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uk Home & property emergencies

What to do if…
you feel a tingling sensation when touching a tap or metal appliance

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Stop touching it, keep other people away, and switch off the electricity at the consumer unit if you can do that without touching the suspected fault. Do not use the tap, metalwork, or appliance again until a qualified electrician has checked it.

Do not do these things

  • Do not test it again with your hand.
  • Do not touch the tap, appliance, radiator, sink, shower, or nearby metalwork while wet, barefoot, or standing on a damp floor.
  • Do not keep resetting a tripped RCD, MCB, breaker, or fuse and trying again.
  • Do not remove socket covers, appliance panels, consumer unit covers, or switches.
  • Do not use extension leads, adaptors, or a different socket as a workaround for the same appliance.
  • Do not assume it is safe because the shock or tingling felt mild.
  • Do not touch a person who may still be in contact with live electricity.

What to do now

  1. Move away from the tap, appliance, or metalwork. Keep children, pets, and other people out of the area, especially if the floor, sink, bath, shower, or worktop is wet.
  2. If someone is still in contact with electricity, do not touch them. If you can safely reach the consumer unit without touching the person or the suspected fault, switch off the main switch first, then call 999 if they are injured, unwell, unconscious, not breathing normally, or you are unsure.
  3. Switch off the electricity at the consumer unit if it is safe to reach. Use the main switch as the safer default. If the consumer unit is in the affected wet area or you cannot reach it without touching metalwork, keep away and call for urgent help.
  4. Stop using related water points and metalwork. Avoid the affected sink, tap, bath, shower, radiator, pipework, and nearby metal appliances until the installation has been checked.
  5. If one plug-in appliance seems involved, leave it alone until the power is off. Once the main switch is off, and only if your hands and the floor are dry, switch the socket off and unplug it without touching the appliance body. If there is any doubt, leave it for the electrician.
  6. Make a quick note without re-touching anything. Write down the room, what you touched, whether the area was wet, which appliance was in use, and whether any RCD, MCB, breaker, or fuse tripped. A photo of the consumer unit from a safe position can help.
  7. Arrange an urgent electrical check before switching back to normal use. Say clearly that you felt tingling or a shock from a tap, metalwork, or appliance and that you are worried about an earthing, bonding, or appliance fault.
  8. If you rent, contact your landlord or agent as soon as the immediate area is safe. Tell them you suspect an electrical safety fault and that the affected tap, metalwork, appliance, or circuit should not be used until checked by a qualified person.
  9. Use the right emergency route if needed. Call 999 for injury, collapse, chest pain, breathing problems, burns, confusion, fainting, palpitations, smoke, fire, arcing, or a burning smell.
  10. If the hazard appears to involve the electricity supply outside your home, report it to the network operator. In England, Scotland, and Wales call 105. In Northern Ireland call 03457 643643. Keep well away from damaged cables, substations, meters, service heads, or anything sparking.

What can wait

  • You do not need to find the exact cause right now.
  • You do not need to prove it by touching it again.
  • You do not need to decide today whether the home needs rewiring.
  • You do not need to argue about fault or cost while there may still be a live electrical risk.
  • You do not need to restore every circuit before a qualified electrician has assessed the affected area.

Important reassurance

A tingling sensation from a tap, sink, radiator, or metal appliance can feel confusing because it may be brief or mild. Taking it seriously, keeping away, and getting the electrics checked is a reasonable safety response.

Scope note

These are first steps only to reduce the chance of another shock and to help you get the right urgent check. Later decisions about repairs, appliances, earthing, bonding, landlord duties, insurance, or replacement work may need a qualified electrician or other specialist help.

Important note

This is general safety information, not a professional electrical inspection, medical advice, legal advice, financial advice, therapeutic advice, or a substitute for emergency services. If you believe someone has had an electric shock, seek medical help afterwards; call 999 for emergency symptoms or if someone is seriously unwell, and use 111 where available, or your local urgent-care route if 111 is not the route in your area, if you are unsure what medical help is needed.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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