If the sockets or lights in one room have died but the rest of the house is fine, it’s almost always a single circuit that’s lost power. Here’s how to work it out.
Check the fuse board first
Go to your consumer unit and look for a switch (MCB or RCD) that has flipped to the OFF or middle position. If you find one, switch off anything on that circuit, then reset it once. If it stays on, plug your appliances back in gradually.
If it won’t reset — or trips again
That means there’s a fault on the circuit. Do not keep forcing it. Common causes include:
- A faulty appliance or a damaged plug on that circuit.
- A failed socket or a loose connection.
- Water ingress — common with outdoor or bathroom circuits.
- A damaged cable behind the wall.
When to call an electrician
If the breaker won’t stay on, or nothing is obviously wrong, it needs proper fault finding. Our fault finding team traces it with the right test equipment — 24/7, no fix no fee. Never bridge or tape a breaker to keep the power on.
Common questions
At the consumer unit, switch the tripped breaker fully OFF, then back ON. If it won’t stay on, there’s a fault on that circuit — stop and call an electrician rather than forcing it.
Because it’s detecting a live fault — a faulty appliance, damaged cable, water ingress or loose connection. It’s protecting you. We’ll trace and fix the cause.
The loss of power itself isn’t dangerous, but the fault causing it might be. If there’s any burning smell, sparking or scorching, keep the circuit off and call us immediately.
Lost power to part of your home?
We’ll find the faulty circuit and fix it — 24/7 across East London, no fix, no fee.
Call 020 7473 7807