Last updated 7 October 2026
Short answer: before winter, test your RCDs, look over the consumer unit from the outside, check plugs, leads and sockets for heat or damage, keep heaters off extension leads, check outdoor fittings, test your alarms, look for damp and rodent damage, and know what to do in a power cut. Each check below takes a few minutes and needs no tools. Print this page and tick them off.
Every check is visual or uses a built in test button. Never remove a cover from the consumer unit, a socket or a switch. If you want the reasons behind each check, plus advice for small businesses, read our full guide to winter electrical safety checks for homes and businesses.
The 10 point winter checklist
| # | Check | Pass if | Call an electrician if |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Press the T or Test button on each RCD in the consumer unit, then switch it back on | It switches off straight away and resets normally | It does not switch off, will not reset, or you have no RCDs |
| 2 | Look at the outside of the consumer unit | Cover intact, circuits labelled, no scorch marks or burning smell | Anything is cracked, scorched, warm or buzzing |
| 3 | Check plugs, flexes and extension leads | No cuts, cracks, scorching or loose cable grips | Plugs or sockets are discoloured or warm after use |
| 4 | Check where heaters, dryers and kettles are plugged in | Each high power appliance is in its own wall socket, not an extension lead | A room needs leads every day: extra sockets are the fix |
| 5 | Check portable heaters | At least one metre from curtains and furniture, grilles clean, not used overnight | The heater’s plug or the socket gets hot |
| 6 | Check outdoor sockets and lights | Covers close, fittings sealed, no water inside lenses | An RCD trips when it rains |
| 7 | Test smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms with their test buttons | Each one sounds, and all sound together if interlinked | Not an electrician job: if an alarm fails, follow the maker’s instructions for a new battery or a replacement |
| 8 | Look in the loft, garage and sheds | Dry, no droppings, no chewed cables | There is damp near electrics or any damaged cable |
| 9 | Look (do not touch) for green and yellow earth clamps on the gas and water pipes where they enter the house | Clamps present, with a label | They are missing, loose or the cable has been cut |
| 10 | Get ready for a power cut | Torch by the consumer unit, circuit labels photographed, 105 saved in your phone | Power fails in your home only and a switch will not reset |
Checked by: ______________ Date: ______________
Notes on the trickier checks
RCD test (check 1)
The Scottish Government’s statutory guidance for landlords describes the RCD test button as a six monthly check. It is good practice in any home, though it is not a legal duty for owner occupiers. Follow the notice on your consumer unit and the manufacturer’s instructions. Pressing the button will switch off everything that RCD protects, so reset clocks and check the freezer afterwards.
Alarms (check 7)
Scottish law requires interlinked smoke alarms, a heat alarm in the kitchen, and a carbon monoxide detector where there is a carbon fuelled appliance. See the Scottish Government’s page on fire and smoke alarms in Scottish homes for the full requirement.
Power cuts (check 10)
In Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, call 105 to report a power cut to SSEN. Check first whether your neighbours have power. If they do, the problem is probably a tripped switch or a fault inside your home.
What this checklist cannot tell you
A visual check cannot see insulation breaking down inside walls, a loose connection behind the board, or an RCD that trips too slowly. Only inspection and testing can. Electrical Safety First recommends a periodic inspection at least every 10 years for a home you own and every 5 years for a rented home. If yours is due, or you have just moved in, book an EICR in Aberdeen from £150 + VAT for the main board and first 5 circuits.
If an RCD failed its test or you have no RCDs, read our consumer unit upgrade guide for Aberdeen homes. If something keeps tripping, our fault finding guide for Aberdeenshire explains how the cause is traced.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I test my RCD?
Every six months with the test button, unless the notice on your consumer unit or the manufacturer says otherwise. Before winter is a good time to do one of the two tests.
What does it mean if my RCD does not trip when I press the test button?
The device may not be working, which means it may not protect you from a shock. Leave it as it is and ask a registered electrician to investigate.
Can I check my own consumer unit?
You can look at the outside, read the labels and press the test buttons. Never remove the cover: parts inside stay live even with the main switch off.
Should I get an electrical inspection before winter?
If your last inspection was more than 10 years ago (5 years in a rented home), you do not know when it was, or the checklist turned up a problem, then yes. Autumn gives time to fix anything before the coldest months.
Found a problem on the list?
Call us on 07304 027013 or use our contact page. We are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.
