Fault finding and repairs
Electrical fault finding and repairs in Point Chevalier
When something electrical starts misbehaving, the fault is somewhere between the street and the socket. Our electricians test their way along it until they find it, then repair it properly.
Warning signs worth a call
WorkSafe's guide to the wiring in your home lists the signs that an installation is becoming dangerous: plugs and sockets that are hot to the touch or carry brown scorch marks, fuses that blow and circuit breakers that trip for no obvious reason, and lights that flicker. It also notes that wiring in older homes was never designed for the number of appliances in use today.
Most houses on the Point Chevalier peninsula were built between the 1920s and the 1940s, so those warnings apply here more than in a newer suburb. A fault can be a single worn fitting, a circuit carrying more than it should, or old cable that has finally given up. Finding out which is the first job.
Common faults and what they can mean
A breaker or RCD that keeps tripping
An RCD trips when it senses current leaking to earth, which can be a faulty appliance, water in an outdoor fitting or damaged cable. Unplug everything on the circuit and try again: if it still trips, the fault is in the wiring.
A fuse that keeps blowing
A fuse blows because the circuit is overloaded or faulty. Never fit heavier fuse wire to stop it, which WorkSafe warns can start a fire. Call us instead.
Lights that flicker or dim
One flickering light may be the lamp or fitting. Several flickering together, or lights dimming when an appliance starts, points to a loose connection or a supply problem.
A warm, discoloured or buzzing socket
Heat at a socket or switch means a poor connection or an overloaded outlet. Stop using it and leave it switched off until it has been checked.
Half the house without power
Part of the house dead and the rest fine often traces back to the board or a failed connection on one circuit. If the whole house is off and the street is not, the fault may be on your service line.
Faults outside the house
Not every fault is inside. Vector owns the lines network that supplies Point Chevalier up to the point of supply, usually an isolating fuse on your boundary or on the nearest pole. From there to the meter, the service line belongs to the property owner, and so does fixing it. Vector notes that old lines and lines close to trees are the most likely to be damaged in bad weather.
Outdoor lights, garage circuits and garden sockets are frequent sources of trouble as well, because weather gets into fittings that were never sealed properly. If an outdoor circuit trips the RCD every time it rains, that is the place to start, and our outdoor lighting page covers replacing tired fittings.
What happens on a fault call
We ask what happened, when it started and what was running at the time, then test the circuits involved until the cause is clear. You hear what we found and what the repair involves before we go further. Where a repair changes fixed wiring, it is tested and comes with a Certificate of Compliance. Simple like-for-like maintenance, such as replacing a damaged socket or light fitting, does not need a certificate.
If the fault turns out to be inside an appliance, we will tell you so. We repair the electrical side of ovens, cooktops and waste disposals, but not fridges or washing machines. Where the cause is the age of the wiring itself, testing will show how far it reaches, and the house rewiring page explains the choices.
Fault questions
Can I reset a tripped breaker myself?
Yes. Switch off or unplug what is on that circuit, then push the breaker back on. If it trips again straight away, leave it off and call an electrician.
Am I allowed to do my own electrical repairs?
Homeowners may do a limited range of work on their own home, but only in strict accordance with the electrical code ECP51, and WorkSafe advises against it unless you have the knowledge, tools and skills. Getting it wrong can cause a shock or a fire. In an older house with three-plate lighting, a light fitting can still be live with the switch off.
The fault only happens now and then. Is it worth calling?
Yes. Intermittent faults are often loose or failing connections, and those tend to get worse. Note when it happens and what was running, which makes the fault quicker to find.
A branch has damaged the line to our house. Who fixes it?
It depends where the damage is. Vector looks after its network up to the point of supply, usually the fuse at your boundary or on the nearest pole, and the service line from there to your meter belongs to the property owner. Keep well clear of any damaged line. Damage on your side is a job for an electrician, and Vector can be reached on 0508 832 867 about its own lines.
What if it happens at night?
Our electricians take call-outs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. See emergency call-outs in Point Chevalier.
Got a fault that will not go away?
Call 021 156 4005 and describe what is happening, or send the details below.
More from Point Chevalier Electrician
House rewiring
Partial and full rewires for interwar bungalows, 1930s state houses and the newer homes at the end of the peninsula.Switchboard upgrades
Old fuse boards replaced with modern boards, circuit breakers and RCD protection, with the inspection mains work needs.Emergency call-outs
Electricians available for call-outs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week when something electrical fails.LED and outdoor lighting
LED downlights, kitchen and living room lighting, and garden and outdoor lights for the section.Heat pump installation
Heat pumps wired in on their own circuit, with the indoor and outdoor units placed to suit the house.Shops and commercial
Electrical work for the shops and businesses along Point Chevalier Road and Great North Road.Enquiries
Contact us
Call 021 156 4005 at any hour, or tell us about the job below and we will get back to you.
021 156 4005- Auckland
- Call-outs around the clock, every day of the week