Electrical Repairs & Fault Finding
Electrical Wiring Repairs in Surrey & London
Wiring repairs mean finding a damaged, worn or badly installed section of cable, repairing or replacing it, then testing the circuit. A single damaged cable is often repaired within a few hours once it has been located. Repairs to an existing circuit are usually recorded on a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate.
Wiring gets damaged by rodents, drilling, water, age and previous poor workmanship. The symptoms can be anything from a tripping circuit to lights that flicker or a socket that works only sometimes.
Joe finds the damaged section, repairs or replaces it, and tests the circuit afterwards so you know the problem is resolved rather than hidden.
Typical work
- Cables damaged by drilling, nails or rodents
- Perished rubber or early PVC cables in older properties
- Unsafe junctions and connections left by previous work
- Water damage to wiring and fittings
- Repairs after a fault is found during an inspection
What the job involves
The circuit is tested to find where the damage is, using insulation resistance and continuity tests rather than guesswork. The damaged length is then exposed, cut out and either joined with a suitable connector or replaced back to the nearest accessible point. Joints buried in walls or under floors must be a maintenance-free type, so nothing is left that will need opening up later.
After the repair the circuit is tested again and the results recorded, so you know the fault is fixed rather than covered up.
Signs you need this
- A nail, screw or drill bit has gone through a cable
- Signs of rodents in the loft or under the floor, and a circuit that has started tripping
- Cables with cracked, crumbling or sticky insulation
- Junction boxes or joints left loose, taped or unprotected by earlier work
- Wiring that has been wet after a leak or flood
Repair or rewire?
A repair makes sense when the damage is local, such as a cable hit by a drill. When the insulation is breaking down along the whole circuit, as with rubber cables or some early PVC, repairs only move the problem, and new wiring for that circuit or the whole property is the safer option. An inspection shows which applies, and fault finding locates damage you cannot see.
What affects the cost
Finding the damage often takes longer than fixing it. Access is the next factor: a cable in an open loft is quick to reach, one under a tiled floor or behind kitchen units is not. The length of cable to replace and the amount of making-good also count.
Where we do this work
Electrical Wiring Repairs from our base in Redhill, anywhere in Surrey including Redhill, Reigate, Merstham, Nutfield, Bletchingley and the surrounding towns, plus London and nearby counties. Larger commercial jobs further afield are welcome by enquiry. See all areas covered.
Common questions
I drilled through a cable. What should I do?
Switch off that circuit at the consumer unit, leave it off, and do not try to tape the cable. The damaged section needs cutting out and joining or replacing, then the circuit tested before it is used again.
Can damaged wiring be joined?
Yes, with the right connector. A joint hidden in a wall or floor has to be a maintenance-free type, otherwise it must stay accessible for inspection.
Can rodents really damage wiring?
Yes. Mice and rats gnaw cable insulation in lofts and under floors, which can cause tripping, shocks or overheating. The damaged lengths have to be found and replaced, and the rodents dealt with too.
Is old rubber wiring dangerous?
Rubber insulation in older properties becomes brittle with age and can crumble when disturbed, leaving bare conductors. If it is still in use, rewiring those circuits is usually the safe answer rather than piecemeal repairs.
Will a wiring repair damage my walls?
Some making-good is likely where the cable runs in a solid wall. The area opened is kept as small as the repair allows, and the rest of the route is left alone wherever possible.
Does water damage mean the wiring has to be replaced?
Not always. Once the property has dried out, the affected circuits are tested; cables that test well can stay, while fittings and joints that got wet are often replaced.
Ready to talk about your electrical work?
Tell Joe what you need and where you are, and he will come back to you with a clear quote. Call, send a WhatsApp message, or use the quote form.