22:24 13-12-2025

Home electrical safety checklist: outlets, panel, RCDs

Generated by DALL·E

Room-by-room home electrical safety checklist: outlets, switches, lighting, wiring, load and panel. See when to add RCD protection and call an electrician.

Take a systematic walk through your home and give the electrics a calm, careful once-over. Room by room, start with the essentials below.

Outlets: are they safe?

Check every outlet in turn and watch for the following.

• A loose faceplate or housing — a sign of damaged mounting or weakened contacts.
• A plug that wobbles or slips out — poor contact; the outlet should be replaced.
• A warm surface after use — a risk of overheating.
• Sparks when you plug in — call an electrician immediately.
• Soot marks or yellowed plastic — indicators of aged wiring.

Additionally:

• Do not daisy-chain extension cords or power strips.
• In bathrooms and kitchens, look for moisture protection rated IP44–IP55.

Switches: do they work consistently?

Test every switch in the home. Warning signs include:

• The rocker sticks or needs excessive force.
• Crackling sounds from inside the housing.
• Light flickers during a normal press.

These symptoms point to poor contact or a worn internal mechanism.

Electrical panel: the heart of the home

Open the panel cover and make sure everything looks in order. Check for:

• Clearly labeled breakers (lighting, kitchen, air conditioner, water heater, etc.).
• No odor of melted plastic.
• No noticeable heating on a breaker’s body.
• An RCD or RCBO protecting wet zones (bathroom, kitchen).
• If there is no RCD, it’s the first upgrade to consider for safety.

Lighting fixtures: match the wattage

For each fixture, check the marking inside.

Important:

• If it says "MAX 60W," do not install a 75W or 100W bulb.
• With LED lamps, make sure the driver isn’t overheating.
• E27 and E14 sockets should show no soot or cracks.

Wiring: condition and age

No need to open walls — a surface-level assessment is enough.

Signs of outdated wiring:

• Aluminum conductors (common in buildings from the 1960s–1980s).
• No grounding (outlets with only two holes).
• Breakers often trip when appliances are switched on.
• Lights dim when a powerful device is running.

If two or more signs show up, consult a professional.

Household load: how safe is it?

Make a simple list:

• Refrigerator
• Washing machine
• Water heater
• Air conditioner
• Kettle / microwave / iron
• Space heater
• Electric stove

If several high-draw appliances share one circuit, the breaker will be under constant strain.

Home electrical safety red flags

If any of the following are present, a check is needed:

• An outlet gets hot.
• A burning smell is noticeable.
• Sparking anywhere.
• Lights flicker for no clear reason.
• Extension cords are chained together.
• Appliances shut off on their own or brightness jumps.
• The washing machine tingles when touched with a damp hand (current leakage).

What every home should have

• RCD or RCBO
• Fire extinguisher (CO₂ or powder)
• Working extension cords or power strips with overload protection
• Spare breakers (for the panel)
• A list of emergency phone numbers

Bottom line: when do you need an electrician?

Call a professional if:

• a breaker trips regularly;
• outlets or switches heat up;
• a burning smell appears even once;
• appliances frequently shut off without a clear reason;
• the home is 25–30 years old and the wiring has never been replaced.