UK households risk 'blackouts' over mistake '18 per cent are making'

One in five UK households risk being left in the dark - because they don't know where their fuse box is. HomeServe has warned that, surprisingly, 18 per cent of people admit they don’t know how to reset their fuse box.

It has led to HomeServe’s experts to urge people to brush up on basic electrical fixes ahead of the festive season. "This is more important as data from HomeServe shows a 19% increase on average in electrical callouts during November," the firm said.

Sam Starbuck, HomeServe Home Expert, said: "Electricity really is the oxygen of our homes – without it, the impact can be significant. With smart gadgets controlling everything from heating to security, a power cut can seriously disrupt daily life.

READ MORE All the nine parts of UK facing 15 inches of snow on Saturday

"We're urging the nation to brush up on basic electrical fixes, like resetting a fuse box, so they're better prepared for power outages." Sam went on and added: “For more complex issues, having reliable insurance or home assistance is essential.

"As we become more dependent on smart tech, ensuring any electrical faults are quickly resolved will help you to have a stress-free festive season without unexpected disruptions." The main switch in your fuse box is designed to turn off the electricity supply in your property. It’s important to know which switch this is, so you can turn it off in an electrical emergency.

Some properties may have more than one switch if there is more than one fuse board installed. For example, if you heat your home with electric storage heaters, you’ll likely have a separate electricity board for them. Circuit breakers are the final type of fuse switch you will find inside your electricity board. They are designed to switch off a circuit if they detect something is wrong. They work in a similar way to a traditional wire fuse.