Everything suddenly dark? With this short checklist you quickly find the cause and know what to do next.
For an urgent problem, calling is the fastest way.
Call for a callout0494 37 68 68Suddenly nothing works anymore: no lights, no sockets, no heating that runs on electricity. If the power fails completely, you mainly want to know quickly whether you can do something about it or whether the problem lies outside your home.
This page gives you a clear checklist. That way you can determine in a few minutes whether it is down to the grid operator or your own installation, and when an urgent call-out is the right step.
Start outside your home. If the whole street is without power and the public lighting is out, it is probably a fault on the grid. If necessary, ask a neighbour to confirm. In that case you wait for the grid operator and you cannot fix anything yourself.
If you are the only one without power, go to your fuse box. Check whether the main switch, the residual current device or one of the circuit breakers has tripped. A single tripped switch immediately points you towards the cause.
If the problem is inside your home, the residual current device (RCD) is the most common cause of a complete outage: it switches off the entire installation when there is a leakage current. If it is in the down position, disconnect the appliances and try to switch it back on.
If the RCD stays on, the problem was with one of the appliances. If it trips again immediately, there is an earth leakage fault in the installation and you should have it inspected. A faulty main switch or a problem at the meter is also work for a qualified professional or the network operator.
Call for an urgent intervention if you cannot get the power restored, if the residual current device trips immediately every time, or if you notice a burning smell, heat or sparks at the consumer unit or the meter. In those cases, do not touch anything else.
If you are unsure whether the problem is on your side or on the grid and you cannot work it out, get in touch by phone. We will help you determine what is going on and, if necessary, come to the site quickly.
Is the whole neighbourhood dark? Then it is a grid outage and you wait for the network operator.
Has the main switch or residual current device tripped in the panel?
Unplug the appliances and try switching the residual current device back on.
If you smell or feel something at the panel or meter, stop touching anything and call.
Check whether the street and the neighbours are also without power.
Find the tripped main switch, residual current device or breaker.
Unplug the devices and switch the installation back on.
If it does not work or you smell something, call for an urgent intervention.
If the checklist does not get you any further or you do not trust the situation, call us for an urgent intervention. We will come to inspect your installation quickly and repair what we can.
