Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What areas do you cover?

We are a local, family electrical contracting business based in East Kent Covering – Thanet, Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs  whose aim is to meet all your home improvement needs; covering your whole project or just certain parts to suit your budget.

Can you install Nest products?

At East Kent Electrical, we are proud to be a Nest approved installer. This means you can be assured of the highest quality products being installed in your premises.

Over 60% of your energy bill goes to heating your home. But for most people, heating is guesswork. The Nest Learning Thermostat gives you precise control of the temperature, creates a personalised schedule for your home and eliminates the need for a programmer.

Why Does My Fuse Box Keep Tripping?

This is probably the number one question we receive.

Your consumer unit (often called a fuse box) is designed to protect your home. When it trips, it's usually because it's detected a fault and is preventing a potentially dangerous situation. 

Common causes include:

Faulty appliances
Overloaded circuits
Damaged wiring
Moisture affecting electrical equipment
Faulty sockets or switches
If you find yourself constantly resetting breakers, don't ignore it. The tripping is a warning sign that something needs investigating. 

Local Electrician's Tip
Try unplugging recently used appliances before resetting the breaker. If the problem persists, call a qualified electrician to diagnose the fault safely.

Do I Need an EICR for My Home?

An EICR checks the condition of your home's electrical installation, including wiring, sockets, switches and protective devices. 

While rental properties legally require regular inspections, homeowners should also consider having their electrics checked:

Every 10 years for owner-occupied homes
When buying a property
Before major renovations
If the property has older wiring 
Think of it as an MOT for your home's electrics.

Should I Upgrade My Consumer Unit?

Many homes in Kent still have older fuse boards without modern safety protection.

Modern consumer units include RCD protection, and SPD (Surge Protection Device) which can significantly reduce the risk of electric shock and electrical fires. 

Signs you may need an upgrade include:

Rewireable fuses
Lack of RCD protection
Frequent tripping
Recent extensions or renovations
An electrical inspection recommending improvement
Upgrading doesn't necessarily mean your current system is unsafe, but modern protection offers a much higher level of safety.

Are LED Lights Really Worth It?

Absolutely.

LED lighting continues to be one of the simplest ways to reduce electricity bills.

Benefits include:

Lower energy consumption
Longer lifespan
Less maintenance
Better lighting performance
Reduced environmental impact
Many homeowners are also upgrading to smart lighting systems that allow control from phones, voice assistants and automated schedules.

You can download our energy saving calculator to see the savings before changing anything 

Why Are My Lights Flickering?

A flickering light isn't always just a faulty bulb.

It could be caused by:

Loose bulb connections
Failing LED drivers
Loose wiring connections
Voltage fluctuations
Circuit faults
If several lights flicker throughout the house, it may indicate a more significant issue requiring professional investigation.

Never ignore flickering lights accompanied by buzzing sounds or burning smells.

How Do I Know If My Home's Electrically Unsafe?

Electrical systems often give warning signs before they become dangerous.

Watch out for:

Frequent circuit breaker trips
Warm sockets or switches
Burning smells
Buzzing noises
Scorch marks around outlets
Electric shocks from appliances
Flickering lights

A Fishy smell can indicate a cable overheating

Any of these symptoms should be checked by a qualified electrician as soon as possible.

Can I Do Electrical Work Myself?

This is another question we hear regularly.

Some very minor tasks can be undertaken by competent homeowners, but many types of electrical work require specialist knowledge and testing.

Electrical faults don't always show themselves immediately. Something that appears to work today could become a fire risk in the future. 

You may be able to make it work but can you make it work safely and prove it

When in doubt, always use a qualified electrician.

How Can I Make My Home Safer From Electrical Fires?

Electrical fire safety remains a major concern in UK homes, particularly as households rely on more technology and battery-powered devices.

Simple steps include:

Avoid overloading sockets
Replace damaged leads and plugs
Test RCDs regularly
Register appliances for recalls
Check chargers for damage
Don't charge devices on beds or sofas
Have older installations inspected periodicall

What do I need to to prepare for an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report)

Preparing for Your Inspection

To help us carry out your EICR efficiently and ensure we can inspect as much of the installation as possible, please take a few minutes to prepare your property before our visit.

Access to the Consumer Unit

Please ensure there is clear and unrestricted access to the consumer unit (fuse board).

Remove any stored items from around the consumer unit.
Ensure there is sufficient space for testing equipment.
If the consumer unit is located in a cupboard, please ensure the cupboard can be fully opened.
Access to Sockets and Electrical Equipment

As part of the inspection, we will need to test a representative sample of sockets, switches, and other electrical accessories.

Please:

Move lightweight furniture where practical.
Make as many sockets and switches accessible as possible.
Ensure access to loft lighting, garage supplies, outbuildings, and outdoor sockets where applicable.
Furniture and Personal Belongings

For health and safety reasons, we:

Do not move heavy furniture.
Do not move delicate, valuable, or fragile items.
Do not remove fitted furniture, kitchen units, or flooring.
Cannot be held responsible for damage caused by moving customer belongings.
If access is restricted, affected circuits or accessories may be recorded as inaccessible within the report.

Working at Height

Our standard inspection includes access up to 3 metres from floor level using suitable equipment.

We do not:

Work above 3 metres.
Access roofs.
Use specialist access equipment such as scaffolding, tower platforms, or cherry pickers.
Any equipment located above this height may be recorded as inaccessible and excluded from testing.

Temporary Power Interruptions

During an EICR, electrical power will need to be switched off at various times.

Please:

Save any work on computers.
Switch off sensitive electronic equipment where possible.
Make alternative arrangements for any medical or critical equipment that relies on electricity.
Occupancy

An adult should be present throughout the inspection to provide access where required and answer any questions regarding the installation.

What We May Need Access To

Where applicable, please ensure access to:

1. Consumer unit / fuse board

2. Electricity meter and isolator

3.  All rooms within the property

4. Garage and outbuildings

5. Loft access hatch

6. External sockets and lighting

7. Smoke and heat alarms

8. Electric shower supplies

9. Cooker circuits

10. EV charger installations

11. Solar PV or battery storage equipment

Important

An EICR is a visual inspection and electrical testing process. Areas that are inaccessible at the time of inspection may be noted as limitations within the report and could affect the overall assessment.

Thank you for helping us carry out a thorough inspection of your electrical installation.

East Kent Electrical

Reliable electrical inspections, testing and fault finding across Thanet and East Kent.

Friday Electrical Tip: Don't Ignore A Socket That's Warm To Touch

If you ever notice a plug socket becoming warm when appliances are being used, it's worth paying attention to.

A socket should only feel slightly warm under normal use. If it's noticeably hot, there could be:

1. Loose connections behind the socket

2. An overloaded circuit

3. A damaged socket outlet

4. A fault with the appliance plugged into it

I've attended several call-outs across Thanet where a customer ignored a warm socket for months because everything "still worked fine". Fortunately most were caught before any serious damage occurred.

A quick check you can do today:

a. Unplug any high-power appliances from the socket

b.  Look for discolouration or scorch marks

c. Check if the problem happens with different appliances

d. If it continues, get it checked

Electrical faults often give warning signs before they become bigger problems.

Have you ever found a socket that felt unusually warm? Let me know in the comments.

What's the strangest electrical issue you've found at home?

Trevor

East Kent Electrical