If you wake in the middle of the night to the faint smell of burning but can’t locate its source, don’t, whatever you do, dismiss it and go back to sleep. Unusual burning odours, unexpected power outages or any electrical irregularities such as sparking outlets or flickering lights are warning signals that something is wrong and should be checked out.
These warning signs may indicate serious electrical faults that pose significant fire risks to your property and to your safety. If you’re uncertain as to whether you have an electrical problem, don’t hesitate to call us. When you reach out, you’ll speak directly with a qualified electrician who can help you identify the issue at no cost.
The stories shared below demonstrate how this approach has saved our customers both time and money by addressing problems promptly.
From malfunctioning switchboards to rodent-related disruptions, emergency responses often highlight some of the toughest challenges electrician’s encounter. Although not every emergency involves floodwaters or dramatic rescues, they typically demand the same level of quick thinking and creative problem-solving to avert potential disasters.
The hidden danger within your walls
The period between Christmas and New Year typically sees fewer emergency callouts because most people are on holiday. Nevertheless, our team remains on-call because we know that electrical emergencies don’t respect the holiday calendar. During what initially appeared to be a quiet New Year’s Eve afternoon, our on-call electrician received an urgent call from worried homeowners who had lost power and noticed a concerning burning smell.
Upon first inspection, the situation presented a puzzling scenario.
“We went and had a look, and it was strange because all the fuses were still live,” said Nick from B W Electrical, “Counties Energy had been called with no issues reported, so we had to investigate further.”
The team began methodically tracing the fault, suspecting an issue with the mains cable, as no power entered the house. Their thorough investigation led to a concerning discovery.
“We traced that cable and found there was a fault inside the wall. We had to start cutting it open and found the cable was still live and arcing. It had been smouldering away inside the wall for most of the night. The wood was charred and on fire,” he explained.
“Luckily, we could get in there, stop the fire, re-run a new mains cable, join it in, reline it, and they had power again.” said Nick.
Nature’s intervention – coordinated emergency response
When severe weather strikes, it often tests the resilience of electrical infrastructure. A recent Sunday morning emergency call mobilised our team across B W Henderson and French Electrical (French Group) to address a dangerous situation – a large tree branch had collapsed across power lines in a residential neighbourhood, creating an immediate hazard.
The French Group’s collaborative approach proved invaluable. While infrastructure specialists from Vector addressed the main street cabling, our French Electrical and BW Henderson teams focused on safely reconnecting the affected property – a heritage wooden villa requiring particularly careful handling.
This complex operation involved multiple critical steps – isolating the property’s switchboard to prevent power surge damage, conducting thorough safety assessments before reconnecting the main cable, and performing rigorous testing to verify system integrity.
Teamwork in these situations isn’t about efficiency – it’s also about ensuring safety while getting residents back normal as quickly as possible. Every one of our team members understands their role within the broader response.
The dangers of amateur electrical modifications
Home improvement enthusiasm sometimes ventures into areas best left to qualified professionals! During a recent emergency callout for a non-functioning hot water cylinder, our team detected the unmistakable smell of burning electrical components but initially struggled to locate its precise source.
Careful investigation revealed that a previous occupant had moved the hot water cylinder from an upper floor to ground level – but had (illegally) left the isolating switch in its original roof space position. When the cylinder element failed and burned out, the illegally positioned isolator switch also melted under electrical load, creating dual fire hazards within the property.
This scenario perfectly illustrates why the positioning of safety components is specified in electrical regulations. The isolator must be next to the appliance it controls, allowing immediate access during emergencies. Our team promptly installed a replacement hot water system with correctly positioned safety controls, making safe the compromised roof space wiring that had nearly triggered a house fire.
Unwelcome guests – rodents and electrical systems
For professional electricians, encounters with wildlife – particularly rodents – represent a surprisingly common aspect of emergency response work. These small creatures frequently seek the warmth and shelter of household electrical systems, inadvertently causing significant damage by gnawing through wiring.
“We often find that mice like to get behind ovens because it’s nice and warm,” explains Chris French, owner of B W Henderson, recounting numerous cases where routine oven repairs have revealed unwelcome surprises. “You’ll pull open the back of an oven and find a dead mouse in there. It’s just part of the job.”
One particularly memorable callout involved some homeowners who were baffled by their fridge repeatedly tripping the circuit device – a sure sign that something wasn’t right. After checking the obvious points of failure at the power outlet, our electrician headed into the roof space to trace the cable.
He turned the power off and followed the wire down the wall as far as possible. When he gently pulled on the cable, it just disintegrated in his hands. A mouse had been busy in the cavity, methodically chewing through the insulation and wiring. Without the protection of the circuit device, this kind of damage could easily have led to a fire within the walls.
After identifying the cause of the problem, we got to work replacing the damaged wiring. The chewed cable was removed, and new wiring was installed. To prevent future damage, we advised the homeowners to seal entry points and implement pest control measures.
With the repairs complete, we tested the circuit before restoring power. The fridge was back up and running safely with no more tripping.
Professional readiness ensures safety
Our emergency electrical response capability operates continuously, ensuring qualified professionals remain available regardless of when crises emerge. From failing appliances to complete power loss, our team addresses a wide range of urgent situations with prompt, effective solutions.
When you contact BW Henderson during an emergency, you speak directly with a qualified electrician capable of assessing your situation’s severity and coordinating an appropriate response, regardless of timing or complexity.
Contact us today to discover how our professional emergency electrical services provide peace of mind through immediate, expert intervention when electrical systems falter.