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—What you are noticing

A tingle from an appliance or metal fitting

Any tingle from something you touch is current going where it should not. A mild sensation does not mean a mild problem.

A tingle when touching an appliance casing, a metal tap, a light fitting or an outdoor lamp means current is reaching a surface that should be safe. The cause might be a fault inside an appliance, a damaged cable, moisture in a fitting, or a problem with how the installation is earthed and bonded. A tingle today can be a serious shock tomorrow if conditions change, for example when someone touches it with wet hands.

This guide describes what people notice and what is safe to do. It does not diagnose your installation; only someone who has seen it can.

Stop using the item and keep people, especially children, away from it. If it is a plug-in appliance, switch off at the socket and unplug it only if that can be done without touching the casing. If it is a fixed fitting or metalwork, switch off the circuit at the board. Then have both the item and the installation checked.

01In short

The points that matter most

  • Never ignore it

    A mild tingle can become a serious shock in different conditions.

  • Isolate first

    Switch off at the board before anyone touches the item again.

  • Appliance and installation

    Both are checked: a faulty appliance and a missing earth path often appear together.

02Detail

What an electrician checks

  • The appliance

    Insulation, internal wiring and the earth connection of the appliance itself.

  • Earthing and bonding

    Whether the installation’s earth and the bonding of metal pipework are intact.

  • Protective devices

    Whether an RCD protects the circuit and operates correctly when tested.

03Checklist

Note this for the electrician

  • What gave the tingle

    The exact appliance, tap or fitting.

  • The conditions

    Wet hands, bare feet, rain or a recent leak.

  • Whether anything tripped

    And whether the circuit has an RCD.

04Questions

Questions people ask

Is a small tingle normal from some appliances?
It should not be treated as normal. Have it checked.
Why did the RCD not trip?
There may be no RCD on that circuit, or the leakage may be below its trip level. Both are worth checking.
Can I use the appliance on another socket?
No. The fault may be in the appliance itself.

05Related

Related guides

This guide sits under troubleshooting. All topics are on the guides page.

—NEXT

Felt a tingle from something?

With the circuit off, tell us what gave the tingle and the conditions. We will arrange for it to be checked.

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