An electrical system is a fundamental element of a property’s infrastructure, whether it is a domestic home or a business property. It is also integral to the safe functioning of that property, and hence it is essential that regular safety checks and inspections are carried out on an electrical system.
It is a legal requirement to have the electrical installations of a rental property tested and inspected to ensure electrical safety is properly managed. For business properties and owner-occupier homes, this is only a strong recommendation. But these recommendations can have a frequency of between five and ten years, and even if testing and inspection is mandatory, in the meantime it can be important to recognise the signs of an electrical problem, because serious hazards can develop if problems are not addressed.
Common electrical issues that can be identified include:
Frequent loss of power
When a circuit breaker trips it will cut off the electrical power to a circuit because it has detected an overload or a fault. You might encounter this when your turn an appliance on, for example. If this happens frequently it suggests an underlying problem that requires some attention. This could be overloaded circuits, short circuits or ground faults, which if left could lead to appliances overheating and potentially a fire. Power loss might not aways be complete power loss, and this could affect only part of a property, such as all the ground floor but not anything above ground floor, because this is on a different circuit. However, if there is one particular appliance that always causes this, try plugging it into different sockets in the property, if it always trips the socket wherever the socket is, it could be a faulty appliance and not an installation problem.
Detectable problems with sockets and switches
Defective wiring or loose connections in switches or sockets could result in a buzzing sound when you plug something in, or you may notice a plug is slightly charred and discoloured on the outside casing. This is a clear and easily detectable sign of an electrical problem and could cause a fire hazard. As well as a buzzing noise and discolouration, this same issue will probably make the plug or socket feel hot, so you can easily detect this also. You may also be able to smell burning plastic, another give-away sign of a problem.
Lights dimming or flickering
In an older property it is common to see lights flickering or dimming. This could be a sign that an older wiring installation can’t support the demands of modern appliances, and hence you have overloaded circuits or faulty wiring.
Dead outlets
If a power outlet or a light switch stops working this could be due to old wiring or a loose connection. It could also be that the sockets have been wired incorrectly. This could mean that your system needs upgrading to modern requirements.
Many of these problems – lights flickering, intermittent power cuts – could be caused by old wiring that is not compliant with modern capabilities or safety standards. Therefore, it is important to undertake a comprehensive safety inspection at least once every five years. The most common process is via an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report), which is a legal requirement for rental properties and is strongly recommended for business properties and for owner-occupier homes.
Regular inspection and testing of electrical installations
Regular electrical inspection and testing is essential for identifying and rectifying electrical problems before they develop into serious problems. Regular EICR testing and inspections, using specialist test equipment, are therefore essential for ensuring compliance, but also for the basic duty of protecting the safety and wellbeing of occupants and the integrity of the property itself.
Please note that this section is for information purposes only. Anyone using equipment referred to in this section must be suitably qualified and/or experienced within the respective field. If in doubt before use, please consult a qualified electrician or engineer & thoroughly read all instruction booklets.