PAT Testing Specialistsin Great Houghton
Portable appliance testing that identifies genuine faults quickly, with clear labelling and records you can hand straight to an insurer or inspector.
100% recommend on Facebook (15 reviews) · 15 years' experience · We guarantee our work
- Fully qualified Gold Card electricians
- £10m public liability insurance
- 15 years' experience
- We guarantee our work
The service
What PAT TestingCovers and Why
Portable Appliance Testing, or PAT testing, is the process of visually inspecting and electrically testing portable electrical appliances to check they're safe to use. It covers everything from kettles and extension leads to power tools, computer equipment and catering appliances, and combines a visual check for damage with electrical tests such as earth continuity and insulation resistance.
PAT testing is most relevant to businesses, since employers have a general duty to maintain electrical equipment in a safe condition, but it's also used by landlords providing appliances in rented properties, and by anyone running equipment that sees heavy or shared use, such as community halls or holiday lets.
Testing is typically needed on a cycle that reflects how the equipment is used: higher-risk items like power tools on a building site need checking more often than a desktop computer in an office. New starts, new equipment purchases and equipment returning from repair are also common trigger points for testing.
While PAT testing itself is relatively quick, it needs to be done properly with calibrated equipment and a correct understanding of appliance classes and test parameters, otherwise genuine faults can be missed and passed items mislabelled.
Who it's for
- Businesses meeting their duty to maintain safe equipment
- Landlords providing appliances in furnished rental properties
- Community venues and halls with shared equipment
- Anyone with heavily used or older portable appliances
When you need it
- You're due a scheduled PAT testing cycle for your business
- New equipment has been purchased and needs an initial check
- An appliance has been repaired or modified
- An insurer or landlord has requested evidence of testing
- Equipment is used in a higher-risk environment such as a workshop or site
If it's left
Why Untested AppliancesAre a Real Risk
Portable appliances take more physical abuse than fixed wiring, from trailing cables to dropped tools, which is exactly why regular testing matters.
Damaged cables and plugs
Frayed cables, cracked plugs and worn flex are common causes of shock and fire risk, and are often invisible until someone looks properly.
Internal faults not visible externally
Insulation breakdown and earth faults inside an appliance can exist with no outward sign, which is exactly what electrical testing is designed to catch.
Non-compliance with workplace duties
Employers have a general duty to maintain electrical equipment safely; relying on appliances 'looking fine' isn't a substitute for proper testing where risk warrants it.
Common mistakes we see
- ×Assuming new equipment never needs an initial check
- ×Testing everything on the same fixed schedule regardless of risk
- ×Ignoring visibly damaged cables because the appliance still works
- ×Not keeping test records available for insurers or inspections
- ×Using untrained staff to carry out testing without proper equipment
- ×Treating a pass label as permanent rather than due for retesting
How it works
Our process
01
Inspection
Each appliance is visually checked for damage to the case, cable, plug and any visible signs of overheating or wear.
02
Diagnosis
Appliances are classified by type (Class I or Class II) so the correct electrical tests are applied to each one.
03
Execution
Earth continuity, insulation resistance and, where relevant, other tests are carried out using calibrated test equipment.
04
Testing and verification
Results are checked against expected parameters for the appliance type before a pass or fail decision is made.
05
Completion and guarantee
Tested appliances are labelled with the test date, and you receive a full record of results. We guarantee our work, with scope depending on the job.
What you get
The benefits
Faults caught before they cause harm
Testing identifies cable damage and internal faults before they lead to a shock, burn or fire.
Safer equipment for staff and customers
Regularly tested appliances reduce the risk of injury from faulty tools, kitchen equipment or electronics.
Longer appliance lifespan
Catching minor cable and plug damage early prevents it developing into a fault that writes off the appliance.
Avoiding costly appliance failures
Replacing a damaged lead is far cheaper than replacing an appliance destroyed by an internal fault.
Dependable equipment for your business
Testing reduces the chance of equipment failing unexpectedly during use, whether that's a kettle or a power tool on site.
Clear records for insurers and inspections
A full set of test records and labelled appliances makes any compliance check or insurance query straightforward.
In detail
How PAT TestingWorks in Practice
PAT testing covers a wide range of equipment, so the approach and frequency vary depending on what's being tested and where it's used.
Appliance classes and what they mean
Class I appliances rely on an earth connection for safety and need an earth continuity test alongside insulation resistance testing. Class II, or double-insulated, appliances don't have an earth connection and are tested differently as a result.
Getting this classification right matters, because applying the wrong test to the wrong class of appliance can produce a meaningless or misleading result.
Testing frequency and risk
Higher-risk environments, such as construction sites or workshops using power tools, generally need more frequent testing than a typical office with desktop equipment, because the equipment is handled more roughly and used in harsher conditions.
We'll talk through your specific equipment and environment to suggest a sensible testing interval rather than applying a blanket schedule that doesn't reflect actual risk.
Domestic and landlord PAT testing
Landlords providing furnished properties often test appliances like kettles, toasters, washing machines and microwaves between tenancies, both for tenant safety and to support their wider compliance position.
This is usually a smaller-scale job than a commercial PAT testing visit, often combined with other property checks at the point of a tenancy change.
Commercial and site-based testing
Businesses with larger numbers of appliances, from offices to catering kitchens and construction sites, typically need a scheduled testing programme covering all portable equipment, with records maintained for insurance and compliance purposes.
On construction sites, power tools and site equipment often need checking more frequently given the conditions they're used in and the consequences of a fault.
What happens when an appliance fails
An appliance that fails testing is clearly labelled and should be taken out of use immediately. We'll explain what failed and why, so you can decide whether to repair or replace it.
We don't carry out appliance repairs as standard, but we can advise on what the fault means and what to look for in a replacement.
Keeping records that stand up
PAT testing is only useful if the results are recorded properly. Each item tested is labelled and logged with its result, so you can show insurers, landlords, letting agents or health and safety inspectors that your portable equipment has been checked by a qualified electrician.
Records also make the next round of testing quicker and cheaper. Because we know what equipment you have and where it sits, repeat visits are more efficient, and any new items can be added to the register as your business or rental portfolio grows.
If an appliance fails, we explain why, label it clearly so it is taken out of use, and advise whether it is worth repairing or replacing. Where a failure points to a wider problem, such as a faulty socket or circuit, we can investigate and put it right during the same visit.
Who should arrange PAT testing
Landlords, letting agents, offices, shops, salons, workshops and anyone providing equipment to staff or tenants all benefit from regular PAT testing. It shows you are taking reasonable steps to keep electrical equipment safe, and it catches damaged leads, worn plugs and faulty appliances before they cause harm. We can combine PAT testing with an EICR or other electrical work on the same visit to save you time.
PAT Testing: your questions
How much does PAT testing cost?
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PAT testing is priced per job depending on the number and type of appliances, so we'll confirm a cost once we know the scope of what needs testing.
How often do appliances need PAT testing?
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It depends on the type of appliance and how it's used. Higher-risk equipment like power tools on site typically needs more frequent testing than office equipment.
Do landlords need to PAT test appliances?
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There's no single legal requirement, but landlords providing appliances have a general duty to keep them safe, and PAT testing is a straightforward way to demonstrate that between tenancies.
How long does a PAT testing visit take?
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It depends on the number of appliances. We'll give you a time estimate once we know roughly how many items need testing.
What happens if an appliance fails?
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It's labelled as failed and should be taken out of use immediately. We'll explain the fault so you can decide whether to repair or replace the item.
Can you test appliances on evenings or weekends to avoid disrupting our business?
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Yes, we work Monday to Sunday, 6am to 10pm, so we can often schedule testing outside your busiest hours.
Do you offer PAT testing in Daventry and Rushden?
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Yes, alongside Northampton we cover Daventry, Rushden and the wider Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire area.
Is PAT testing guaranteed?
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We guarantee our work, including testing. The length and scope depend on the job, and we'll confirm what applies when we quote.
Related services
Where we work
Based in Great Houghton, we cover Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire, and we're best known in Northampton, Daventry and Rushden.
Book PAT Testingwith Doe Electrical
Call 07904 890325 to arrange testing for your appliances, with clear labelling and records you can rely on.
Local call-out £120 including your first hour · £45/hour after · Open 7 days, 6am–10pm