Is Your Home’s Wiring Safe? 5 Signs to Look Out For!

If you’re anything like most of the families I work with in and around Chilcompton, Shepton Mallet, Wells, Midsomer Norton and surrounding areas, you'll take pride in your home. It’s clean, it’s comfortable, and you keep it well looked after. But when was the last time you thought about what’s going on behind the walls?

Wiring doesn’t last forever—and if your electrics are getting on a bit, it might be time to take a closer look. Here's five tell tale signs your wiring could need attention.

Richard Speller is a Local Electrician with plenty of knowledge on why your Consumer Unit might be tripping and cutting the power. If you're having similar problems you can call Rich now on 01761 325 007!

1. Things Keep Tripping for No Clear Reason

If your fuse box (consumer unit) keeps tripping, especially when using basic appliances, it’s worth a proper look. It could be faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, or just an outdated setup struggling to cope with modern life.

👉 Don’t keep resetting it without checking why. That’s like taping over a warning light on your car i.e. it will keep tripping and will eventually just get worse.

2. You’ve Got Old-Style Fuse Boxes or Switches

Still got a consumer unit with ceramic fuses or no RCD protection? That tech is decades out of date and won’t protect your family the way modern systems do. Same goes for vintage light switches or sockets that spark or feel loose.

3. Burning Smells or Discolouration

If you ever notice a faint burning smell, especially near switches or sockets, turn everything off and call someone straight away. That’s a red flag. Heat damage can also show up as brown marks around fittings—another sign something’s not right.

4. Lights Flicker or Buzz

This isn’t just annoying—it can point to loose wiring, poor connections, or overloads. Especially if it’s happening across multiple rooms.

5. Your Home’s Over 30 Years Old and Hasn’t Been Checked

Electrics age like anything else, you and you should check to see if your homes wiring is safe. If your home hasn’t had a full inspection in the last 10–15 years, it’s a good shout to book an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report). It gives you peace of mind, and it’s often required when selling or letting. All homes should be inspected every 10 years, and rental properties every 5!

What Next and check if your homes wiring is safe?

You don’t need to panic—but you do need to know that this is what I am here for: I’m a local, qualified electrician (based in Chilcompton), and I’ve helped loads of families in the area feel safe in their homes again.

If you’re unsure whether your wiring’s safe, or you just want a once-over from someone you can trust, give me a ring or drop me a message. No pressure, no nonsense—just honest advice.

Rich – Your Local Electrician

 Serving Chilcompton, Shepton Mallet, Midsomer Norton, Wells, and nearby

 📞 01761 325 007 | 📧 info@spellerssparks.co.uk