The Ten Most Common Electrical Faults Found In Spanish Properties

Buying a property in Spain can often come with the requirement to make certain reformations or repairs - especially if you are buying a property that has not been maintained or modernised in quite some time. Owners that move straight into such a property without making a thorough check of the electrical system can often be caught out at a later date and as such a thorough survey of the electrical system is always recommended.

It is also a good idea to have one if you are living in an ageing property that has not been checked over for some time - just because you don't have any problems at this moment in time, it doesn't mean that a problem may occur at some point in the future. Prevention is always less costly and inconvenient than an emergency repair!

Here are the ten most common faults found after undertaking an electrical survey :

1.) Power Surges - Electrical equipment and appliances damaged and burnt out by faulty builders supply, surges from sub-stations and lightning.

2.) Dangerous upgrades - Cables in Consumer Units badly burnt with melted insulation caused by too high rated Circuit Breakers being fitted. The CB is prevented from functioning properly by tripping out, causing damage to the installation and a risk of fire.

3.) Residual Current Device / Trip Switch not working - Avoid the risk of electric shock and ensure that all RCDs are functioning correctly. The user should test once a month. A qualified Electrician should test every 10 years.

4.) Air conditioning units overloading circuits - A/C units not wired into the mains supply correctly, causing tripping-out problem.

5.) Light fittings not wired correctly - Fittings not earthed, sometimes the earth cable being deliberately cut off, causing a risk of electric shock when changing the bulb. Cables not adequately protected from the heat of the light source, eventually causing the insulation to melt exposing a bare copper live wire.

6.) Water and damp getting into an installation - Use of cheap and incorrect materials not designed for weatherproof conditions.

7.) Wrong size cable used when fitting extra sockets - Cable not sufficient to handle powerful appliances, resulting in damage and burnt out wiring.

8.) Reversed Polarity - The live and the neutral on the main supply cable are connected the opposite way round.

9.) Bad Earthing - When an installation is inadequately earthed it greatly increases the risk of a serious electric shock.

10.) Obsolete Socket Outlets - Many sockets in old properties do not provide an earth connection. If the live cable accidentally comes loose and touches the metal case of an appliance, the electricity will travel through you rather than to earth.

More information on this and other associated services can be found by visiting the website of Sparkes Electrical Services by clicking here.