--- title: "Fault finding cost in Poole — MX2 Electrical" description: "Fault finding prices in Poole — what the job involves, what moves the price, and what it costs town by town." canonical: "https://mx2-electrical-ltd.co.uk/costs/electrical-fault-finding" last_updated: "2026-08-25T12:53:09.068Z" --- # Fault finding cost in Poole — MX2 Electrical > Fault finding prices in Poole — what the job involves, what moves the price, and what it costs town by town. ## What MX2 Electrical charges £70 per hour — published up front and fixed once the property has been seen. ## What the price covers - Insulation resistance and continuity testing on affected circuits - Physical inspection of accessible switches, sockets and junction boxes - Consumer unit and protective device testing - Isolation of unsafe components to restore partial power safely - Minor rectifications achievable within the initial diagnostic time ### Priced separately - Supply-side issues originating from the regional electricity distributor network - Extensive plaster chasing or structural access works - Complete circuit rewires identified during testing ## Start with the symptom, not a guess Electrical faults present in various ways across domestic and commercial properties. We locate the root cause across Poole, Parkstone, Bournemouth and nearby areas. - **Persistent breaker tripping:** RCDs or circuit breakers that fail to reset often indicate degraded insulation or a short circuit in domestic wiring across older Victorian villas in Westbourne or modern builds in Canford Heath. - **Intermittent loss of power:** Sockets or light fittings that stop working unpredictably usually stem from loose terminations, thermal damage or moisture ingress in detached homes in Ferndown and Wareham. - **Burning smells or discolouration:** Scorched faceplates, buzzing consumer units or warm switches require immediate isolation and professional testing to prevent thermal damage to property wiring. ## What happens during the visit We follow a methodical diagnostic procedure to locate faults safely and clearly explain what is required. - **Gathering symptom history:** We ask about what was running when the trip occurred and inspect the consumer unit to identify the affected protective device. - **Instrument testing:** We disconnect loads and run dead and live instrument tests to trace short circuits, earth faults or low insulation resistance. - **Safe resolution or quotation:** Where a straightforward component failure is found, we repair it directly or make the circuit safe before outlining any larger remedial work. ## What you receive Every fault-finding visit concludes with clear information on your installation status and any necessary next steps. - **Evidence-led diagnosis:** A clear explanation of why the circuit failed, backed by calibrated meter readings rather than guesswork. - **A safe immediate position:** Any dangerous circuit or damaged fitting is safely isolated from the rest of your installation so unaffected areas remain usable. - **Repair or clear quote:** An immediate fix if achievable within the allocated visit, or an itemised quotation for required replacement parts and labour. - **Relevant test or certificate record:** Documented test results or minor works certification where required under BS 7671 standards for alterations completed. ## Fault finding price questions ### How much does fault finding cost in Poole? MX2 Electrical charges £70 per hour — the rate we quote from, confirmed on survey, not a lead-generation estimate. ### How much to change a socket front? Our rate for this work is £70 per hour. The price moves with access, the age and condition of the existing installation, and how much making good the job leaves behind — all of which we confirm before work starts. ### Can you tell me what is wrong before visiting my home? I need to connect test equipment directly to your circuits to trace the fault accurately. Visual symptoms like a tripping RCD can result from damaged cables, failing appliances or damp ingress, so on-site testing is necessary to confirm the exact source. ### Will you have to turn off the power to my whole house? I usually isolate only the specific circuit undergoing tests. However, brief full isolations are sometimes necessary when testing main switches or consumer unit busbars to ensure safe working conditions. ### Why does my circuit breaker trip again as soon as I flip it up? A breaker that trips instantly is responding to a direct short circuit, a dead earth fault or a heavy overload. Forcing the switch to stay up can damage the wiring and create a fire hazard, so it should be left switched off until tested. ### Do you carry spare parts for immediate repairs on the visit? Standard components such as common MCBs, RCBOs, backboxes, switches and socket faceplates are stocked in our vehicle, allowing straightforward replacements during the initial investigation. ### Why do prices differ between towns round here? Local housing stock is the main reason. Victorian and Edwardian houses and conversions Older or harder-to-access properties take longer, and that time is what a quote is mostly made of. - [Electrical safety questions answered](https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/safety-advice/your-questions-answered/): Independent advice from Electrical Safety First explaining common household electrical issues, danger signs and when to call a qualified electrician.