Electricity leaves no room for improvisation. This guide helps you tell a minor fault from a problem that needs a professional, and ask for help with the right information.
What you can safely check
If part of the home has lost power, look at the consumer unit: a switch in the down position may have tripped. You can switch it back on once. If it trips again straight away, do not keep trying. Also check that the faulty appliance works in another socket, because the problem may be the appliance and not the installation.
Signs you need an electrician
Call a professional if the breaker trips repeatedly, there is a burning smell, sockets or switches are hot or blackened, you see sparks, lights flicker for no reason, or you feel small shocks when touching an appliance. These warn of poor insulation or a loose connection, and can cause a fire.
What not to do
Do not touch the consumer unit or cables with wet hands or on a damp floor. Do not bypass a breaker or swap it for a higher rating to stop it tripping: it exists to protect the cables. If there is immediate danger, switch off the main supply and keep away from the area.
Common jobs
An electrician can replace sockets and switches, install lights, add circuits for an air conditioner or oven, check the consumer unit and residual-current devices, or trace a hard-to-find fault. In older homes it is worth checking the overall condition of the installation.
How to describe the job to get accurate offers
Say what is failing, in which room, since when and which appliances are affected. Add photos of the consumer unit, the affected area and any labels. If you think the work needs a certificate, say so in the request so the professional can confirm whether they can issue it.
Before work starts
Check that the offer states the price and the time slot. On DomiloApp you accept the price before you pay, the payment is only released when you confirm the service, and you have 72 hours to rate it or report a problem. To choose wisely, see our guide to finding a reliable plumber or electrician.
Find an electrician near you
See electricians in Fuengirola, in Marbella, in Málaga or in Benalmádena. Describe the problem, compare offers and book with secure payment. A professional can be with you within 2 h: we do everything we can.