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uk Home & property emergencies partial power outage • power out in one room • some lights work some dont • sockets not working but breakers on • half the house has no power • breaker panel looks normal • consumer unit looks normal • rcd not tripped but no power • lights out but neighbours fine • lost power to circuits • intermittent power in house • power cut only part of home • no electricity in some outlets • fuse box switches all up • breaker wont trip but no power • power lost after using appliance • kitchen sockets stopped working • garage sockets stopped working

What to do if…
you lose power in part of your home and the breaker panel looks normal

Short answer

Treat this as a potential electrical fault. Stop using the affected area, do one careful reset/check of relevant switches (only if safe), and if power doesn’t return or anything seems unsafe, call 105 (your network operator) or your landlord/electrician.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t remove the cover of the consumer unit, meter box, or touch any service cables (leave internal parts to professionals).
  • Don’t keep “trying it again” by repeatedly switching breakers/RCDs on and off.
  • Don’t ignore warning signs like burning smells, buzzing/crackling, warmth at sockets, scorch marks, or worsening flicker.
  • Don’t use candles as your main lighting if you can avoid it (use torches instead).
  • Don’t run any fuel-burning generator or BBQ indoors or in a garage (carbon monoxide risk).

What to do now

  1. Pause and scan for danger signs (30 seconds). If you smell burning, hear buzzing/crackling from a socket/consumer unit, see smoke/sparks, or a socket faceplate is hot:
    • If safe, switch OFF power at the main switch in the consumer unit (don’t touch anything that looks damaged).
    • Call 999 if there’s fire/smoke or immediate danger.
  2. Work out whether it’s only you or the street. Check one light/appliance in a different part of your home, and (if easy) ask a neighbour or check street lighting.
  3. Reduce load before you reset anything. Unplug sensitive electronics in the affected area (TVs, computers) and switch off high-load appliances that might be on that circuit (kettle, microwave, heater).
  4. Do one careful “not-obvious” consumer unit check. A breaker/RCBO can look “on” but be tripped internally.
    • Look for any switch slightly out of line.
    • For the breaker/RCBO that likely feeds the dead area: push it firmly to OFF, then back to ON once.
  5. Check for any local RCD “reset” device feeding the dead sockets. In some homes, sockets (especially garage, outdoor, kitchen, or outbuildings) may be fed via a separate device such as an RCD spur / fused spur with reset, an RCD unit near the garage/outdoor supply, or a plug-in RCD adapter. If you find a Reset button connected to the affected sockets, press Reset once.
  6. Avoid pressing “TEST” buttons right now. If you see a TEST/T button (on an RCD/RCBO), don’t start testing during the outage—testing can deliberately cut power to confirm protection. Focus on identifying anything tripped and doing the single reset above; you can test later once things are stable.
  7. If power is still out in part of the home, report it as a fault.
    • Call 105 (free) to reach your local electricity distribution network operator (DNO) and report a partial outage, especially if you have a “half the house” pattern or suspect a supply fault.
    • If you rent: tell your landlord/agent promptly and say you suspect an electrical fault (this is usually not something your electricity supplier fixes).
  8. Keep the affected circuit “quiet” until it’s resolved. Leave non-essential items unplugged/switches off in the affected rooms so nothing suddenly re-energises under load.
  9. If someone relies on powered medical equipment, move to the safest powered area of the home and arrange backup help now (family/friend/carer). If you cannot keep essential equipment powered, call 999 for urgent medical need.

What can wait

  • You do not need to diagnose the cause (failed circuit, loose connection, damaged socket, etc.) right now.
  • You do not need to open outlets, remove faceplates, or “trace” wiring.
  • You do not need to decide on repairs or get quotes until power is stable and the fault is identified.

Important reassurance

Partial power loss with a “normal-looking” consumer unit can happen and doesn’t automatically mean something catastrophic—but it can indicate a fault that’s safer to treat seriously. One calm reset pass and then contacting the right service is a solid, safe approach.

Scope note

This is first steps only to stabilise the situation and avoid dangerous actions. A qualified electrician or your network operator may be needed to locate and fix the underlying fault.

Important note

This is general information, not professional electrical advice. If you notice heat, burning smells, smoke, sparks, or any risk of fire or shock, prioritise safety and emergency help. When in doubt, stop using the affected area and get a qualified professional.

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