Power loss and tripping
No power to part or all of the house, and a trip switch or RCD that won’t reset or keeps going off.
Emergency Electrician in Maidstone
Power off, a trip switch that won't reset or a burning smell? Compare quotes from up to 3 vetted electricians in Maidstone.
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Urgent electrical help in Maidstone
Burning smells and sparks
Sockets, switches or fittings that spark, buzz, feel hot or show scorch marks, and a fuse box that smells of burning.
Water and storm damage
Making electrics safe after a leak or flood, and damaged outside lights, sockets or cables.
Electrical faults are not something to DIY. Use a registered electrician. If you see smoke, sparks or scorch marks, switch off the power at the consumer unit if it's safe to reach, and call 999 if there's a fire.
First, work out whether the problem is in your home or on the network. If your neighbours' lights are off too, it's probably a power cut. Call 105 to report it or check for updates. It's free and connects you to your local network operator.
If the problem is only in your home, look at your consumer unit. A trip switch that has flipped to off, or a blown fuse on an older board, points to one circuit. Try this:
- Switch off or unplug everything on that circuit.
- Reset the trip switch.
- Plug things back in one at a time.
If it trips when a particular appliance goes back on, that appliance is the likely fault. If it trips straight away with nothing plugged in, or won't reset at all, you need an electrician.
Other situations that need someone quickly include water leaking into light fittings or sockets, a socket or switch that's hot, buzzing or scorched, and a burning smell from the consumer unit. If your home has been flooded, for example near the Medway, the Len or the Loose, don't switch the electrics back on until an electrician has checked them.
Maidstone has a lot of older wiring in its Victorian and Edwardian terraces, and an emergency visit can uncover wider issues, such as a board without RCD protection. The electrician's first job is to make things safe. Bigger work, like a new consumer unit or rewiring, can be quoted separately as a planned job.
When you call, ask for the call-out fee, what it covers, and the hourly rate after the first hour. Check they're registered with a scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT. Reviews on Trade Pilot come from real, invoiced jobs, so you can see how other homeowners rated an electrician's work.
Typical prices
| Job | Typical UK range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency call-out, out of hours | £100–£200 | Usually covers the first hour; nights and bank holidays cost most |
| Out-of-hours rate after the first hour | £80–£100 an hour | Evenings, weekends and overnight |
| Electrician, daytime hourly rate | £45–£60 | Often with a one-hour minimum; South East rates sit at the top end |
| Replace a damaged socket or light fitting | £55–£75 | Plus the fitting if you don’t supply it |
| Consumer unit replacement | £450–£850 | If the old board can’t be made safe; usually booked as a planned job |
Typical UK ranges; your quotes depend on the job and access.
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Frequently Asked Questions
An out-of-hours call-out typically costs £100 to £200, usually covering the first hour, then £80 to £100 an hour. Daytime rates are lower, typically £45 to £60 an hour.
Usually a faulty appliance, too much on one circuit, or water getting into a fitting. If it trips with nothing plugged in, there may be a fault in the wiring, so call an electrician.
If your neighbours' power is off too, it's probably a power cut, so call 105. If only your home is affected, check your consumer unit for a tripped switch.
Switch off the power at the consumer unit if it's safe to reach, stop the source of the water, and don't use the lights or sockets until an electrician has checked them.
Yes, once. Unplug everything on the circuit first, then reset it. If it trips again straight away or won't reset, leave it off and call an electrician.
For new or altered wiring, yes: an Electrical Installation Certificate or a Minor Works Certificate. For a simple repair, ask for a written record of what they found and did.
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