Heavy Rain and Your Electrics: What Homeowners in Bournemouth, Ferndown and Northbourne Need to Know!

Whether it’s a shed, garage or outdoor power supply, water and electricity never mix safely.

Here’s what you need to know about spotting electrical problems, keeping your home safe after bad weather.

Common Electrical Issues After Heavy Rain

🌧️ Outdoor sockets and lighting

Garden lights, sockets and decorative features are exposed to the elements. If their weatherproofing fails, rainwater can cause flickering lights, short circuits or loss of power.

🌧️ Leaks into sheds and garages

Many sheds and outbuildings aren’t designed to be completely watertight. When water seeps through, it can reach sockets, electrical appliances or extension leads stored inside. Even small amounts of damp can lead to dangerous faults

🌧️ Tripping electrics indoors

If your home’s consumer unit (fuse board) keeps tripping after heavy rain, it could be a sign of earth leakage. This happens when water reaches live electrical parts, causing electricity to “leak” to earth. The RCD safety switch cuts off the power to protect you, but the problem needs to be investigated as urgent.

What is Earth Leakage?

Earth leakage might sound  a bit technical, but it simply means that electricity is escaping somewhere it really shouldn’t – usually because water has created a pathway.

Modern homes in Bournemouth, Ferndown and Northbourne are fitted with RCD protection (a safety device in the consumer unit) that detects even tiny leaks of current and instantly shuts down the power to prevent electric shock.

If your electrics keep tripping after rain, that’s your home’s consumer unit safety system doing its job.

But it also means something needs fixing!

Why It’s Important Not to Ignore the Signs

Some homeowners think that resetting the trip switch is enough, but if the underlying issue isn’t sorted, the danger remains.

Ignoring the issue could mean:

⚠️Fire risk from overheated or damaged wiring

⚠️Electric shock risk if damp appliances or sockets are used

⚠️Unreliable power with circuits constantly shutting off

Getting the fault checked quickly by an electrician is the safest option.

How to Keep Your Home and Garden Electrics Safe

Here are a few tips to reduce the risks when the rain sets in:

✅ Check sheds and garages for leaks – seal any gaps and keep electrical items off the floor.

✅ Use proper outdoor-rated sockets and lights – avoid running indoor extension leads outside.

✅ Inspect outdoor electrics regularly – look for cracked casings or broken seals.

✅ Call a qualified registered electrician such as Electrisafe  if your electrics keep tripping or you spot signs of damp.

Local, Reliable Electrician in Bournemouth

At Electrisafe, we’ve helped many local residents stay safe after heavy rain has affected their electrics.

As your local NICEIC-approved electrician covering Ferndown, Northbourne and Bournemouth, we can:

✅Make outdoor electrics safe and weather-resistant

✅Find and fix the cause of any earth leakage

✅Replace or repair any damaged sockets, circuits or lights.

✅Carry out electrical safety checks for peace of mind

Need Help With Your Electrics After Heavy Rain?

If you’ve noticed flickering lights, damp around any of your sockets inside or outdoor ones, or your electrics are tripping especially after a heavy rain downpour, don’t ignore it.

Our friendly, professional electrical team are here to help keep your home electrically safe.

Call Electrisafe  on (01202) 580525 to arrange a free quote  or click on our fast efficient contact form