Lights not working ?

It's a common problem: lights have gone out, and you're unsure what to do. Rest assured, you're not alone in this. Many homeowners face similar issues.

Usually, a few minor fault-finding procedures will allow you to have your lights back up and running quickly.

1. Check if the street lights are working
2. Sometimes, one phase of the street drops out, and half of the street will be off; if this is the case, phone SSE/ Scottish power / EDF and they will most likely be there in about 10-25 min and work on the overhead or underground lines. This scenario is very rare, so there's no need to worry.
3. Has your hubby done some DIY recently? If so, this is the root of the most common problem. He or she has gotten the switched live return and the neutral confused - in this scenario, call an electrician because he no doubt did not have a continuity tester to prove which was the live return and which was, in fact, a neutral and will not be able to do it without the right bit of test kit (voltage-tester/ continuity tester ( Tell them never to touch the electricity again ) (or do a basic 2-week course if they must tinker) The call out rate will be anywhere during work hours (£65) to (£95) after hours, costly mistake for them and an earful for life. ( for being cheap)
4. Animal ingress (I heard this in the corporate world ): mice/rats/squirrels; these guys love a cable, especially the old red and black copper tinned cables with the green goo in them for some reason. Vermin loves to make nests in lofts due to the appalling British weather, and they feel more at home in your home's loft than anywhere else. These critters nibble on one side or both of the cables in the loft; Tell-tale signs are flickering and burning, and fried Kentucky mouse smells. There will be no way to fix this yourself; call an electrician - ZA Electrical Ltd.
5. Lights flickering? The reason for this is usually a loose connection. If you are a whizz with a screwdriver, you can tighten the terminals on the switch in the room where the light is flickering. Use an insulated screwdriver, please, and not the mechanic's screwdrivers with no insulation down the shaft, or you might get zapped; not fun. Again, if you doubt your mechanical prowess, call ZA Electrical Ltd.
6. The worst one -water leaks onto lights - your neighbour's blocked drains - shower - the leaky roof has come through your ceiling, and you do not know what to do; check if the plugs are working; if they are, then isolate the lights at the fuse board and let the water dry up for the evening and call an electrician first thing in the morning or it will be a costly repair to call out an electrician after hours usually between £95 - £180 for after hours x 2. Most of the time, the light where the water has come through can be removed and replaced or just removed until the ceiling has been removed and replaced, and the circuit can be reinstated during this time so that the rest of the lights come on.
7. External lights filled with water typically happen after hours or on weekends. If you are competent and have the correct safety equipment, proper ladder, and insulated screwdrivers, isolate the electricity supply if it is off, then remove the light and reinstate the electricity. Simple, or call ZA Electrical Ltd. Sometimes, a sequence of fault findings will need to be done if more than one light is sodden or a few sensor lights/sensors are water-filled.

Rest assured, at whatever time your lights go out within the following postcodes RH15 - RH16  - BN6 -  BN7 - BN8 - BN1 - BN2 - BN3 - BN5 - BN6, we can help.

Call ZA Electrical Ltd on 07402829735, and we will arrange for one of our engineers to come and fix your faulty lighting.