Loss of power

Loss of power in Edinburgh

County: East Scotland

Loss of power in your home can be frustrating and even dangerous, depending on the cause. It often occurs suddenly, leaving you without lighting, heating, or the use of electrical appliances. This job involves an electrician diagnosing and fixing the issue to restore safe and reliable electricity. You might need this service if a circuit breaker has tripped and won’t reset, if there’s damage to wiring or your consumer unit (fuse box), or after a power surge or outage. Quick action helps prevent further electrical faults or potential hazards.

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⭐ Introduction

You might need this service if a circuit breaker has tripped and won’t reset, if there’s damage to wiring or your consumer unit (fuse box), or after a power surge or outage. Quick action helps prevent further electrical faults or potential hazards.

🔧 What the job involves

When you experience loss of power, a qualified electrician will carry out a thorough inspection of your home’s electrical system. This includes:

Checking the consumer unit (circuit breakers or fuses) for faults or damage.
Testing individual circuits and wiring for breaks, shorts, or overloads.
Inspecting sockets, switches, and appliances connected to the affected circuits.
Using specialised tools to measure voltage and current safely.
Identifying whether the problem lies inside your property or with the electricity supply from the network.
Replacing or repairing faulty components such as breakers, cables, or connectors.
Resetting or upgrading the consumer unit if needed to meet current safety standards (BS 7671 Wiring Regulations).
Issuing an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) if significant faults are found, or certification of any work completed.

Throughout the process, the electrician will ensure all electrical work complies with UK safety regulations, including Part P of the Building Regulations if it involves fixed wiring changes.

📝 Step-by-step from booking to completion

Initial enquiry: Contact a registered electrician or reputable company. Describe your power loss symptoms clearly (total loss or partial, sudden or gradual).
Appointment booking: Arrange a visit for an inspection or fault diagnosis. Some companies offer emergency call-outs, especially if the issue poses a safety risk.
On-site survey and assessment: The electrician will inspect your consumer unit, wiring, and circuits to find the cause.
Quotation: You’ll receive a quote for the necessary repairs or replacements. This might be verbal at the time or followed up in writing.
Scheduling the work: Agree on a date for carrying out the repair. Some fixes may be immediate; others might require parts ordering or more complex planning.
Execution of work: The electrician will safely isolate circuits if needed, repair or replace defective parts, test everything, and restore power.
Safety checks and certification: After repairs, the electrician should test and certify the installation’s safety and compliance.
Completion review: You may receive advice on preventing future issues and information on any warranty or servicing.

💷 Main costs to expect

Labour: Most electric work is charged by the hour or a fixed call-out rate. Typical hourly rates range from £40 to £70.
Materials and parts: Replacement breakers, fuses, wiring, sockets may be extra. Small parts often £10–£50 depending on type.
Inspection and testing equipment: Usually included in labour but check if EICR or detailed testing is required (£100–£200).
Disposal: Old consumer units or wiring may require safe disposal fees (£10–£30).
Certification: Providing safety certificates or reports may add £50–£150.

Example: A simple breaker replacement might cost £80–£150 total, while replacing a full consumer unit can run from £400 to £900+ including parts and certification.

📊 What affects the price

Accessibility of the consumer unit or cables (e.g. cramped cupboard or loft).
Complexity and extent of the fault (simple switch vs. rewiring circuits).
Whether the consumer unit or wiring needs upgrading to current standards.
Requirement for formal certification or part P Building Regulation notification.
Location and travel distance of electrician.
Urgency and time of call-out (emergency or out-of-hours can cost more).
Need for remedial works such as fixing water damage or rodent damage affecting cables.

⏱ How long does it take?

Simple repairs: Tripped breaker reset or minor fuse replacement can be done within 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Moderate faults: Replacing a faulty circuit breaker or socket and testing typically takes 1–3 hours.
Complex jobs: Full consumer unit replacement, rewiring circuits, or diagnosing hard-to-find faults might take 4 hours or more, sometimes over multiple visits.

Emergency call-outs aim to restore power quickly but may provide temporary fixes with follow-up work scheduled later.

🏠 Can you DIY it?

Power loss issues can be dangerous to diagnose and fix without proper skills and equipment. UK law requires electrical installation and repairs involving fixed wiring to be completed or checked by a qualified electrician and comply with Part P of the Building Regulations. Unsafe DIY work can cause shocks, fires, and invalidate insurance.

You can safely:

Reset tripped circuit breaker switches.
Replace easy-to-access plug fuses.
Check if appliances are working elsewhere.

You should hire a professional for:

Any work involving the consumer unit or fixed wiring.
Suspected wiring damage or burnt smell.
Persistent or unexplained loss of power.
Electrical faults after water ingress, rodent damage, or storms.

💰 Typical UK price range

Repairing loss of power faults varies widely by cause and scale:

Simple fault repair: £80 to £200 (including labour and parts)
Consumer unit (fuse box) repairs or partial replacements: £150 to £500+
Full consumer unit upgrade or rewiring affected circuits: £400 to £1,200+

All prices typically include VAT at 20%, but always confirm in advance. Emergency call-outs or weekend work may increase costs.

✅ Handy tips before you start

Prepare a clear description of the problem and when it started.
Check your breaker box for obvious tripped switches you can safely reset.
Ensure easy access to your consumer unit and outlets.
Ask the electrician for an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) if you haven’t had one in the last 5 years.
Keep all certification and paperwork safely — these may be needed for insurance or future home sales.
Understand any warranty or guarantee on parts and labour.
Avoid using DIY fixes for electrical faults beyond simple resets to protect your safety and home.
Book work only with electricians registered with a competent person scheme (e.g. NICEIC, NAPIT) who will notify Building Control for you when required.

Taking these steps helps ensure a smoother, safer resolution and keeps your home’s electricity supply reliable for the long term.

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