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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

House Electrics Problem

37 replies

HoumiLoomi · 13/04/2019 12:34

There is a fuse switch for our kitchen that has tripped, even with everything off, I can’t get the switch to come back on. We rent our house and I can’t get hold of anyone until Monday. We have a house full of small children due to arrive any minuite for a party (the party food I can’t cook). AIBU to be a teeny bit stressed? And any ideas or help on what on earth I can do would be much appreciated.

OP posts:

PookieDo · 13/04/2019 13:06

Can you ask if anyone can bring round any kind of battery operated speaker for the living room? A lot of people have small Bluetooth speakers you can link to your phone

Don’t open the fridge at all until you need it the food won’t go off that quickly. My fridge was left open all night the other day and I only had to throw out raw meat and milk

Whatsnewpussyhat · 13/04/2019 13:10

Are you friendly enough with a neighbour to an if they could chuck party bits in their oven?

TheQueef · 13/04/2019 13:11

If you could run an extension from next door? Too cheeky or?

AllTheWhoresOfMalta · 13/04/2019 13:16

Was going to say have you got an extension lead that a kindly neighbour wouldn’t mind you running out of their back window?

LIZS · 13/04/2019 13:22

Or if you have power upstairs charge your phone, ipad etc for music.

TheQueef · 13/04/2019 13:23

If my neighbour asked I'd plug him into the outdoor socket.
Then forget about it for a month.

Original poster

HoumiLoomi · 13/04/2019 14:32

Thank you for all the suggestions, it’s still a mystery but take out pizza has gone down well with the kids!

OP posts:

KoraBora · 13/04/2019 14:41

Do you have a fishy smell at all? Try and sniff behind the appliances etc.

Regardless call the letting agents back and insist on them arranging an electrician now. It is not acceptable just to leave you.

KoraBora · 13/04/2019 15:12

Is it just the one normal fuse that is down or is it the main RCD switch? If it is the RCD you will have no power at all in the house. If it is the main switch shut off all other fuses and see if the main switch will turn on. If so then switch on each fuse in turn until it trips again. The fuse causing the problem should be labelled so you can go and inspect the area.

If it is just the kitchen ring (and possibly the living room has been extended onto the same ring) it could be a problem with any appliance remaining plugged in or the ring itself. Unplug all appliances, you may need to slide them out to do so. Dishwashers/Fridges/washing machines etc could all be connected to it. Plus everything in the living room. Visually inspect all plugs/sockets before doing so and if they are melted, show signs of burning or smell fishy get an electrician asap. If you oven is seperate to the hob it won't necessarily need it's own fuse and could be plugged into the ring too. The plug is normally in a straight line down from the switch.

BTW fishy smells indicate burning electrics as it causes the plastic to melt. Electricians would always recommend you get a fishy smell inspected immediately as it could result in a house fire.

DeathyMcDeathStarFace · 13/04/2019 15:15

Have you unplugged everything? Things like washing machines might have the plug in a socket behind them rather than being easily accessible above the work top and can be forgotten about. Tumble dryer in an outhouse?

Have you checked for small leaks in your water pipes or washing machine/dish washer etc that could have got into the electrics?

It could be a short in the wiring rather than one of your appliances unfortunately.

If either of these two it will take an electrician to sort. It is not acceptable nothing will be done about it until Monday, can you get an electrician out and try to get the LL to refund?

Also, are the upstairs sockets off too? If so then it might be a bigger problem, if not can you run an extension downstairs for things like fridge/freezer etc? Is your heating still working?

Hope you get sorted soon, if you can't cook it can get expensive buying in ready to eat stuff, even just for a couple of days.

Original poster

HoumiLoomi · 13/04/2019 15:17

No fishy smell thankfully. But that’s worth knowing and I will bare it in mind. Everything (dishwasher, fridge, freezer, oven, washing machine) has all been unplugged. It’s just one switch that keeps tripping.

OP posts:

KoraBora · 13/04/2019 15:32

If everything is definitely unplugged (not just off at the socket/switch) it sounds like a fault in the ring itself and will need an electrician to inspect the wiring. Get an extension cable and plug your fridge in via that so you don't ruin food in the meantime. Keep all receipts from any extra expenses like the Pizza and I would be demanding the letting agents reimburse me. Not having access to on call electricians etc. Is not acceptable. Gas and electric can kill and faults need to be attended too quickly.

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