We’re all guilty of taking our electrical installation for granted. After all, how many of us think about it when everything is working fine? But there are a few things that you should watch out for, and call an electrician if you notice them in your home.

Whether you have flickering lights or a blown fuse, the thought of a serious electrical fault can be terrifying. So we’ve listed the top 3 warning signs telling you to call an electrician so you can feel assured that you know when a problem is big enough to warrant calling for help.

Flickering lights

Just one flickering light could just be the bulb at the end of its life. But if you notice that your lights flicker when you use high-powered appliances, it could be that the socket wasn’t mean for these types of appliances. You could notice the problem when you’re using something like a dishwasher or fridge.

It’s easy to solve this problem by asking an electrician to update your wiring or just update singular sockets. But if your flickering lights isn’t associated with one appliance, there may be a problem with the conductors in your fuse box. Call an electrician right away.

Buzzing from the fuse box

Don’t panic if you can hear a faint hum from your fusebox. There is electricity moving around in it all the time, so this is normal. But if you can hear a loud buzzing that gets worse when you’re using large appliances, call a professional to investigate what is causing the noise.

Arcing when you plug in appliances

Arcing is just a word for sparking. If you notice a spark when you plug in appliances, there could be a problem with your fuse box or your wiring. Don’t use the socket until you’ve spoken to an electrician. They will advise you on the best way to solve the issue.

When to call the fire brigade

Unfortunately, there are some times when you should call the fire service when you notice an electrical problem.

It’s rare to end up in a situation like this, but to prevent fires it’s better to know the warning signs before it is too late.

A burning wiring smell

You’ll be able to tell the difference between someone burning their dinner and burning wiring. It’s not a nice smell at all, and if you smell it – it’s time to call the fire brigade straight away.

Extensive sparking

If you notice continued sparking from an appliance or the fuse box, it’s a sign that you need lots of electrical work done. Call the fire brigade, because these sparks could cause a fire.

If you ever feel in danger

If you’re ever worried than an electrical fault could turn into a fire hazard, call the fire service. Of course, you shouldn’t call them unnecessarily, but they are there to protect you from dangers. And if they can solve a problem before it turns into a large job, you’ll save them a callout later on.

You can find more electrical safety advice on the Electrical Safety First website.