When you're faced with an electrical emergency, you need two things: a quick, clear answer to what’s happening, and a reliable electrician on the way. At 786 Electricals, our NAPIT-registered emergency electricians are on call 24/7 to serve homeowners and businesses across Leicester and Leicestershire.

This guide is designed to empower you with the knowledge you need to stay safe and understand the most common electrical issues.

Need urgent help? Call our 24-hour emergency line now for a rapid response. Your safety is our top priority.

What to Do in an Electrical Emergency: A Step-by-Step Safety Plan

Before you do anything else, prioritize safety. Follow these steps to protect yourself and your property.

1. Stop & Assess: Do not touch any exposed wires or wet areas. Identify the type of problem: Is it a total blackout, or are specific lights and sockets affected?
2. Check Your Neighbours: If their power is also out, it’s a likely power cut from the grid, not an internal fault. You can contact your DNO (Distribution Network Operator) for updates. For Leicester and Leicestershire, the number is usually 105.
3. Inspect Your Fuse Box: (Warning: Only do this if it's safe and you are confident). The consumer unit (fuse box) is often the key. Look for a tripped RCD (Residual Current Device) or MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker). An RCD protects against electric shock and looks like a large switch. MCBs are smaller, individual switches.
4. Try a Reset (Carefully): If an RCD has tripped, switch off all appliances, reset the RCD by pushing it fully down and then up. If it trips again, you have a serious fault. If a single MCB is down, turn off the appliance on that circuit and try to reset it. If it stays up, you've found the faulty appliance. If it trips again, call an electrician.
5. Turn Off & Unplug: Turn off all major appliances to protect them from potential power surges.

Why Did My Power Go Off? Your Questions Answered by a NAPIT Electrician

Q: Why did my power go off? (Power Cut Leicester & Electrical Outage Leicester)

If your neighbours have power, your property is experiencing an internal electrical outage. These are often caused by:

• Circuit Overload: Trying to run too many high-power appliances (e.g., a kettle and a microwave) on a single circuit can cause a breaker to trip.
• A Faulty Appliance: A short circuit within an appliance like a toaster or hair dryer is a very common cause of a tripped fuse or breaker.
• Water Ingress: Water from a leak or flood coming into contact with your electrical system is extremely dangerous and will cause an immediate circuit trip.
• Old or Faulty Wiring: Wires can deteriorate over time, leading to faults, short circuits, or overheating.

Q: Why are some plugs and sockets not working?

This points to a localized fault. The most likely cause is an issue on that specific circuit. The circuit breaker for that section of your home may have tripped due to a faulty appliance. If you've tried the simple reset steps and the problem persists, the underlying issue could be a loose connection or damaged wiring within the socket itself, requiring a professional to diagnose.

Common Emergency Electrical Problems We Solve in Leicester



• Tripped RCD & Fuse Box Issues: When your main safety switch trips, it's a sign that your system has detected a fault. We diagnose the root cause and ensure your property is safe.
• Dangerous Sparks, Burning Smells & Smoking Sockets: These are urgent and serious signs of a short circuit or overheating. Turn off the power immediately and call us.
• Partial Power Loss: When some lights or sockets are working but others aren't, it indicates a specific circuit fault. Our fault-finding experts quickly identify the problem.
• Post-Flood Electrical Safety Checks: After any water damage, it is absolutely essential to have a professional NAPIT-registered electrician check and test your entire electrical system to prevent future hazards.
• Urgent Landlord Electrical Inspections: If you're a landlord with a tenant moving in and a last-minute electrical issue arises, our 24/7 service ensures you can meet your safety obligations.

Why Choose a NAPIT-Registered Electrician for Your Emergency?

NAPIT (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers) is one of the leading UK registration bodies for electricians. Being registered means we:

• Are Verified: Our work is regularly assessed to ensure we meet the highest safety standards.
• Are Insured: We hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance for your peace of mind.
• Are Knowledgeable: We have proven our competency in electrical installations, testing, and inspections.

When you call 786 Electricals, you are not just getting an electrician; you are getting a verified, competent, and fully insured professional committed to solving your problem safely and efficiently.