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

leapyear

Yes, our household has high risk group. Would it be ok to not fix the fault, switch the electricity off at the mains and put back on when needed?

Le_Kirk

Heedtheadvice said:

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!!!!

Yes but you know what you are talking about, I was trying to explain to a non-expert.  Maybe I got my wires crossed!

TELLIT01

leapyear said:

Yes, our household has high risk group. Would it be ok to not fix the fault, switch the electricity off at the mains and put back on when needed?

Not really.  If there is a fault, the fault will be there every time you put the electricity back on.  You really do need to try to get it sorted.

shaun_from_Africa

Risteard said:

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.

Personally, even if someone in the household is showing symptoms, I would still suggest that the OP sees if they could get an electrician in to check it out after making sure that everything they would need to touch has been sanitised and everyone keeps well clear whilst the work is being carried out and only after advising the electrician of possibility that someone in the house may be infected.
The wiring fault could possibly be a fire risk and if so, I wouldn't want to leave it too long especially if the sockets in the kitchen are going to be used on a regular basis.

Risteard

Personally, even if someone in the household is showing symptoms, I would still suggest that the OP sees if they could get an electrician in to check it out after making sure that everything they would need to touch has been sanitised and everyone keeps well clear whilst the work is being carried out and only after advising the electrician of possibility that someone in the house may be infected.

I believe that official advice precludes entry where someone is displaying symptoms. At least in Ireland this appears to be the advice.

But it's complex because as you have alluded to (and indeed I mentioned earlier) there is a real electrical safety issue also.

Risk assessment is the key here.

But I don't believe anyone in the household has actual symptoms if I am reading it correctly.