Electrician for Faults & Repairs in Crete

Emergency electrician in Crete for power cuts, tripping RCDs, burnt sockets and electrical faults

Electrical faults are stressful, and some of them are dangerous. The lights go out halfway through dinner, the RCD trips every time the A/C starts, or there is a smell of hot plastic near a socket. In Crete the usual causes are moisture in outdoor sockets and lights, connections that corrode in the salty sea air, circuits that are overloaded because the A/C, the water heater and the oven all share one line, and DIY or half-finished installations from earlier owners.

I trace faults step by step instead of guessing. I start at the fuse box, isolate circuits one by one, test the cables and connections, and narrow the problem down to one room, one fitting or one appliance. Then I repair it properly to European safety standards and explain in plain language what was wrong, so you know it will not come back next week.

I am a Belgian-certified electrician, also a plumber and HVAC technician, and I live in Hersonissos. For no power at all, sparking or a burning smell, I come out as an emergency electrician, day and night, in Hersonissos, Malia, Heraklion and the villages around. Less urgent faults, like a dead socket or a light that flickers, we plan at a time that suits you, also when you are abroad.

Electrical faults I repair

Power cuts

No power in part or all of the house: I find out whether it is the grid, the main switch or a fault in your own installation.

Tripping RCDs and breakers

An RCD or breaker that keeps tripping always has a reason. I trace the circuit or appliance that causes it and repair it.

Burnt or dead sockets

Loose, scorched or dead sockets and switches replaced, and the connections behind them checked so they do not overheat again.

Flickering lights

Flickering, buzzing or dead lights caused by loose connections, worn switches or dimmers that do not suit LED. See also lighting.

Faults after rain

Outdoor sockets, garden lights and pumps that trip the power when it rains, resealed or replaced with outdoor-rated material.

Safety checks

An inspection of the electrics before you buy, rent out or start renovating a property, with an honest report of what needs attention.

Don't see your job in this list? Contact me with your question: if it is in or around the house, I can most likely help.

What your fuse box is telling you

How and when the power goes off is a strong clue. These are the most common patterns and what they usually mean.

What happens	Likely cause	What to do now
RCD trips when it rains	Water in an outdoor socket, light or junction box	Leave the outdoor circuits off and call me when it is dry
Breaker trips when the A/C or oven starts	An overloaded circuit or a fault in that appliance	Do not run heavy appliances together on that circuit
RCD trips at random, also at night	A fault in an appliance such as a water heater or fridge	Unplug appliances one by one to see if it stops
RCD will not reset at all	A permanent earth fault somewhere in the installation	Switch all breakers off, reset the RCD, then switch them on one by one
Socket or switch feels warm or smells	A loose or overheated connection	Switch that circuit off at the fuse box and do not use it
Whole street without power	An outage on the grid of HEDNO	Nothing to repair in your house: report it to the network operator

Common causes of electrical faults in Cretan homes

Most faults I am called for come back to the same few causes. Knowing them helps you prevent the next one:

Salty, humid air near the coast that corrodes connections in sockets, fittings and junction boxes
Outdoor sockets and lights that are not rated for rain, sun and wind
Too many heavy appliances on one circuit, especially A/C, water heaters and ovens
Old installations without earthing, or with an old fuse box that has no RCD
Extensions and DIY work by earlier owners, with cables joined behind plaster
Appliances with a hidden fault, such as a water heater element that leaks to earth

How I find a fault, step by step

I always start with questions: when did it start, what was switched on, did it rain, has anyone worked on the house? Often that already points in the right direction. Then I go to the fuse box and isolate circuits one by one until I know which one is causing the problem.

On that circuit I test the cables, the insulation and every connection, and I disconnect appliances to see whether the fault is in the wiring or in a device. Once I have found it, I repair it properly: a new socket with sound connections, a junction box replaced with a sealed one, a damaged cable section renewed. I do not simply swap the RCD or put in a bigger breaker, because that hides the problem instead of solving it.

Before I leave I test the whole circuit again, and I tell you what I found and what I would keep an eye on.

Repair now or upgrade later?

Many faults are a one-off repair. But sometimes a fault is a sign that the installation itself has reached the end of its life. I give you an honest view:

A repair is enough when

The fault is in one socket, light or appliance
The fuse box has RCD protection and is in good shape
The cables are earthed and in good condition
It is the first fault in a long time

Time to upgrade when

The fuse box has old fuses and no RCD
Faults keep coming back in different places
Cables are old, brittle or without earth
You add A/C, a heat pump or an EV charger

In that case a fuse box upgrade or a partial rewiring is often the safer and, in the long run, cheaper choice.

Prevent the next fault: combine it with

A modern fuse box

If the fault came from an old fuse box without RCD protection, replacing it is the most effective safety step you can take. Every circuit gets its own protection and a clear label.

RCD protection against electric shock
Separate circuits for heavy appliances
Surge protection where useful
Clearly labelled breakers

More about Fuse Box Upgrades

Regular electrical checks

For rentals and holiday homes, a yearly check of outdoor sockets, lights and the fuse box catches most faults before guests notice them. I send owners abroad photos and a short report.

RCD test and fuse box check
Outdoor sockets and lights resealed
Loose connections tightened
Combined with plumbing and A/C checks

More about Holiday Home & Villa Maintenance

Electrical Fault Finding & Repairs Near You

Available across Heraklion and Lasithi, from Agios Nikolaos to near Rethymno.

Hersonissos Analipsi & Anissaras Malia Stalis Gouves & Gournes Mochos & Avdou Kastelli (Pediada) Heraklion Knossos & Archanes Arkalochori Gazi & Ammoudara Agia Pelagia & Lygaria Fodele Moires Tympaki & Kokkinos Pyrgos Sissi & Milatos Neapoli Agios Nikolaos Lasithi Plateau Elounda & Plaka Kritsa Istron & Kalo Chorio Pachia Ammos & Kavousi Ierapetra Anogia Bali Perama & Mylopotamos Panormo Margarites

Frequently Asked Questions

The whole house has no power. What should I check first?

Check whether the neighbours have power. If they do not, it is an outage on the grid and a matter for the network operator HEDNO. If they do, look at your fuse box: a tripped main switch or RCD means there is a fault in your installation, and you can call me.

Why does my RCD keep tripping?

An RCD trips when current leaks to earth. Common causes are water in an outdoor socket or light, a faulty appliance such as a water heater or washing machine, or damaged cables. Switching circuits and appliances off one by one often shows where it is. I find and repair the cause.

I smell burning near a socket. What should I do?

Switch off that circuit at the fuse box immediately, do not use the socket and call me. An overheated connection is a real fire risk, so this is one of the faults I treat as an emergency.

Do you come out at night for electrical faults?

Yes, for real emergencies such as no power at all, sparking, a burning smell or water near electrics. For a dead socket or a light that does not work, we plan a visit during the day.

Why do my lights flicker?

Often a loose connection, a worn switch or dimmer, or an LED bulb that does not suit the dimmer. Loose connections can get hot, so it is worth having it checked rather than just changing the bulb.

How much does an electrician cost to find and repair a fault?

It depends on how quickly the fault can be traced and what the repair involves. I tell you what I expect before I start and agree a fixed price for the repair once I know what is wrong.

Can you check the electrics of a house I want to buy or rent out?

Yes. I inspect the fuse box, earthing, sockets, outdoor circuits and the main appliances, and give you an honest report of what needs attention and what can wait.

Do you repair electrical faults in Hersonissos, Malia and Agios Nikolaos?

Yes. I live in Hersonissos and repair electrical faults in Hersonissos, Malia, Gouves, Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda and the villages in between, with emergency call-outs in the area around Hersonissos day and night.

Related Services

Fuse Box UpgradesModern distribution boards with RCD protection. Rewiring & New InstallationsFull or partial rewiring, new circuits, sockets and switches. Indoor & Outdoor LightingLED, garden, terrace, pool and security lighting. Appliance InstallationOvens, hobs, washing machines, dryers and more.

Electrical Fault Finding & Repairs