It may seem an unlikely cause of electrical problems but Mance Electrical staff have seen a number of cases, where an ant infestation has caused power faults for Launceston residents.
Ants seem to be attracted to power points and switches and when large numbers gather on the back of a power point it can be enough to trip a safety switch.
Often the tripping is intermittent which can make the fault harder to find, but the standard testing methods for earth leakage faults will eventually locate the problem.
The remedy is to replace the affected power point fitting and possibly spray the area with an insecticide surface spray to deter further infestation.
Earth leakage circuit breakers (safety switches) are very sensitive – they have to be to save your life. This means that sometimes very minor faults can cause your safety switch to trip and cut the power to your home.
Common causes of a tripping safety switch include faulty kettles, irons. hair dryers and fridges. (Uncommon causes include ants). Any appliance with an element or a motor could be the culprit.
Water in a power point or outside light is also a common cause of a tripped safety switch.
Sometimes, when the fault is caused by a plug-in appliance, we may be able to diagnose the problem over the phone and save you the cost of having an electrician attend.
If your safety switch trips occasionally or has tripped and won’t reset, please give us a call on 6331 4711.
