Fast, Accurate Fault Diagnosis by Qualified Electricians
Electrical faults are disruptive, potentially dangerous, and almost always urgent. A circuit that trips repeatedly, lights that flicker without explanation, a burning smell from a socket, or a sudden loss of power to part of your property — these are not problems that can wait, and they are not problems that should be investigated by anyone other than a qualified electrician.
At Myles Electrical, fault finding is one of our headline services because we know how frustrating it is to deal with an electrical problem that nobody can pin down. Our electricians are trained and equipped to diagnose faults methodically using a combination of visual inspection, insulation resistance testing, earth fault loop impedance measurement, RCD testing, and — where appropriate — thermal imaging. We find the actual cause, not just the symptom.
Common Electrical Faults
RCD and MCB Tripping
If your RCD or individual circuit breakers are tripping repeatedly, there is a fault somewhere in the circuit that is causing either an earth leakage or an overcurrent. The causes range from a faulty appliance to degraded wiring insulation, moisture ingress, or a loose connection. We systematically isolate the source rather than simply resetting the breaker — which is both ineffective and potentially dangerous.
Partial Power Loss
Losing power to one or more circuits while the rest of the installation remains live often indicates a connection failure, a failed protective device, or damage to a specific cable run. Our electricians trace the fault through the circuit to identify the exact point of failure, whether that is at the consumer unit, a junction box, or a buried cable.
Flickering or Dimming Lights
Occasional flickering can be caused by loose connections, overloaded circuits, voltage fluctuations from the supply, or deteriorating wiring. Persistent flickering should always be investigated — it can indicate arcing, which presents a fire risk. We test the circuit, check the supply voltage, and inspect connections to determine the root cause.
Burning Smell or Scorch Marks
Any smell of burning from a socket, switch, or consumer unit requires immediate attention. This typically indicates an overheating connection caused by a loose terminal, corrosion, or an overloaded circuit. Do not continue to use the affected circuit. Call us and we will prioritise the job as an emergency
Intermittent Faults
The most difficult faults to diagnose are those that come and go. An appliance that works some days and not others, a circuit that trips under certain conditions, or a socket that only fails when a specific combination of loads is connected. These require patience, experience, and methodical testing — not guesswork. We invest the time to reproduce the conditions, isolate the variables, and identify the underlying cause.
Our Diagnostic Process
Every fault finding job begins with a conversation. We want to understand what you have observed, when it happens, and what has already been tried. This initial information often narrows the diagnostic scope significantly and avoids wasting time testing circuits that are not involved.
On site, we carry out a structured diagnostic sequence: visual inspection of the consumer unit and accessible wiring, dead testing of the affected circuits (insulation resistance, continuity, earth fault loop impedance), live testing where necessary, and load testing to replicate the fault conditions. Where a fault is suspected within a concealed cable run or a complex circuit, we use thermal imaging to identify hotspots without destructive investigation.
Once the fault is identified, we will explain the cause, provide a quotation for the repair, and — with your approval — carry out the work immediately where possible. Our goal is to resolve the issue in a single visit wherever the nature of the fault allows.
Areas We Cover for Fault Finding
We attend fault finding jobs across Glasgow, Cambuslang, Rutherglen, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Bothwell, Uddingston, Blantyre, Motherwell, Bellshill, Stirling, Falkirk, Broxburn, Livingston, Kilmarnock, and surrounding areas. Call us today for a fast, honest diagnosis.
Emergency Fault Response
Electrical faults do not wait for business hours. If you are experiencing a fault that presents an immediate safety risk — loss of all power, burning smell, exposed wiring, or a fault involving water — contact us immediately. We prioritise emergency callouts and aim to respond as quickly as possible across our coverage area.