Tripping, flickering, dead circuits
Electrical fault finding and repairs in St Marys Bay
An electrical fault that comes and goes is the hardest kind to live with: the power trips while the kettle boils, a light flickers only on wet days, a power point quietly stops working. Our electricians trace faults like these to their cause in St Marys Bay homes and businesses, and repair them so they stay fixed.
What people call us about
Most faults announce themselves in one of a handful of ways. WorkSafe's guidance on household wiring lists the warning signs that an installation is becoming dangerous, and they are a good guide to when a circuit needs an electrician.
Breakers that trip for no reason
A circuit that cuts out at random, or every time one appliance runs, is telling you something is wrong on it.
Fuses that keep blowing
A fuse that blows again after it has been rewired is protecting a fault. Fitting heavier wire only hides it.
Hot or scorched plugs and sockets
Warmth or brown marks around a plug or power point usually mean a poor connection that is heating up.
Flickering or dimming lights
Flicker can be a tired lamp, but when it moves around the house or comes with buzzing, the connection behind it needs checking.
Two safe things to try before you call
If a circuit breaker has tripped, switch off the lights and unplug everything on that circuit, then push the breaker back to on. If it holds, plug things back in one at a time; when it trips again, the last appliance you connected is the likely culprit. If the breaker will not stay on with everything unplugged, the fault is in the fixed wiring, and that is a job for a licensed electrician.
On an older board with rewireable fuses, never replace a blown fuse wire with a thicker one, or with anything else, to stop it blowing. WorkSafe warns that doing so may start a fire. And if there is heat, smoke or a burning smell, skip the troubleshooting: turn off the main switch if it is safe to reach and call 021 156 4005, or read our emergency electrician page for what to do next.
How we track a fault down
Tell us what it does
When it trips, what was running, whether weather makes a difference, and any heat, smell, smoke, water or noise. Those details narrow the search before we arrive.
Isolate and test
We work through the board circuit by circuit, testing insulation and connections until the fault is pinned to one run, fitting or appliance.
Explain before we go further
You hear what we found and what it means. Work beyond that first visit only goes ahead once you have agreed to it.
Repair, test and certify
The cause is repaired and the circuit tested. Where the repair is prescribed electrical work on the fixed wiring, you get the certificate for it.
Faults we find in the bay's older houses
Many faults in St Marys Bay come back to the age of the houses. Cottages and villas that are well over a century old have had their wiring added to by one owner after another, and joins buried in a ceiling or under a floor are a common source of the intermittent faults that are hardest to pin down. Fire and Emergency New Zealand also points out that older homes can have old or damaged wiring, and that rodents and birds can damage it. Outside, garden lights, outdoor sockets and fittings on decks take the weather, and close to the harbour the salty air is hard on anything metal.
When a fault turns out to be one symptom of an installation that has had its day, we will say so, and talk you through a staged rewire of the older circuits or a new switchboard rather than repairing the same problem twice. We also repair ovens, cooktops and waste disposals, though not fridges or washing machines.
Fault finding questions
Could it be an appliance rather than the wiring?
Often it is. A heater, kettle or washing machine with a fault can trip a circuit every time it runs. The test of unplugging everything and resetting the breaker separates the two, and we can confirm which it is.
Why do faults get worse in wet weather?
Moisture finds its way into outdoor fittings, damaged cable and poorly sealed junctions, and water lowers the insulation between conductors until a breaker or residual current device trips. When the weather dries out the fault can seem to vanish, which is why it is worth finding while it is happening.
Will I get a certificate for a repair?
For repairs to the fixed wiring, yes. Straight maintenance, such as replacing a damaged socket or light fitting like for like, does not need a Certificate of Compliance.
A switch or socket is buzzing. Is that a problem?
It is worth a look. WorkSafe's safety checklist treats discolouration, funny noises and smells from fittings as warning signs. Buzzing usually means a loose or arcing connection, which heats up over time, so stop using it and call us.
Can you come out at night for a fault?
Yes. Our electricians are available for call-outs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for homes and businesses.
Power off, a breaker tripping, or a job to plan?
Call 021 156 4005 at any hour, or send us the details and we will get back to you.
Other electrical services in St Marys Bay
House rewiring
New circuits for villas, cottages and later homes, planned as one installation, tested and certified.Switchboard upgrades
Old fuse boards replaced with circuit breakers, with the independent inspection that high-risk work needs.24/7 emergency call-outs
Electricians available for call-outs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for faults that cannot wait.Heat pump installation
Heat pumps installed with a suitable supply circuit, an isolating switch on the house and the outdoor unit placed with the harbour air in mind.LED and outdoor lighting
LED downlights, pendants, bathroom lighting and garden and deck lights, installed to suit the room and the fitting.Security cameras and alarms
Alarm systems and CCTV cameras installed and aimed with your neighbours' privacy in mind.Enquiries
Contact us
Call 021 156 4005 - our electricians are available for call-outs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - or leave a message below.
021 156 4005- Auckland
- Call-outs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week