Help - since August the fuse in the kitchen keeps tripping - at least once a fortnight but usually once a week. we have had two electrians around but neither has found the fault - but they have cost us more than £300 so far.
The only thing which is common with the fuse tripping is that it invariably happens at night - usually 30 to 60 minutes after we have gone to bed (about midnight) - only once has it happened in the evening when we were both still downstairs.
It has blown when we were on holiday and the house was empty and all the plugs bar the fridge/freezer disconnected.
It is not associated with any specific appliance. We moved the fridge/freezer to another circuit but the kitchen fuse still tripped. We continue to use all the other appliances normally without any problems (washing machine, bread-maker, kettle, microwave, dish-washer (v.light use) etc)
It is not associated with weather - as it has not tripped when the weather has been wet and windy outside.
The kitchen is new - less than 10 years old and was completely re-wired when installed. The main circuit board is less than 12 years old.
There is no evidence of rodent droppings in the kitchen.
I found and fixed a slow water leak to the dish-washer which reduced the frequency with which the fuse tripped - but it has still continued.
All the plugs on the circuit have been inspected and do not show any sign of damage. There is one plug mounted on the kitchen tiles which has shifted a few millimeters showing a dark gap on one side and underneath - this has been inspected by both electricians and re-wired and they have said it is not the source of the problem.
We have had no major work done in the house for over a year - the only stuff I have done is fit a new plug to the upstairs ring-main circuit. The neighbours have also extended their house which required some ground-work (finished in Spring last year)
When the fuse goes it make a distinctive muffled bang sound.
Last night, when the fuse went it appears that it caused a short power-cut because it set our burglar alarm off and caused the cooker clock to re-set itself (cooker is on a different circuit and last re-set when we had a power cut five years ago).
Obviously I am now getting extremely worried, least of all because I do not want any more incidents waking up the neighbours.
Any ideas what the matter be ?
Thanks for all your advice
Rubber Duck Boy
The only thing which is common with the fuse tripping is that it invariably happens at night - usually 30 to 60 minutes after we have gone to bed (about midnight) - only once has it happened in the evening when we were both still downstairs.
It has blown when we were on holiday and the house was empty and all the plugs bar the fridge/freezer disconnected.
It is not associated with any specific appliance. We moved the fridge/freezer to another circuit but the kitchen fuse still tripped. We continue to use all the other appliances normally without any problems (washing machine, bread-maker, kettle, microwave, dish-washer (v.light use) etc)
It is not associated with weather - as it has not tripped when the weather has been wet and windy outside.
The kitchen is new - less than 10 years old and was completely re-wired when installed. The main circuit board is less than 12 years old.
There is no evidence of rodent droppings in the kitchen.
I found and fixed a slow water leak to the dish-washer which reduced the frequency with which the fuse tripped - but it has still continued.
All the plugs on the circuit have been inspected and do not show any sign of damage. There is one plug mounted on the kitchen tiles which has shifted a few millimeters showing a dark gap on one side and underneath - this has been inspected by both electricians and re-wired and they have said it is not the source of the problem.
We have had no major work done in the house for over a year - the only stuff I have done is fit a new plug to the upstairs ring-main circuit. The neighbours have also extended their house which required some ground-work (finished in Spring last year)
When the fuse goes it make a distinctive muffled bang sound.
Last night, when the fuse went it appears that it caused a short power-cut because it set our burglar alarm off and caused the cooker clock to re-set itself (cooker is on a different circuit and last re-set when we had a power cut five years ago).
Obviously I am now getting extremely worried, least of all because I do not want any more incidents waking up the neighbours.
Any ideas what the matter be ?
Thanks for all your advice
Rubber Duck Boy