RCD tripping
Damp or faulty appliance.
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Emergency Electrician: Power Cut, Tripping RCD, Burning Smell
In short: An electrician comes, finds the cause and restores the power safely, evenings and weekends depending on who is free. The call-out cost is given on the phone before he sets off. Call 0477 03 88 98.
No power in the house, a breaker that will not reset, a socket that heats up or lights that flicker? Here is what to check before calling, and how our electricians track down the fault.
5,0on Google· 22 years of experience
Evenings and weekendsDepending on who is free
Cost firstCall-out given on the phone
MethodicalCircuit by circuit
22 yearsIn the trade
Power cut: what to do before calling
First check whether the cut affects only your home. If the neighbours and the street lights are off too, the fault is on the network: contact the distribution network operator, whose number is on your energy bill. An electrician cannot do anything about it.
If you are the only one in the dark, open the board. An RCD or a breaker in the down position shows where the problem is. Unplug the appliances in that area, then try to reset once. If it trips again immediately, do not force it.
A burning smell, a crackling noise or a board that is hot to the touch mean you should switch off the main switch and call an electrician. Do not attempt any repair yourself, even with an insulated screwdriver.
How the electrician tracks down the fault
An effective emergency call-out starts with a methodical diagnosis. The electrician isolates the circuits one by one, tests the insulation of the cables and the continuity of the earth, and checks the connections in the board. That way he finds the faulty circuit, then the exact spot.
The causes vary: a junction box with water in it, a cable pierced by a picture screw, a damp garden socket, a household appliance short-circuiting, the element of a water heater or an oven leaking to earth. Each one is fixed differently.
The electrician explains what he found before repairing. If the repair takes longer than planned or needs a part, he gives you the cost before going on. Most of the time the power is back during the same visit, at least on the healthy circuits.
A socket, switch or light that no longer works
Not every fault plunges the house into darkness. A socket that heats up, a switch that controls nothing or a flickering light can hide a loose connection. Over time it heats, blackens the box and can start a fire.
The electrician takes the fitting apart, checks the wires and the box, then replaces the faulty socket, switch, impulse relay or dimmer. He also checks that the socket is properly earthed, which is a must in a kitchen or a bathroom.
For outdoor lighting, a garden pump or a terrace socket, he checks that the boxes are watertight. Damp is one of the first causes of RCD tripping, especially after heavy rain.
An appliance that trips the power
Sometimes the fault comes from a single appliance: an electric water heater, an oven, a dishwasher, a well pump or a portable heater. As soon as it is switched back on, the RCD trips. The electrician confirms it by measuring the appliance and testing the insulation of its elements.
For an electric water heater, the repair often means replacing the element or the thermostat, which we do on site. For a household appliance, we tell you whether it is better repaired by the manufacturer or replaced.
In every case the circuit is made safe. If the appliance has to stay unplugged while a part arrives, the rest of the house gets its power back. You receive a job sheet that sums up the cause and what was done.
The most frequent electrical faults
The RCD trips: damp, a faulty appliance or a damaged cable. A breaker will not reset: a short circuit or an overload on that circuit.
A cut in one room only: a breaker, a loose connection or a faulty box. A burning smell: switch off at the main switch and call straight away.
Flickering lights: a loose connection, a tired dimmer or a problem on the network. No power after a storm: a surge may have damaged a protection device or an appliance.
How the call-out goes
Call us and describe what happened; a photo of the open board on WhatsApp helps a lot. The office gives you the call-out cost and any evening or weekend supplement, and tells you honestly when an electrician can come.
On site, the electrician makes the installation safe, finds the cause and gives you the repair cost before doing it.
You receive the job sheet and the invoice from Service Technic Belgium. If the installation needs work to be brought up to standard, he can quote for it afterwards.
What we are called for most
Breaker stuck
Short circuit or overload.
One room dead
Loose connection or breaker.
Burning smell
Switch off and call.
When you call
Neighbours too?
Network or your home.
The board
Which device is down.
A photo
Of the open board.
What you did
Appliance switched on, rain…
How we work
Phone, WhatsApp or online
Use whichever suits you and tell us your neighbourhood.
Time confirmed
You know when the technician will come and what the call-out costs in advance.
Nothing without your OK
Work starts once you have said yes. Keep the job sheet and the invoice for your records.
What our customers say
Where we work
Our electricians come out across Belgium, in Brussels, Wallonia and Flanders.
BrusselsWalloon BrabantFlemish BrabantHainautNamurLiègeLuxembourgAntwerpEast FlandersWest FlandersLimburg
Frequently asked questions
Who should I call for a general power cut?
If the whole street is out, call the network operator whose number is on your energy bill. If only you are without power, call an electrician.
Do you come in the evening and at weekends?
Depending on the electricians free in your area. The office tells you on the phone, with the call-out cost and any supplement, before anyone sets off.
How much does an emergency electrician cost?
The call-out cost is given on the phone; the repair cost is given on site, before the work.
Why does my RCD trip at night?
Often an appliance that starts by itself: a freezer, a water heater on night rate, a pump. The electrician looks for the appliance or the cable at fault.
Can I reset the breaker several times?
Once, after unplugging the appliances on that circuit. If it trips again, leave it down and call us.
Can the electrician bring my house up to standard?
Yes, after the repair he can quote for compliance work and prepare the installation for an inspection.
How do I book?
Call 0477 03 88 98, send us a WhatsApp message or book online with the « Book an appointment » button. Tell us the municipality and, in a few words, what is going on.
No power at home?
Call 0477 03 88 98 or send a photo of your board on WhatsApp: we call you back quickly.