Fuse box keeps tripping?
A trip switch that won't stay up is annoying, but it's your electrics doing their job. Here's how to find the cause safely.
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You flick the switch back up and, click, it drops straight down again. Maybe it happens every time the kettle goes on. Maybe it only happens when it rains. Either way, something on that circuit isn't right.
Why does my electric keep tripping?
Your fuse box (also called a consumer unit) has safety switches. RCDs trip when electricity leaks where it shouldn't, often because of water or a faulty appliance. Circuit breakers trip when a circuit is overloaded or has a short. Both are protecting you.
Safe checks you can do
- Unplug everything on the circuit that's tripping, even things that are switched off.
- Reset the switch once.
- Plug appliances back in one at a time. If one makes it trip, stop using it.
- If it trips with nothing plugged in, the fault is in the wiring or something fixed like an oven or immersion heater. Leave it off and call us.
Common causes
- Appliances: kettles, washing machines, ovens and immersion heaters with a worn element
- Rain: water getting into outside lights, sockets or cables. That's why some electrics keep tripping when it rains.
- A leak dripping onto wiring
- Damaged cable, for example from a nail during DIY
- An old or overloaded fuse box
Is it dangerous if my circuit breaker keeps tripping?
The tripping itself keeps you safe. But it means there's a fault, and faults can cause shocks or fires if ignored. If it keeps happening, get an electrician to test the circuit.
How a callout works
- You call. A real person answers and talks you through making it safe.
- We dispatch the nearest free engineer and text you their name and arrival time. We aim for 60 minutes, and if traffic or a busy night means longer, we tell you straight away.
- The engineer diagnoses the fault and gives you a fixed price before starting.
- We fix it, tidy up and email your invoice and photos.
See our callout prices. If you decide not to go ahead after the quote, you pay only the callout.
Related help guides
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Residential: houses, flats, mansion blocks, period and listed homes, and rented properties. We protect your floors and finishes, and can meet a tenant or work with your porter or concierge.
Commercial: offices, restaurants, bars, cafés, hotels, shops, clinics and managed buildings. We work out of hours if you need us to, and offer accounts with monthly invoicing. See commercial plumbing and electrical services.
Common questions
Why does my electric keep tripping?
Usually a faulty appliance, water getting into an outside light or socket, or damaged wiring. Unplug everything on that circuit and reset it. If it still trips, the fault is in the wiring.
Why does my electric keep tripping when everything is off?
Then the fault is probably in the fixed wiring, or in something wired in like an oven, shower or immersion heater. Leave the switch off and call an electrician.
Is it dangerous if a circuit breaker keeps tripping?
The trip is a safety feature, but it means something is wrong. Don't keep resetting it. If you smell burning or it trips with nothing plugged in, call an electrician.
Why does my electric trip when it rains?
Water is getting into an outside light, socket or cable. Leave that circuit off and have an electrician find and seal the fault.
Areas we cover
We cover central London (Westminster, the City, Kensington and Chelsea) and west London (Hammersmith, Fulham, Chiswick, Acton and Ealing).