IN THIS ARTICLE
Most electrical problems in Auckland homes fall into a handful of recognisable patterns. John Graham, Certified Master Electrician at Northern Lights Lighting and Electrical, explains what they usually mean.
Lights that flicker or dim
Occasional flickering when a large appliance switches on — a heat pump, washing machine, or microwave — is normal. It’s caused by the momentary draw of current and usually isn’t a concern.
Persistent flickering, flickering that happens across multiple rooms, or dimming that occurs randomly without an obvious cause points to a wiring fault. Loose connections in ageing wiring create resistance that shows up as flickering. In older Auckland homes with VIR or TRS cabling, this is a common early warning sign.
What to do: If it’s isolated to one room or circuit, note when it happens and call an electrician for an assessment. Don’t ignore persistent flickering — loose connections are a leading cause of electrical fires.
Circuit breakers that keep tripping
A breaker that trips after you’ve overloaded a circuit — running a heater, hairdryer, and microwave on the same circuit simultaneously — is doing exactly what it’s designed to do. Unplug some appliances and reset it.
A breaker that trips with normal loads, or that you need to reset more than once a month, is telling you something is wrong — either the wiring feeding that circuit has deteriorated, or the circuit is undersized for the load it’s carrying.
What to do: Note which circuit it is and what’s on it. If it trips with minimal load, call an electrician.
Burning smell or discolouration around outlets
Any burning smell near a power point or switch, or any brown or black discolouration around an outlet — even faint — should be treated as urgent. This indicates heat buildup from a loose or deteriorating connection, which is a direct fire risk.
What to do: Turn off the circuit at the switchboard immediately. Do not use that outlet. Call an electrician before restoring power to it.
RCD or safety switch that keeps tripping
An RCD that trips occasionally is doing its job. One that trips repeatedly is detecting a recurring fault.
The most common cause is a faulty appliance. Unplug everything on the affected circuit, reset the RCD, then plug appliances back in one at a time. If it trips with everything unplugged, the fault is in the wiring itself — call an electrician.
Outlets that feel warm or are loose in the wall
A warm outlet indicates current is generating heat somewhere it shouldn’t be. A loose outlet that moves when you plug something in has physical damage to its mounting or wiring connections. Both need attention from a licensed electrician.
Buzzing or humming from switches or the switchboard
A faint hum from a dimmer switch running LEDs it wasn’t designed for is common and usually fixed by replacing the dimmer with an LED-compatible model. Buzzing from a standard switch, or any sound from the switchboard itself, needs an electrician.
Common questions
How do I know if my wiring is safe?
The only way to know for certain is an inspection by a licensed electrician. Auckland homes built before the 1970s are particularly worth having checked if they haven’t been inspected in the last decade.
Is it normal for my switchboard to make a ticking sound?
No. Any unusual sounds from a switchboard — ticking, buzzing, or crackling — warrant an immediate call to an electrician.
Can old wiring cause a house fire without any warning signs?
Yes. Deteriorating wiring can arc inside walls without visible signs. This is why periodic electrical inspections matter, particularly in older homes.
Noticed something unusual with your electrics?
