Socket stopped working. Now the next one along is not working.

leapyear

In my kitchen, a double socket (each has their own on/off switch) stopped working a week ago. The next socket along (singular, used for the washing machine) has stopped working today. I am scared this is a chain reaction and the next socket and then the next socket will stop working. Especially that the next socket is the oven/cooker. Please help. Is there anything I can do myself to fix the problem? I'm scared I will have to get an electrician to come to my house when our household should be self isolating for another 11 weeks. Why couldn't this problem happen some weeks ago?

Paula_Smith

Are there any more sockets that are working?
It is probably a loose connection inside the sockets, strange that they did not both fail at the same time.
Oven/cookers often are on a separate circuit in which case it should be ok - look at the fusebox to see if it is labelled separately.

Risteard

You need an Electrician. Obviously stay well out of their way when they are carrying out the work.

Le_Kirk

It is possible that the problem is a loose or disconnected cable inside the first socket.  Most sockets in a house are on a ring main, which means that a cable from the circuit or fuse board goes into a terminal in the first socket and a cable from that terminal goes to a terminal in the second socket and so on.  If the cable become loose or disconnected in a terminal in one socket it could affect the other sockets on that ring. 
If you are competent and confident, you could, with your power switched off via circuit breaker or fuse (or by turning off the whole house at the mains - bit over the top) remove the screws fixing the socket to the wall and pull it forward to check for loose/disconnected cables.  If you are the slightest bit unsure, you will have to try to find an electrician.  If you can get hold of a socket tester from B&Q, Wickes, Screwfix, Toolstation, you might be able to do some fault finding without the need to remove the socket from the wall.  See: -
https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-230-v-socket-tester/178677_BQ.prd
As to your second question - Murphy's Law strikes again!

Grenage

As suggested, it is most likely just loose connections.  Only check them yourself if you can isolate the power, have the means to confirm that the power has been isolated, and feel competent to do the check.  Sparkie if in doubt.

Heedtheadvice

Err, not quite the case Le Kirk, surely?

If a ring circuit (it might not be!) then power and earthing is in a ring going back to the feed point, thus feeding all sockets on the ringfrom two direcfions.

One fault would not necessarily cause loss of power at any socket as it is fed from two directions on the ring (unless it is tbe particular socket at fault) so there could be two faults (or more) on the ring circuit to stop one or more sockets working.

It could be both sockets are faulty too.

However fixing each individual socket (if they are faulty) might miss another fault on the ring where the sockets are fed from only one direction.

Far better to have a competent person find all faults and check the integrity of the ring. It could otherwise be that the ring gets overloaded......and that is not a good idea!!!!

leapyear

Thank you all. I don't have the skills or knowledge to attempt this myself. Would it be unwise to leave it and not get it fixed? I will only get an electrician in if I really have to. I am wondering what I can do about the washing machine. Because of the plumbing, the washing machine cable will not reach any other socket.

Risteard

leapyear said:

Would it be unwise to leave it and not get it fixed?

Very unwise and potentially dangerous. Get it sorted ASAP.

I appreciate that things are difficult because of the draconian legislation and the move towards a totalitarian state, but you must still address the issue.

TELLIT01

As you are self-isolating for another 11 weeks I assume you or somebody in your household is in a high risk group, and that is the reason for isolating rather than having a suspected Covid19 illness in the house.  If so call an electrician and explain the situation.  When they arrive ensure that all family members stay in another room until the electrician leaves.  As Risteard says, it is potentially dangerous and should not be left - certainly not for another 11 weeks.

FreeBear

If it is any consolation, the socket on the cooker switch will be linked together internally and both on the "cooker" fuse (or MCB) in the consumer unit (a.k.a. fuse board). At a push, you could run a good quality extension lead to the washing machine as long as it is not a washer/dryer. Do not leave it unattended, and if the extension lead or plug shows any signs of overheating, switch it off at the socket immediately.

Risteard

TELLIT01 said:

As you are self-isolating for another 11 weeks I assume you or somebody in your household is in a high risk group, and that is the reason for isolating rather than having a suspected Covid19 illness in the house.  If so call an electrician and explain the situation.  When they arrive ensure that all family members stay in another room until the electrician leaves.  As Risteard says, it is potentially dangerous and should not be left - certainly not for another 11 weeks.

Indeed. I should point out that if anyone in your household or the Electrician has COVID-19 symptoms then obviously the work should not proceed at this time.