Faulty appliances
Damaged leads, worn insulation or internal faults can make the case of an appliance live.
Electric Shocks & Exposed Wiring in Cardiff
A shock from a switch, appliance or tap, or live wires left exposed, is never something to live with. Get medical help if anyone is hurt, keep clear and call us. We come out day or night.
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Shocks and exposed wiring
If something gave you a shock, it can do it again. Get it made safe.
Electric shocks from fittings, appliances or metalwork happen when something has become live that should not be: a damaged appliance, a broken fitting, a wiring fault or missing earthing and bonding. Exposed wires after DIY, building work, accidents or damage carry the same risk to anyone who touches them.
We isolate the danger, find out exactly why it happened and fix the cause, not just the symptom. That includes checking earthing, bonding and RCD protection, which are what should stop a fault from giving anyone a shock in the first place.
Call us if you notice:
- Shock from a switch or socket
- Tingle from taps or radiators
- Shock from an appliance
- Bare or damaged wires
- Broken or cracked fittings
- No RCD protection fitted
Common causes
Why people get electric shocks at home
We test properly to find the real cause, so the problem is fixed rather than patched.
Broken fittings
Cracked socket fronts, damaged switches and loose light fittings can expose live parts.
Missing earthing or bonding
Without proper earthing and bonding, a fault can make pipes, taps and metalwork live.
No RCD protection
Older installations without RCDs may not cut the power fast enough to prevent a serious shock.
DIY and damage
Wires left live after DIY, drilling through cables, and storm or accident damage are common causes.
Water and damp
Water lets current travel where it should not, making fittings and surfaces dangerous to touch.
Before we arrive
Stay safe until we arrive.
What to do right now about electric shocks and exposed wiring, while a qualified electrician is on the way to you.
Do not touch someone in contact
If a person is still touching the source, do not touch them. Switch off at the main switch first if you can do it safely.
Call 999 if anyone is hurt
If someone is unconscious, burned, struggling to breathe or has chest pain, call 999. Anyone who has had a shock should get medical advice.
Switch off the power
Turn off the main switch if it is safe, or at least the circuit and the appliance involved.
Stop using the appliance
Unplug the appliance once the power is off, and do not use it again until it has been checked.
Keep everyone away
Keep people and pets well clear of exposed wires. Do not try to tape or cover live wires yourself.
Call us to make it safe
Tell us what happened. We will isolate the danger and find out why it happened.
Warning signs
Bare wires, or a fitting that gave someone a shock?
Do not try to tape or cover live wires yourself. Switch off if it is safe, keep everyone away and call us. We will isolate it, find the cause and check your earthing and RCD protection.
Call 029 2209 0164How it works
How we deal with shocks and exposed wiring
- 1
You call
Tell us what happened. If anyone is hurt, call 999 first.
- 2
We isolate
The danger is isolated and exposed wiring made safe straight away.
- 3
We investigate
We test the circuit, earthing, bonding and RCD protection to find the real cause.
- 4
We certify
The fault is repaired, tested and certified, so it does not happen again.
Had a shock or found live wires?
Make it safe now: call a Cardiff electrician.
Why Cardiff Emergency Electricians
Professional standards, local service.
We are a Cardiff team, not a national call centre. The person you speak to knows the city, the housing stock and how to get to you quickly.
Certified & experiencedPart P registered electricians who work to BS 7671 on every job.
Genuinely 24/7Nights, weekends and bank holidays, with no answering machine.
Homes & businessesSolutions tailored to houses, flats, HMOs, shops and offices.
Safety firstTested, certified work you can show your insurer or letting agent.
Efficient & reliableOn time, tidy, and the fault fixed properly the first time.
Other emergency call-outs
More emergency electrical services
Whatever the problem, one call gets a qualified Cardiff electrician on the way, day or night.
Tripping fuse box & RCD faults
Trip switch keeps flicking off or will not reset? We find the faulty circuit or appliance and get your power back on safely.
Find out morePower cuts & no power
Whole house or a few circuits gone dead? We find out whether it is your installation or the network and get you back on.
Find out moreBurning smells & scorch marks
A hot, fishy or burning smell, or scorched fittings, can mean something is overheating. We trace it and make it safe.
Find out moreSparking sockets & switches
Sparks, crackling or a socket that is hot to touch? We replace damaged fittings and check the circuit behind them.
Find out moreFlickering or failed lighting
Lights flickering, buzzing or a whole circuit out? We find loose connections and failed fittings before they become something worse.
Find out moreWater in your electrics
Leaks into lights, sockets or the fuse box are dangerous. We isolate the affected circuits, test them and make them safe.
Find out moreBusiness power loss
Shops, offices, restaurants and landlords: we restore power, emergency lighting and critical circuits fast to keep you trading.
Find out moreNot sure what the problem is?
Call and describe what is happening. We will tell you what to do right now and get an electrician on the way.
029 2209 0164Areas we cover
Emergency electricians across Cardiff, Penarth & the Vale
From the city centre and Cardiff Bay out to Radyr, Creigiau and St Mellons, our electricians are based locally so help is never far away. Pick your area for local information. We also cover Penarth, Barry and the rest of the Vale of Glamorgan.
Check your area- Adamsdown CF24
- Birchgrove CF14
- Caerau CF5
- Canton CF11
- Cardiff Bay CF10
- Cardiff City Centre CF10
- Cathays CF24
- Creigiau CF15
- Cyncoed CF23
- Danescourt CF5
- Ely CF5
- Fairwater CF5
- Gabalfa CF14
- Grangetown CF11
- Heath CF14
- Lisvane CF14
- Llandaff CF5
- Llandaff North CF14
- Llanedeyrn CF23
- Llanishen CF14
- Llanrumney CF3
- Pentwyn CF23
- Pentyrch CF15
- Penylan CF23
- Pontcanna CF11
- Pontprennau CF23
- Radyr & Morganstown CF15
- Rhiwbina CF14
- Riverside CF11
- Roath CF24
- Rumney CF3
- Splott CF24
- St Fagans CF5
- St Mellons CF3
- Thornhill CF14
- Tongwynlais CF15
- Tremorfa CF24
- Trowbridge CF3
- Whitchurch CF14
FAQ
Your questions, answered
Common questions about electric shocks and exposed wiring. Still unsure? Call us and a qualified electrician will talk it through.
What should I do after getting an electric shock at home?
Stop using whatever caused it, switch off the power if it is safe and get medical advice, even if you feel fine. Call 999 if the shock was severe or there are burns, breathing problems or chest pain. Then call an electrician to find the cause.
Why did I get a tingle from my tap or radiator?
It can mean pipework or metalwork has become live, often due to a fault combined with poor or missing earthing and bonding. Treat it as urgent and call an electrician.
Can I tape up exposed wires myself?
No. The wires may be live, and taping them does not make them safe. Switch off the circuit if you can and keep clear until an electrician has isolated them.
Should my house have RCD protection?
Yes. RCDs cut the power very quickly when current leaks to earth, which greatly reduces the risk of a serious shock. Many older homes lack full RCD protection, and we can advise on upgrading.
Is my appliance safe to use again?
Not until it has been checked. Many shocks come from faulty appliances or leads. We can test the circuit and tell you whether the fault is in the appliance or the installation.
Get in touch
Need an electrician in Cardiff?
For emergencies, always call. For quotes and planned work, send us a message and we will ring you back.
24/7 emergency line 029 2209 0164