Electricity Faults in the Home

Faults with electricity can take a couple of forms but any fault can kill, that is why you should only attempt repairs and installations if you are properly trained and qualified.

In the home a fault will usually reveal itself by a fuse or circuit breaker tripping in the main distribution panel.  If you are always replacing blown light bulbs it might be worth getting an electrician to check the fitting, a loose wire can cause arcing and surges and that could even lead to a fire.  Fuses are design to trip when there is a problem.  It is a sign that there is a problem somewhere on the system, and they are there for your safety.  It is vital to ensure that you use circuit breakers or fuses of the correct rating, it can be highly dangerous to replace a fuse with a higher rated fuse, simply to prevent it blowing.

You should know where your main distribution panel of fuse box is located.  If there is a major problem with your wiring you can instantly make the situation safe by throwing the mains switch on the panel to OFF.  It is then possible to safely tighten any loose fittings, check for fraying or, if qualified, replace sockets or light fittings.
It is important to know that a plumbing fault where there is water leakage can lead to an electrical fault.  Water and electricity are not good bed fellows; you can get a nasty shock from a wet wall, if water leaks into a socket or light switch.