Emergency Complete Power Loss Repair Edinburgh
Total power outages affecting your home or business
Emergency Service Details
Understanding Complete Power Loss and Why It Requires Immediate Professional Attention
A complete loss of electrical power can be extremely disruptive and potentially dangerous. Whether affecting your entire property or specific circuits, power loss requires immediate professional diagnosis to identify the root cause and safely restore electricity. Common causes include tripped RCDs, overloaded circuits, faulty consumer units, damaged wiring, or external network issues. Never attempt repeated resets without professional assessment, as this can mask serious underlying faults and create additional safety hazards.
Common Symptoms & Signs
- Complete loss of electricity in all or part of your property
- No lights, appliances, or electrical devices working
- Digital clocks and devices showing incorrect time or reset
- Neighbours may or may not be affected (helps identify if it's your property or network)
- Trip switches or RCDs in the consumer unit may be in the "off" position
- Main switch may have tripped
- Possible burning smell or evidence of electrical fault
Common Causes
- Tripped RCD (Residual Current Device) due to earth fault
- Overloaded circuits from too many high-power appliances
- Faulty consumer unit or circuit breakers
- Damaged or deteriorated wiring causing short circuits
- Water ingress into electrical systems
- Faulty appliances causing circuit trips
- External network issues (Scottish Power or supplier fault)
- Storm damage to overhead or underground cables
What To Do Right Now - Immediate Safety Steps
- 1Check if neighbours are also affected - if yes, it's likely a network issue (contact Scottish Power on 105)
- 2If only your property is affected, locate your consumer unit/fuse box
- 3Check if any RCD switches or MCBs have tripped to the "off" position
- 4Do NOT attempt to reset switches multiple times
- 5Do NOT open the consumer unit cover or touch internal components
- 6Turn off and unplug all appliances to reduce load
- 7If you smell burning or see damage, turn off the main switch immediately if safe to do so
- 8Contact us immediately on 0131 3589935 for 24/7 emergency service
Specific Dangers & Risks
- Underlying electrical faults can cause fires even when power is off
- Repeated reset attempts can damage consumer unit components
- Earth faults causing power loss present electrocution risk
- Overloaded circuits can overheat wiring, causing fires in walls
- Loss of power to essential medical equipment or security systems
- Food spoilage in fridges and freezers during extended outages
- Carbon monoxide risk if backup heating sources used incorrectly
Why Complete Power Loss Is Extremely Dangerous - Do NOT Attempt DIY Repairs
Power loss often indicates serious electrical faults that pose fire and electrocution risks. Attempting DIY fixes can worsen the problem or create additional hazards.
If you smell burning, switch off power at the main switch immediately and call a qualified electrician. Do not attempt repairs yourself. Electrical work must be carried out by qualified, registered electricians under Part P Building Regulations. DIY electrical work is illegal, dangerous, and invalidates your home insurance.
How Our Qualified Electrician Fixes Complete Power Loss Safely & Properly
Our emergency electricians will systematically diagnose the cause of your power loss, safely restore electricity, and ensure all circuits meet current safety standards.
Our Step-by-Step Professional Process:
- 1Safe assessment of your consumer unit and electrical system
- 2Identification of tripped circuits and the root cause
- 3Testing of RCDs, MCBs, and earth fault protection
- 4Insulation resistance testing to identify damaged circuits
- 5Repair or replacement of faulty components
- 6Safe restoration of power with full testing
- 7Recommendations for any required upgrades or repairs
- 8Certification of all work completed
Frequently Asked Questions About Complete Power Loss
What should I do first if I lose all power?
First, check if your neighbours are also affected. If they are, it's likely a network issue - call Scottish Power on 105. If only your property is affected, check your consumer unit for tripped switches, but do NOT reset them multiple times. Call a qualified electrician immediately on 0131 3589935 for professional diagnosis.
How quickly can you restore my power?
We aim to arrive within 30-60 minutes for most Edinburgh areas (20-40 minutes from Fountainbridge). Many power loss issues can be diagnosed and resolved within 1-2 hours, though more complex faults may require additional work. We'll always restore safe power as quickly as possible.
Is it safe to keep resetting a tripped circuit breaker?
No. If a circuit breaker or RCD keeps tripping, it's protecting you from a dangerous fault. Repeated resets can damage the protective device and increase fire or shock risk. Switch it off, unplug all appliances, and call a qualified electrician immediately. Do not use that circuit until professionally inspected.
Will my food spoil if the power is off for several hours?
A full freezer will keep food frozen for approximately 48 hours if the door stays closed. A fridge will maintain safe temperatures for about 4 hours without power. We prioritise emergency power loss calls to minimise disruption and prevent food spoilage.
How much does emergency power restoration cost?
Emergency call-outs are charged at £125 for the first hour (out of hours) or £95 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm), then £85/£65 per hour thereafter (billed per 30 minutes). Most power loss issues are resolved within 1-2 hours. We provide transparent quotes before starting work.
Relevant Safety Regulations & Standards
All our emergency electrical work complies with current UK regulations and safety standards, including:
- BS 7671:2018 (18th Edition) IET Wiring Regulations
- Part P Building Regulations (Scotland)
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
Learn more about electrical safety:
Prevention Tips - How To Avoid Complete Power Loss Problems
- Schedule regular EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) inspections every 5-10 years
- Avoid overloading sockets with multiple high-power appliances
- Upgrade old consumer units to modern 18th Edition compliant RCD-protected units
- Address any flickering lights, burning smells, or sparking immediately
- Never use extension leads for permanent connections
- Keep your consumer unit area clear, dry, and accessible
- Test your RCD switches monthly using the test button
Transparent Pricing
Clear, upfront rates with no hidden charges
Standard Hours
Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm
(billed per 30 mins)
Out-of-Hours
Evenings/Weekends/Bank Holidays
(billed per 30 mins)
What's Included
- • All basic tools and testing equipment
- • Free quote for any parts needed
- • All work guaranteed
- • Work carried out to BS 7671 (18th Edition) standards
No hidden fees. We'll confirm any parts costs before work begins.
Need Emergency Help with Complete Power Loss?
Don't wait - electrical emergencies can be dangerous and get worse quickly. Call now for immediate professional assistance.
Call Emergency Line: 0131 3589935