Frequently Asked Questions

Who do you work for?

 

We carry out work for domestic and commercial customers. Varying from homeowners, landlords, retail premises, restaurants, main contractors, and commercial premises.

 

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What areas do you cover?

 

We mainly work in Portsmouth, Southampton, and around Hampshire; however, we can cover other areas by arrangement. Check out our Areas Covered Page.

 

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What are your hours?

 

Our standard working hours are 8.00 am – 8.00 pm Monday to Friday.

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Will I have to wait all day for an electrician to attend?

 

We always try our absolute best to inconvenience you as little as possible. We aim to book a pre-arranged date and time with you, although sometimes, we may have to offer you a morning or afternoon slot. If your job is urgent, we may be able to call you at short notice if we get a cancellation

 

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Is your work guaranteed?

 

All our work carries a one-year warranty on parts and workmanship. NICEIC insurance also covers work to give you additional peace of mind.

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Are you insured?

 

Yes, we have £5,000,000 Employers’ Liability Insurance and £2,000,000 Public Liability Insurance.

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Will we expect to pay VAT?

 

Yes, we are a VAT-registered company and 20% will be added to all invoices. Our VAT number is 429867541.

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What’s involved in rewiring my house?

 

We are experienced at making the rewire as hassle and mess-free as possible, but unfortunately, rewiring is disruptive and invasive work. For a full rewire, every room will need to have the following carried out:

 

• Furniture moved out

• Floor covering taken up

• Floorboards lifted

• Walls chased out for switches/sockets where necessary

• Dust and mess during the period of work (although we always clean up at the end of the day)

• To rewire lighting upstairs, we will probably need the loft to be cleared to access the lighting points and each switch drop.

 

 

What is an RCD and what are the benefits?

 

An RCD is a Residual Current Device. It’s designed to protect against electrocution and electrical fires by cutting off the supply of power when it senses a leakage of electrical current from a circuit. An RCD monitors electric currents in circuits or individual items and will switch off the electricity automatically if there is a problem. For example, if you cut through a cable with a power tool, the power switches off, eliminating the chance of injury from electrocution.

 

RCDs also offer protection against electrical fires.

 

 

Why should I use an NICEIC contractor?

 

Working with electricity requires a highly qualified electrician to carry out electrical work to a safe and high-quality standard, which is why it’s critical that you choose a business that’s NICEIC approved.

 

Electricians registered by NICEIC are assessed on a regular basis to ensure they are competent and authorised to self-certify work. As NICEIC-accredited electricians, we also have a Platinum Promise which covers electrical work up to the value of £25,000. This is a protection entity that only an NICEIC-approved contractor can offer.

 

These are the key reasons you should use an NICEIC-approved electrical contractor:

 

• We are annually assessed by NICEIC

• We have public liability insurance

• You have access to an independent complaints process

• We’re approved to carry out all forms of inspection and testing from minor works to full installations and fire alarms, emergency lighting, periodic tests and inspections.

 

 

Is there a difference between a fuse and a circuit breaker?

 

They both perform the same function, disrupting the flow of electricity when a fault is sensed. A fuse will have to be replaced once it has tripped, whereas a circuit breaker won’t always need replacement, however, sometimes it may be required. It is for this reason that circuit breakers are more commonly used.

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What does the term “short circuit” mean?

 

When a wire carrying an electrical current meets the earthing conductor wire, excessive heat is created. If you see sparks in your electrical panel, you’ve likely witnessed a short circuit and you should have it checked by an electrician.

 

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Why do my light bulbs blow out frequently?

 

There are several reasons this could be occurring. However, one reason that should be ruled out, for the sake of fire safety, is overheating. A light fixture with poor airflow design will result in excessive heat build-up around the bulb. Having to replace bulbs, again and again, is not just an inconvenience, it’s also a fire hazard. Have your light fixtures inspected by an electrician if you notice that bulbs are constantly blowing out.

 

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Is my fuseboard unsafe?

 

An outdated fuseboard, often found in older homes, isn’t designed to meet the electricity demands of modern living. Today’s families love their appliances and electronics. If your home’s fuseboard is more than 15 years old, it’s time to enter the modern age with an upgrade.

 

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Should I Be Worried About Outlets That Don’t Work?

 

Before you worry, try a simple test. Find a small lamp and plug it into the outlet in question. Then, flip on all of the wall switches in the room. The lamp may turn on when you flip a switch because some outlets are controlled by a wall switch. If you cannot find a switch that operates the outlet, check around the room and see if other outlets or lights are out. Next, check the fuseboard to see if any circuits are tripped. If they are, reset the circuit breaker. If you try all of the wall switches and the circuit breaker, and find that the outlet still does not work, be sure to call an electrician to evaluate the problem. There may be a short somewhere in the system.

 

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Why Do My Lights Flicker?

 

In many cases, lights flicker because of an outdated electrical system. If this is the case, your fuseboard or wiring will need to be replaced. In other cases, it can be a loose wire, insufficient power supply, or another appliance on a circuit drawing too much power. Regardless, it is best to have the problem inspected by a licensed electrician.

 

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What Is Tripping My Circuit Breaker?

 

If you have reset circuits, only to have the breaker trip again, it is likely that you have a more serious problem that needs to be addressed by a qualified electrician. Sometimes it is simply that the rating of a frequently used circuit needs to be increased. For example, if a 16-amp circuit keeps tripping, you may need to change it to a 20-amp. Changing circuits should only be done by a professional, certified electrician, once the problem has been inspected and tested.

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Why Is My Light Switch Hot?

 

If you go to turn off your light switch and find that it is hot to the touch, this is indicative of a serious issue that could lead to an electrical fire. Possible reasons for this include the switch being overloaded, the switch failing, or faulty wiring. In any case, you should address the problem immediately and call an electrician as soon as possible.

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Can I ‘DIY’ Electrical Projects?

 

At T&R Sutton, we advise against making your electrical repairs a do-it-yourself project, as it may affect your insurance should anything happen as a result of your d-i-y repairs. Additionally, there is a large risk of being shocked or starting a fire when working with electrical wiring. Finally, attempting to do them yourself could cause more serious damages than you began with, as well as costly repairs. For your safety and for your wallet, we recommend calling an expert electrician to perform any home electrical projects.

 

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What is the difference between watts and volts?

 

A watt is a unit of power and volts are a measurement of energy.

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What is amperage?

 

Amperage (amps) is a measurement of current flow in terms of electricity usage, similar to how we measure water flow in terms of gallons.

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What kinds of problems can cause an electrical fire?

 

Electrical fires occur for several reasons, but most commonly because something has gone wrong with either wiring or an appliance. Electrical fires caused by faulty wiring usually result from damage to insulation that allows wires to meet each other or another material that conducts electricity, this can happen because of fraying, chafing, corrosion or simply old age.

 

Electrical fires caused by faulty appliances are due to either internal breakdowns in the appliance's heating element or electrical components which become overloaded and overheat causing a fire hazard.

 

 

How often should I have my electrical outlets or light switches checked out by an electrician?

 

Electrical outlets and switches should be checked at least once a year to ensure they're working properly.

 

If you notice any problems, such as flickering lights (which could indicate a loose connection which could cause a fire), or if your outlets aren't staying plugged in, it may be time for an electrical check-up, by a Qualified Electrician.

 

 

How often should I have my electrical circuits checked out by an electrician in the UK?

 

If you own your own property then electrical circuits should be checked out every 10 years by an electrician in the UK.

 

However, if you are a landlord then your properties will need to be checked every 5 years (maximum). The timespan is always at the discretion of the electrician based upon the test results achieved when an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is carried out.

 

Various factors such as weather conditions and ageing can affect electrical appliances, wiring and circuitry which are some of the reasons why you need to have your home regularly inspected for safety purposes.

 

T&R Sutton is happy to help with any inspections that you may need, Give us a call at 07801 768651 to arrange an Electrical Inspection.

 

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How can I tell if a circuit is overloaded?

 

A common sign of an overloaded electrical circuit in the UK would be flickering lights or appliances that are not working as normal.

 

If you suspect that your circuits may have been overused, it is advised to contact a professional electrician immediately and avoid using any electricity until they arrive on the scene.

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