Basic fixes and electrical safety

Some home problems you can fix yourself in five minutes. Others are a job for a professional. Knowing the difference keeps you safe and saves money.

Unblocking a sink

• Prevention first: scrape food into the bin, use a sink strainer, and let cooking fat or oil cool, then put it in a container and bin it. Never pour it down the sink.
• Try a cup plunger: leave a few centimetres of water in the sink, press the cup firmly over the plughole so it seals, then push and pull sharply several times. Water in the pipe transmits the force better than air.
• If it is a double sink, block the other plughole with a damp cloth so the pressure goes into the blockage.
• If plunging fails, the next step is a drain snake or a plumber. If you have already poured in a chemical drain cleaner, do not plunge, because the chemical can splash onto your skin or eyes.
• Never mix different drain cleaners or add bleach to them.

Changing a light bulb

• Switch the light off at the wall and, if it has just been on, let the bulb cool for a few minutes.
• Use a stable step stool, not a chair on wheels, and ask someone to hold it if you need to reach high.
• Check the fitting type (screw or bayonet push-and-twist) and the maximum wattage marked on the light fitting, then use a bulb that matches.
• If a bulb is broken in the socket, switch off the circuit at the consumer unit (fuse box) and ask an adult or professional to remove it.

The consumer unit and a tripped switch

• The consumer unit, often called the fuse box, holds the circuit breakers and RCDs that cut the power when there is a fault.
• An RCD (residual current device) compares the current going out and coming back. If some is leaking, for example through a faulty appliance or a person, it cuts the power in a fraction of a second.
• If a switch trips: unplug the appliances on that circuit, then push the switch back to ON. Plug things back in one at a time; if it trips again when one item goes in, that item is probably faulty.
• If the switch trips again straight away with nothing plugged in, or will not stay on, leave it off and call a qualified electrician (or your landlord or building maintenance).
• Many RCDs have a test button. Pressing it should trip the switch; if it does not, the RCD needs replacing by an electrician.
• In the UAE, call 991 to report an electricity failure (DEWA in Dubai, SEWA in Sharjah, Etihad Water and Electricity in the other northern emirates). In Abu Dhabi, the UAE portal lists 8002332 (Abu Dhabi Distribution Company).

Warning signs to never ignore

• Scorch or burn marks on plugs or sockets.
• Buzzing or crackling sounds (arcing), plugs or sockets that feel hot, and flickering lights.
• Fuses blowing or circuit breakers tripping for no obvious reason.
• If you notice any of these, unplug the item and get it checked by a qualified electrician or the manufacturer. Tenants should tell their landlord.

Sockets, leads and chargers

• Check the rating on an extension lead before using it. Most are 13A, but older leads and cable reels may be rated at 10A or less.
• Never plug one extension lead into another. High-power appliances such as kettles, heaters and washing machines should have a wall socket to themselves.
• Fully unwind a cable reel before using it, because a wound reel can overheat.
• Use the charger made for your device, avoid cheap counterfeit chargers, and do not leave phones or laptops charging overnight.
• Look over plugs and cables regularly (unplugged): no cuts, cracks, tape repairs or melted plastic. Keep electrical items away from water, especially in bathrooms.

When to call a professional

• Any wiring, new sockets or light fittings: in the UK, Electrical Safety First says to use a registered electrician; in the UAE, use a licensed contractor or your building maintenance team.
• A leak that you cannot stop, water near electrics, or a ceiling that is bulging or stained.
• Any smell of gas or burning (see the home safety lesson).
• If you rent, report problems to the landlord or agent in writing and keep a copy. Do not start repairs yourself without permission.