Rewiring and Electrical Safety Audit

15 items · Home · Medium difficulty · 45 min

Quick home electrical safety audit to spot hazards and when to call an electrician.

• Locate and label the consumer unit (fuse box)

  Find the main switch, RCDs/GFCIs and any circuit labels before testing.

• Inspect the consumer unit for scorch marks, damp or loose wiring

  Look and smell for burn marks, corrosion, or water ingress.

• Test each RCD/GFCI breaker using its built-in test button

  Press 'Test' — the protected circuits should cut power; then reset.

• Verify socket RCD/GFCI operation with a plug-in tester

  Use a tester at multiple sockets to confirm trip/reset behavior.

• Visually inspect sockets and switches for cracks or heat marks

  Check faceplates, burn stains and secure mounting.

• Gently test plugs for loose contacts (unplug first)

  With power off, wiggle plugs to check for looseness or movement.

• Inspect extension leads and power strips for frayed cable or DIY repairs

  Discard or replace leads with exposed conductors or poor fixes.

• Count devices on each extension lead and compare with its rating

  Unplug excess loads; never daisy-chain multiple extension leads.

• Inspect portable appliances for damaged cords or exposed wiring

  Look for frays, missing earth pins, scorch marks or loose plugs.

• Tag appliances that need PAT testing and schedule it where required

  Record items needing formal PAT tests (workplace or high-risk devices).

• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; replace batteries and note dates

  Press each unit's test button; replace batteries yearly or as needed.

• Check for warm outlets, flickering lights, or breakers tripping under normal load

  These signs can indicate overloads or loose connections.

• Inspect visible wiring for DIY splices, exposed conductors or improper routing

  Do not touch exposed wires; document locations and condition.

• Record findings, label circuits and note dates for future audits

  Keep a short report with issues, corrective actions and test dates.

• Call a licensed electrician if you find red flags

  Red flags: burning smell, sparks, repeated breaker/RCD trips, exposed wiring or a damp consumer unit.

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