What To Do When Your Power Trips
Learn what to do when your power trips, how to find the cause, and simple steps to safely restore electricity in your home.
It is late at night, then suddenly, click! The lights go off. Everything shuts down. That could be a short circuit. It can be worrisome because it occurs without warning.
Many homeowners in Bankstown have experienced this. In most cases, it is not that serious. However, you need to know what to do if it happens.
Check Whether it is a Power Outage
Look outside first, before taking any action. Is the entire street dark? If yes, the problem is probably a local power failure.
If it is only your property in the dark, you have:
A tripped circuit
A fault in your own electrical installation.
So you have to call an emergency electrician, Bankstown, or head to the switchboard if you are courageous.
Check Your Switchboard
This is the control centre of your power in your home. It is usually close to your front door or garage. You can find it in the meter box. Open it with caution. Then, check if any switches are set to the OFF position. That is the one that is tripped.
Do not immediately turn it back on. Your safety switch or circuit breaker is at work. It is turning off the power to stop an overload, short circuit, or possible shock.
Unplug and Isolate
Turn off all the large appliances at home, such as:
Fridges
Kettles
Toasters
Heaters.
The trip may sometimes be caused by a single faulty or overloaded appliance. Once you have turned off all that, go back to your switchboard and turn on the tripped switch.
If your power comes back on, good. Now, plug in your appliances one at a time. This will help you to locate the culprit. When it trips again immediately, it is beyond you. It could be a more serious wiring or circuit problem. A licensed electrician should handle this.
Know the Common Culprits
Tripped power can be caused by the following:
Circuit overload. This is caused by plugging in an excessive number of high-demand appliances.
Dampness in external outlets. This happens during rainy seasons.
Damaged wiring in older houses.
Defective appliances or cords that lead to short circuits.
When the power keeps going dead, then there must be some fault behind it all. It is no longer advisable to keep loosening the switch with your own fingers. In other instances, smoldering odors, buzzing, or a warm switchboard are indicator signals that require immediate professional intervention.
Be Safe Around Power Trips
A power trip can occur at any time of the day. Usually, late in the night or early in the morning, when there are control loads. You need a reliable local emergency electrician. Electrical faults may develop quickly. So, waiting is not necessarily the safest choice.
Also, have a plan:
Having torches on hand
Knowing where your switchboard is
Knowing how to isolate a problem.
This will make you calm till the problem is solved. Also, older Bankstown homes often need a bit of love, from upgrading wiring to adding custom handles for a more modern finish.
Final Thoughts
Power trips are part of your home safety mechanism in a built-in power trip, not something to be afraid of. However, when it occurs frequently, it is time to engage an electrician.
