Common electrical faults in UK homes

A number of common electrical faults can occur in UK homes, including tripping circuits, flickering lights, damaged wiring, and electric shocks.

In this post, we outline the most common electrical faults found in UK homes, what tends to cause them, and how to help prevent them.

If you have any immediate concerns about the safety of your home’s electrics, contact a qualified electrician without delay. Enter your postcode below to find top-rated professionals in your area.

5 common electrical faults

Hearing the term ‘electrical fault’ can be quite worrying. However, by understanding some of the common electrical faults and how to prevent them, you can help maintain a safe home environment.

Here are some of the types of electrical faults you may come across:

• Tripping circuit breakers: If your circuit breaker trips frequently, it could be a sign the system is overloaded
• Damaged wiring: If you receive a small electric shock when you touch an appliance or switch it could be due to faulty wiring or grounding issues
• Buzzing sounds or flickering lights: This could be caused by something as simple as a loose bulb, or something more serious such as loose wiring
• Loose electrical outlets: Outlets can become loose over time, but this can lead to sparks, electric shocks, or fire if not resolved
• Overheating: A burning smell, smoke, or discoloured electrical outlets are signs of overheating, which can be due to the wiring, fuse, circuit breaker, or plug socket

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What causes electrical faults?

The reason why electrical faults occur varies from home to home. But there are some common causes of electrical faults, including:

• An old electrical system: Many UK homes have outdated wiring, which is unable to handle the demands of a modern household
• Overloaded circuits: Plugging too many appliances into a single plug outlet can overload the system and trip the circuit
• Faulty wiring: Old or poorly installed wiring can disrupt the flow of electricity, leading to overheating and short circuits
• Exposure to the elements: An external lightning strike can cause an electrical surge, while exposure to moisture or water (for example in a kitchen or bathroom) can cause a short circuit

The dangers of electrical faults

We all know that electrical safety is important, but what are the potential effects of electrical faults within the home?

Firstly, a fault in your home electrics can cut off the electricity to part or all of your property. Secondly, it could cause damage to your home appliances.

Electrical fires are one of the most dangerous consequences of electrical faults, as is the risk of electrocution.

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Electrical fault finding

If you have concerns about your home electrics or simply want peace of mind, it’s crucial to contact a qualified electrician who can begin the electrical fault finding process.

This will help to ensure any electrical faults can be safely identified and fixed before they escalate.

Never attempt to embark on this task yourself – it’s always safest to contact a professional fault finding electrician. They have the tools, knowledge, and training to find and diagnose electrical faults in compliance with UK safety standards.

How to find electrical faults

To help maintain the electrical safety of your home, book an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) with a qualified electrician.

If you’re a landlord, it’s a legal requirement to have an EICR conducted every five years, or upon change of tenancy. A copy of the report should then be given to your tenants.

As a homeowner, it’s recommended to have an EICR done every ten years, or when you move into a new property. However, if your home is older, or you’re experiencing electrical issues, book an EICR sooner.

What to expect during an EICR

An EICR typically involves a qualified electrician carrying out a series of tests and visual inspections on your home’s electrical system.

They’ll look at your home’s wiring, fuse box, earthing, and bonding. They’ll also inspect the fixed electrical equipment such as sockets and switches.

You will then be issued with a report outlining any electrical faults found, their severity, and recommendations for remedial work.

Find out more about what the process involves in our EICR planning guide.

Tips to prevent common electrical faults

Preventing electrical faults will help to keep your home and its inhabitants safe. Here are some steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of experiencing electrical faults:

1. Regular maintenance and inspections

As outlined above, a regular Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is one of the best ways to prevent common electrical faults from happening in your home.

It normally takes around 3 – 4 hours to complete in an average-sized property and costs in the region of £100 - £250.

2. Avoid overloading circuits

If too many devices or appliances are plugged into the same outlet or circuit, it will become overloaded and lead to a fault.

A qualified electrician will be able to advise how to safely spread your appliances across different circuits.

3. Use quality electrical components

Using cheap or substandard electrical components, such as extension leads, switches, or plugs, can increase the risk of electrical faults. Look for the British Standard (BS) mark or CE certification to ensure they meet safety regulations.

4. Protect against water

In a wet environment such as a bathroom or kitchen especially, ensure all electrical installations are completed by a qualified electrician.

Lightbulbs used in these rooms must have an adequate IP rating, that’s high enough to protect them against water and dust.

5. Ensure an RCD is installed

An RCD (Residual Current Device) cuts off the electricity if it detects a fault or if someone touches a live wire. In this way, it can help to prevent electrical shocks and electrical fires.

New or rewired homes will have an RCD installed in the main fuse board (consumer unit). An electrician will be able to check this for you – especially if you live in an older property.

6. Avoid DIY electrical work

In the UK, only qualified electricians should carry out electrical work in your home. This ensures safety and reduces the risk of electrical faults.

Any work involving wiring, fuse boards, or major installations should always be handled by a certified electrician, compliant with Part P of Building Regulations.

If you notice any signs of electrical faults in your property, contact a qualified local electrician without delay.

FAQs

What are the 5 electrical faults?

Tripping circuit breakers, damaged wiring, flickering lights, loose electrical outlets, and overheating are five of the most common electrical faults.

What’s the most common type of electrical fault?

One of the electrical faults most often seen in UK homes is an overloaded circuit. This can result in the circuit frequently tripping.

What’s the most common cause of electrical failure?

The most common cause of electrical failure is often putting too much demand on a circuit. That is, using too many appliances at one time.