Electricity is something we use every day without giving it much thought, but there are some simple electrical safety checks every homeowner should know.
You don’t need to remove covers, open your consumer unit or attempt any electrical work yourself. Many useful checks are simply about looking, listening and noticing changes around your home.
In this guide, we’ll cover seven straightforward checks you can make, the warning signs you shouldn’t ignore and when it’s time to call a qualified electrician.
HouseOhm safety note: Never remove electrical covers or attempt to investigate live electrical equipment yourself. If you notice burning, overheating, exposed conductors or anything that makes you concerned about immediate safety, stop using the affected equipment and seek professional advice.
1. Check sockets and switches for signs of damage
Take a look at the sockets and switches around your home. They should be securely fixed, in good condition and show no obvious signs of overheating or physical damage.
Things worth looking out for include:
- Cracked or broken faceplates
- Brown or black discolouration
- Scorch marks
- Unusual heat from a socket or switch
- Buzzing or crackling sounds
- Loose accessories
- Plugs that feel unusually loose in a socket
A warm plug isn’t necessarily evidence of a wiring problem — some appliances naturally generate heat — but excessive heat, burning smells or visible scorching should never simply be ignored.
If a socket or switch appears damaged or shows signs of overheating, stop using it until the cause has been properly investigated.
2. Look at the condition of plugs, leads and extension cables
Damaged flexible cables are one of the easiest electrical problems to spot.
Regularly check the leads on appliances you use frequently, particularly items that are moved around such as vacuum cleaners, irons, chargers and extension leads.
- Cuts or splits in the cable
- Exposed inner insulation or conductors
- Damage where the cable enters the plug or appliance
- Bent or damaged plug pins
- Cracked plugs
- Signs of overheating
- Extension leads that are damaged or being overloaded
Don’t repair a damaged mains cable with ordinary adhesive tape and continue using it. Depending on the appliance, the cable or equipment should be properly repaired or replaced.
HouseOhm tip: Extension leads should be a temporary solution, not a substitute for having enough properly positioned sockets. If your home relies heavily on extension leads and multi-way adaptors, it may be worth discussing additional sockets with an electrician.
3. Know what your consumer unit is telling you
Your consumer unit — sometimes still called a fuse box — is the central point where the electrical circuits in your home are protected.
You don’t need to remove its cover or touch anything inside it, but it’s worth knowing where it is and being aware of obvious warning signs.
- A burning or unusual smell
- Buzzing or crackling noises
- Visible signs of heat or scorching
- Damaged or missing covers
- Circuit breakers that repeatedly trip
- An RCD that repeatedly switches off
- Labels that are missing or make it difficult to identify circuits
A circuit breaker or RCD tripping isn’t necessarily evidence that the consumer unit itself is faulty. Protective devices are designed to disconnect the electricity when certain problems occur.
However, if a circuit repeatedly trips, don’t simply keep resetting it without trying to establish why. A faulty appliance or a problem with the electrical installation could be causing it.
HouseOhm tip: If an RCD starts tripping repeatedly, make a note of what appliances were being used and which circuits are affected. That information can be extremely useful to an electrician investigating the fault.
4. Don’t overload sockets and extension leads
Multi-way adaptors and extension leads are useful, but they don’t increase the amount of electrical power available from the socket they’re connected to.
Problems can arise when several higher-powered appliances are connected to the same extension lead or adaptor.
- Avoid connecting multiple high-powered appliances to one extension lead
- Don’t plug one extension lead into another
- Fully unwind cable reels when required for higher loads
- Replace damaged or overheating extension leads
- Check the manufacturer’s maximum load rating
- Don’t run extension leads underneath carpets or where they can easily be damaged
Appliances that produce heat — such as kettles, heaters, toasters and some cooking appliances — can draw considerably more power than phone chargers, lamps and other small electronic devices.
If you’re constantly using adaptors because there aren’t enough sockets in a room, adding properly positioned socket outlets may be a better long-term solution.
5. Be particularly careful with electricity in bathrooms
Water and electricity are a dangerous combination, which is why bathrooms have specific requirements governing where electrical equipment can be installed and what equipment is suitable.
As a homeowner, you don’t need to calculate bathroom zones or assess electrical equipment yourself. The important thing is to recognise situations that deserve professional attention.
- Don’t use ordinary mains extension leads in bathrooms
- Don’t bring portable mains-powered appliances close to the bath or shower
- Don’t install electrical accessories simply because they physically fit the space
- Be cautious of damaged bathroom fans, lights or electrical equipment
- Have alterations assessed by someone who understands the requirements for electrical installations in bathrooms
If you’re planning a new bathroom, moving a shower, adding lighting, installing electric heating or changing the ventilation, discuss the electrical requirements early in the project rather than after everything has been tiled and finished.
HouseOhm safety note: Bathroom electrical work is an area where DIY assumptions can become dangerous. If you’re unsure whether equipment is suitable or correctly positioned, get professional advice rather than experimenting.
Pay attention to unusual smells, sounds and heat
Electrical problems aren’t always obvious. Sometimes the first indication that something isn’t right is a change in how an appliance, socket or electrical circuit behaves.
Warning signs worth taking seriously include:
- A burning or hot-plastic smell
- Buzzing or crackling from sockets, switches or electrical equipment
- Flickering lights that have started happening unexpectedly
- Plugs or sockets becoming unusually hot
- Visible sparks when using electrical equipment
- Appliances repeatedly causing an RCD or circuit breaker to trip
- Electrical equipment behaving differently from normal
Not every flickering light or tripped circuit means there’s a serious electrical fault. A failing lamp, faulty appliance or loose connection elsewhere can produce similar symptoms.
What matters is recognising when something has changed and not ignoring repeated or unexplained electrical problems.
HouseOhm safety note: If you notice smoke, significant overheating or a strong burning smell from electrical equipment, stop using it. If you believe there is an immediate risk of fire or electric shock, don’t continue investigating it yourself.
7. Know when your electrics were last inspected
Electrical installations can deteriorate over time, and homes are often altered by different owners and trades over many years.
If you’ve recently bought a property, live in an older home or simply don’t know when the electrical installation was last inspected, it can be worth finding out what documentation is available.
You may have documents such as:
- An Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)
- An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
- Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificates
- Building Regulations compliance certificates for previous electrical work
Don’t panic if you can’t find paperwork — particularly in an older property. Missing certificates don’t automatically mean the electrical installation is unsafe.
However, if the condition of the installation is unknown, an EICR can provide a professional assessment of its current condition and identify defects that may require attention.
HouseOhm tip: When buying a property, don’t assume a standard home survey includes a detailed assessment of the electrical installation. If the electrics are a concern, ask whether a separate electrical inspection would be appropriate.
When should you call an electrician?
The checks in this guide are about being aware of the condition of your home’s electrics — not carrying out electrical work yourself.
You should consider getting professional advice if you notice:
- Repeated RCD or circuit-breaker tripping
- Burning smells or signs of overheating
- Damaged sockets or switches
- Buzzing or crackling from fixed electrical equipment
- Exposed or damaged wiring
- Persistent unexplained flickering
- Electrical equipment that appears unsafe
- Concerns about previous DIY electrical work
- An installation whose condition you’re unsure about
Sometimes the solution may be relatively straightforward. In other cases, further inspection or remedial work may be recommended.
An older electrical installation doesn’t automatically mean your home needs rewiring. Its condition is more important than its age alone.
If you’re concerned that an older property may need more extensive electrical work, read our guide to how much it costs to rewire a house in the UK, including what a full rewire involves and what can affect the price.
Electrical safety FAQs
How often should a home’s electrics be checked?
There isn’t one inspection interval that applies to every situation. The appropriate frequency depends on factors such as the age and condition of the installation, how the property is used and whether previous inspections have identified concerns.
For an owner-occupied home, Electrical Safety First recommends having the electrical installation inspected and tested at least every 10 years, or when moving into a new property if you’re unsure about its condition.
Does a tripping RCD mean there is an electrical fault?
An RCD tripping means it has detected a condition that caused it to disconnect the electricity. The cause could be an appliance, the electrical installation or another issue.
An occasional trip doesn’t necessarily indicate a serious problem, but repeated or unexplained tripping should be investigated rather than simply resetting the RCD every time.
Is an old consumer unit dangerous?
Not necessarily. The age or appearance of a consumer unit alone doesn’t tell you whether the electrical installation is unsafe.
However, older equipment may not provide the same types of protection commonly found in modern installations. If you’re concerned about an older consumer unit, have the installation assessed rather than assuming it automatically needs replacing.
Can I carry out electrical safety checks myself?
Homeowners can safely make visual observations such as looking for damaged accessories, damaged appliance leads, scorching or other obvious warning signs.
That is very different from inspecting or testing the electrical installation. Don’t remove covers or attempt electrical testing unless you’re competent and appropriately equipped to do so.
What is an EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is produced following an inspection and testing of an existing electrical installation. It records information about its condition and identifies observations that may require attention.
An EICR can be particularly useful if you’re buying an older property or don’t know the condition of the existing electrical installation.
The bottom line
You don’t need to understand electrical regulations to keep an eye on the condition of your home’s electrics.
Look for changes: damaged sockets, overheating, unusual smells, repeated tripping, damaged cables and electrical equipment that no longer behaves as it should.
Most importantly, don’t turn a simple visual safety check into DIY electrical work. If something doesn’t look or feel right, getting it properly investigated is usually the safest approach.
HouseOhm is about helping homeowners understand what’s happening, what questions to ask and when it’s time to bring in a professional.
Important: This guide provides general information for UK homeowners and isn’t a substitute for an assessment of your individual electrical installation. Electrical work should be carried out by a suitably qualified and competent person where required.
Electrical work in homes may also be subject to Part P of the Building Regulations, depending on the work being carried out.