. You can do this from your switchboard. Turn off the circuit breaker or remove the fuse that corresponds to the problem area.
If you aren’t sure which one that is, then the safest thing to do is turn off the main switch as that will cut power to your whole house.
Don’t Touch!
It is vitally important that you don't touch any electrical equipment or wires if you suspect a fault. Avoid handling any appliances, switches or powerpoints in the affected area as you could be at risk of receiving an electric shock. Rather, you should wait until a qualified electrician has inspected the area, resolved the issue or repaired any faults.
Call An Electrician
The next step is to contact an electrician to establish what the problem is and organise for repairs. In New Zealand, only qualified electricians are legally permitted to carry out electrical repairs. So, you’ll need to contact a registered electrician to inspect and repair your issue.
To remove the concern about where to find a qualified electrician, simply give us a call at Retrolec. Our team are all qualified electricians with extensive experience in residential electrical work. We are also well versed in dealing with electrical faults, so you will be in safe, expert hands.
Don’t DIY!
As we just mentioned, any electrical repairs must be carried out by a qualified electrician. So, do not attempt any DIY repairs!
Electrical work is dangerous at the best of times, but even more so if there is a fault occurring. Without the necessary skills and knowledge, you will be putting yourself and your home at risk. DIY electrical work can lead to severe injuries, fires, or even fatalities.
Spread The Word
You might know that there is an electrical fault at home, but other family members may not be aware. Inform everyone in the house about the issue and the actions you have taken to resolve it. Make sure they know where the fault is so that they can avoid the dangerous area.
You may also need to inform your neighbours if the dangerous area is close to their property or the issue is a widespread one.
Preventative Measures
Once your electrical fault is resolved, it is a good idea to take preventative steps so that the same thing does not happen again. Have a chat with your electrician about what caused the problem in the first place and if there is anything you can do to future proof your home.
Depending on the issue, your electrician may recommend upgrading your wiring or switchboard to ensure your electrics can handle the demands of your modern lifestyle. They may also recommend regular safety checks to ensure everything is working as it should.
There are some basic measures you can take to protect your home, like installing smoke detectors in key areas. If you don't already have them, you should also get your electrician to install or upgrade circuit breakers in your switchboard so that they automatically trigger when a fault occurs.
Time For A Check Up?
Electrical wiring tends not to live as long as humans! So if you haven’t had your electrics checked in a while, a good safety measure is to have an electrician complete a safety check at your place, especially if you own an older home.
If you have any electrical concerns, give the Retrolec team a call on 021 935 582 or send us a message through our website.
