Electricity is one of those things that we all tend to take for granted. From lights to white goods and entertainment, electricity is vital for pretty much everything that we do. We tend to accept just how important electricity is in our lives until it stops working.
There are various degrees of power cuts and if you are concerned about the safety of your electrics or smell burning or hear sizzling, it is best to call a local electrician straight away. However, if your power just goes with no bangs, sizzles or warning, there are a few things that you can do in the first instance.
Fuse box: the basics
To begin with, it helps to know a little bit about how fuse boxes work and what they do. In short, a fuse box is there to switch off the electricity if there is a problem, such as a power surge or a faulty item is being used. There are two types of fuse boxes: traditional fuse boxes, which are usually found in older properties and have fuse wires which break when tripped, and modern ones, which have switches that flip instead of fuse wires. Fuse boxes are usually found in a garage, cupboard, porch or utility room. If you are unsure of where your fuse box is, it is a good idea to check before you have a power cut (it is much easier to do in the light!).
Identifying the problem
If a fuse trips, you will probably notice that a few things, such as the plugs in one area of the house, aren’t working, but the lights are fine. Or maybe all the lights have gone out but the television is still working. A tripped fuse is usually the result of:
- Faulty appliance – if you notice that the electricity goes when you switch a particular thing on, you may have identified your culprit. If you are not sure, take a look at your fuse board to see if the switches are labelled by zone. If they are not, you are going to have to use a process of elimination, unplugging all appliances and plugging them back in one at a time.
- Overloaded circuit – your problem may not be a single appliance, rather too many appliances. If your fuse goes at a particular time of day, when you are using, for example, the kettle, toaster, microwave, airfryer and radio at the same time, this could well be your issue. This is especially common where extension leads are used. If you must use an extension lead, invest in one with its own circuit breaker so that the lead will cut out, not your entire circuit.
Fixing the fuse
Resetting your fuse is as simple as flipping the switch back up. However, if you haven’t sorted the problem, it will keep tripping. If you can’t tell what is causing the issue don’t risk it; call your local electrician for professional advice. For more guidance, follow Trust A Trader on Facebook or X.