What's involved
Structured testing to trace the fault to its source — RCD/MCB trips, earth leakage, loose connections, damaged cables, faulty accessories or a failing appliance — followed by a plain-English explanation and a repair quote.
- We work methodically circuit by circuit using insulation-resistance and continuity testing, rather than guessing, so we find the real cause and don't just treat the symptom.
- The most common cause of a tripping RCD is earth leakage from a faulty appliance, a damaged cable or moisture in an outdoor fitting.
- Most faults are traced and repaired in a single visit; a hard-to-reach cable fault occasionally needs a follow-up, quoted clearly first.
When you need fault finding & repair
A breaker that keeps tripping, half the house with no power, buzzing or flickering lights, dead sockets, or a warm or burning smell from a socket or the board.
How we actually trace a fault
Fault finding is a process of elimination, not guesswork. We split the installation down circuit by circuit and use insulation-resistance and continuity testing to isolate where the problem really is, rather than swapping parts and hoping. That means we find the root cause — a damaged cable, a failed accessory, moisture ingress or a faulty appliance — and fix that, so the fault doesn't come back a week later. Most faults are traced and repaired within the first-hour diagnostic visit (£80–£150) plus any parts; genuinely intermittent faults occasionally need a return visit, which we quote clearly first.
Why your RCD keeps tripping
A tripping RCD almost always means earth leakage somewhere on the circuits it protects. The usual culprits are a faulty appliance (immersion heaters, washing machines and older kettles are common), water in an outdoor socket or light, or a nail or screw through a cable. We isolate circuits and unplug appliances one at a time to pin down the source. If nuisance tripping keeps taking out half the house, upgrading the board to individual RCBOs — so each circuit is protected on its own — is often the real fix. See our consumer unit page.
Older Billericay wiring — and when it's an emergency
A lot of Billericay's 1930s and 1960s–70s housing still has original or part-modernised wiring, where we often find borrowed neutrals, undersized earths and perished insulation behind an intermittent fault — sometimes a sign the property is due a partial rewire or an EICR. If you have a burning smell, scorching, sparking, or the board itself is hot, treat it as urgent — don't keep resetting the breaker; call our 24-hour emergency line.
Fault Finding & Repair — at a glance
| Typical price | £75–£200 diagnostic diagnostic visit (first hour) |
|---|---|
| Typical timeframe | First-hour diagnostic |
| Building Regs (Part P) | Not notifiable, but tested and certified |
| Certification | Completed to BS 7671 (18th Edition) with the correct certificate |
| Areas covered | Billericay, Basildon, Wickford, Brentwood, Ingatestone, Stock & nearby |
See our full price guide — every job is confirmed with a fixed written quote first.
Get a free fault finding & repair quote
We respond within one working day
- 1. Tell us the job — a quick description and your postcode, no obligation.
- 2. Free written quote — a clear, itemised price with no hidden call-out fees.
- 3. Certified work — completed to BS 7671 with your certificate and Part P notification.
- NICEIC Registered
- Part P Approved
- NAPIT
- Fully Insured
Fault Finding & Repair — FAQs
Why does my RCD keep tripping?
Usually earth leakage from a faulty appliance, a damaged cable or moisture in an outdoor fitting. We isolate circuits and unplug appliances one by one to pinpoint the culprit.
How do you find a hidden electrical fault?
We work methodically circuit by circuit using insulation-resistance and continuity testing, rather than guessing, so we find the real cause and don't just treat the symptom.
Can you fix the fault on the same visit?
Most faults are traced and repaired in a single visit. Occasionally a hard-to-reach cable fault needs a follow-up, which we'll quote clearly before proceeding.
Half my house has no power — is that an emergency?
It can be, especially with a burning smell or sparking. Call us and we'll advise; if it's unsafe we'll treat it as an emergency call-out and get to you quickly.