Bath’s beautiful period homes are full of character, but many still hide wiring that’s decades past its best. An electrical fault rarely announces itself politely, so it pays to know the early warning signs. Here are five worth acting on.
1. Flickering or dimming lights
The odd flicker when the kettle goes on can be harmless, but persistent flickering or lights that dim when appliances kick in often points to loose connections or an overloaded circuit. It’s one of the most common things homeowners ignore, and one of the easiest to check.
2. A warm or buzzing fuseboard
Your consumer unit (fuseboard) should be silent and cool to the touch. A faint buzz, a warm cover, or a faint smell of burning are all reasons to stop and call a qualified electrician the same day.
3. Frequently tripping breakers
A breaker trips to protect you, and that’s its job. But if it happens repeatedly, something is wrong: an overloaded circuit, a faulty appliance, or moisture getting somewhere it shouldn’t.
4. No RCD protection
Modern fuseboards include RCDs (residual current devices) that cut the power in a fraction of a second if there’s a fault. If your board is all old-fashioned rewireable fuses, you likely have little or no shock protection.
5. It’s simply been too long
The recommendation is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) at least every 10 years for an owner-occupied home, and every 5 years, or at change of tenancy, for rentals. If you can’t remember your last one, you’re probably due.
What to do next
If any of these ring true, don’t panic, but don’t sit on it either. A registered local electrician can carry out an EICR and give you a clear, prioritised list of anything that needs attention.