8 Amsom Close, Somerford, Congleton, CW12 4QEMon–Fri 8am–7pm · Sat 9am–3pm 07946 541693 AboutServices Service Areas Our WorkReviewsContactRequest Free Quote NICEIC Approved Contractor · Reg 041430 - Home - Services - PAT Testing # PAT testing in Congletonfor landlords, officesand small businesses In-service inspection and testing of plug-in appliances, with every item labelled and a written register you can hand to an insurer, a letting agent or an auditor. Fixed price agreed in advance, no deposit. Get my free PAT testing quote 07946 541693 4.8 from 58 Google reviews · NICEIC Approved Contractor 041430 · 18th Edition NICEIC Approved Contractor registration 041430 38 years in the trade Qualified electrician since 1988 Fixed price, no deposit Quoted free before work starts £5m public liability Fully insured on every visit The service ## What PAT testing actually involves PAT testing, properly called in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment, covers anything that plugs into a socket: kettles, computers, fridges, power tools, extension leads, chargers, heaters, vacuum cleaners and the rest. The purpose is to find the faults that a user cannot see, before somebody gets a shock or a fire starts in a cupboard. Most of the value comes from the visual inspection rather than the meter. Damaged flex, cracked plugs, scorch marks, a loose cord grip, the wrong fuse fitted, joints taped up rather than replaced: those are the faults that actually hurt people, and they are found by looking properly at every item. Testing then confirms what the eye cannot see. Earth continuity on Class I equipment, insulation resistance, polarity and correct fusing on leads and moulded plugs, with the result recorded against a unique item number so the register means something next year. Every item is labelled with a pass or fail and the date, failed items are removed from service and explained to you, and you receive a written register listing each appliance, its location, its test results and its outcome. ### Who it is for - Landlords and letting agents Appliances supplied with a let property need to be safe, and a dated register is the simplest way to show you took reasonable steps. - Small offices and shops Employers have duties around the equipment staff use. Testing gives you an inventory and a record rather than an assumption. - Village halls, clubs and salons Premises used by the public, often with insurers or a committee asking for evidence that portable equipment has been checked. - Trades and site equipment Tools, transformers, leads and extensions take a beating. These are the items that fail most often and matter most when they do. What it costs to leave it ## Why untested appliances are the risk nobody looks at Fixed wiring gets inspected. Appliances rarely do, and yet they are the part of the installation that gets dropped, trapped in doors, wound round chair legs and left running unattended. *]:shadow-[0_0_0_1px_var(--border)] sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 reveal-stagger"> ### Damaged flex behind the appliance The classic fault: a lead crushed by a desk leg or nipped in a door, insulation broken, conductors exposed where nobody looks. ### Wrong fuse in the plug A 13A fuse in a lead rated far lower means the flex becomes the fuse. That is a fire, not a nuisance trip. ### Loose cord grips and repaired plugs A plug reassembled badly puts strain on the conductors, and a pulled earth in a Class I appliance leaves a metal case unprotected. ### Daisy-chained extension leads Four-ways plugged into four-ways under a desk, overloaded, coiled, and often the hottest object in the room. ### Second-hand and tenant-supplied items Equipment arriving from a house clearance or a previous tenancy with no history at all behind it. ### No records when something happens After an incident or a claim, an insurer asks what checks were carried out. Nothing written down is a difficult answer. ### Common mistakes we get called out to fix - Assuming a new appliance cannot be faulty, when transit damage and factory-fitted plugs both fail - Testing only computers and ignoring the kettle, the heater and the extension leads - Sticking a label on an item without inspecting the flex along its whole length - Keeping a failed item in service because it still switches on - Losing the register between visits so nothing can be compared year on year - Treating a PAT label as evidence the fixed wiring is safe, which it is not Our process ## How the job runs,start to certificate - 01 ### Count the items Tell us roughly how many appliances there are and where they are. That is all a fixed price needs. - 02 ### Free fixed-price quote A price for the visit and the item count, agreed in advance in writing. No deposit required. - 03 ### Visual inspection Every appliance, plug, flex and connector examined for damage, overheating, incorrect fusing and poor repairs. - 04 ### Electrical testing Earth continuity, insulation resistance, polarity and fuse rating checked and recorded against a unique item number. - 05 ### Label and record Each item labelled with its result and date. Failed items are taken out of service and the reason explained to you. - 06 ### Written register issued A full schedule of appliances, locations, results and outcomes, ready for an insurer, agent or auditor. What you get ## The difference it makesonce the work is done ### Faults found before they bite The damaged leads and wrong fuses that cause shocks and fires are exactly what the inspection is designed to catch. ### Written evidence you can produce A dated register showing what was tested, by whom and with what result, rather than a verbal assurance. ### An inventory you did not have Most clients get a usable equipment list out of the first visit, item by item and room by room. ### Sensible retest intervals Advice on how often each class of equipment genuinely needs revisiting, rather than testing everything annually by reflex. ### One visit, one tradesman Mike carries out the work himself, so nothing is subcontracted and nothing is rushed to hit a target. ### Fixed price, no deposit Priced before we start, payable on completion, carried out by a NICEIC Approved Contractor with £5,000,000 public liability insurance. In detail ## Classes, intervals and what the label means PAT testing has more nuance than the sticker suggests. Understanding equipment classes, sensible intervals and the limits of the test is what makes the exercise worth paying for. Class I and Class II equipmentClass I equipment relies on an earth connection for safety: kettles, toasters, fridges, most kitchen appliances and a lot of workshop machinery. Earth continuity is the critical test, because a broken earth on a metal-cased appliance leaves nothing between a fault and the user. Class II, double insulated equipment carries the square-in-a-square symbol and has no protective earth. Chargers, hair dryers, many power tools and most modern consumer electronics fall here, and insulation resistance is what matters. - Class I: earthed, metal-cased, earth continuity is the key test - Class II: double insulated, insulation resistance is the key test - Leads and extensions: continuity, polarity and correct fuse rating - IT equipment: often lower risk, still fails on damaged leadsHow often testing is neededThere is no single legal interval that applies to everything. The sensible approach is risk-based: how the equipment is used, who uses it, how portable it is and how harshly it is treated. Hand-held equipment on a building site is a different proposition to a desktop printer that has not moved in three years. We will tell you what we think each category needs and why, rather than defaulting to testing every item every twelve months. - Hand-held and site equipment: most frequent, hardest life - Movable equipment such as heaters, vacuums and kettles: regular - Stationary and IT equipment: longer intervals, visual checks between - Anything reported as damaged: immediately, whatever the schedule saysLandlords and let propertyAppliances you supply with a tenancy need to be safe when the tenant moves in, and a register with dates and results is the clearest way to show that. Testing at change of tenancy is the natural rhythm, because that is when items get moved, swapped and inherited. Landlords very often have appliance testing done alongside an EICR so the fixed wiring and the plug-in equipment are covered in a single visit and a single set of paperwork. Small businesses and public premisesEmployers have a duty to keep work equipment in a safe condition, and premises open to the public attract questions from insurers. Neither is satisfied by hoping for the best. For a small office, shop, salon or village hall the work is usually well under a day. We work around opening hours where we can and keep interruption to the minimum needed to unplug and test each item. What happens when something failsA failed item is labelled, unplugged and set aside so it cannot go back into use by accident, and we explain exactly what failed. Some failures are trivial and repairable on the spot, a wrong fuse or a poorly fitted plug top. Others, particularly damaged flex inside a moulded plug or a failed insulation reading, mean the item is scrapped or repaired by the manufacturer. Nothing is condemned to sell you a replacement. Where a repair is straightforward we say so, and where the honest answer is that a fifteen pound kettle is not worth repairing, we say that too. What PAT testing does not coverAppliance testing tells you nothing about the fixed wiring behind the socket. If the sockets, circuits and consumer unit have not been inspected, an EICR is the report that covers them, and the two are commonly done together. Equally, a pass label is a snapshot on the day of the test. Damage after that date is found by users reporting it and by simple visual checks between formal test visits, which is why we explain what to look for before we leave. Domestic and light commercialThe business is mainly domestic and small commercial. Larger premises are considered on request; give Mike a call with a rough item count and he will tell you plainly whether it is a job for him. Areas coveredPAT testing is carried out across Congleton and the wider Cheshire area, plus Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Stockport, Cheadle, Wilmslow, Altrincham and Crewe. Where we work ## PAT Testing acrossCheshire and Manchester Based in Congleton and covering the surrounding towns. See the full list of areas we cover or get in touch. *]:shadow-[0_0_0_1px_var(--border)] sm:grid-cols-3"> - Congleton - Cheshire - Manchester - Stoke-on-Trent - Stockport - Cheadle - Wilmslow - Altrincham - Crewe Related services ## Often bookedalongside this work *]:shadow-[0_0_0_1px_var(--border)]"> - EICR ReportsEICR electrical safety reports for homeowners and landlords in Congleton and across Cheshire. NICEIC approved, fixed price, clear plain-English results. - Consumer Unit UpgradesConsumer unit and fuse board upgrades in Congleton and across Cheshire. Metal boards, RCBO protection, fitted and certificated by a NICEIC contractor. - Smoke & Alarm InstallationsMains-wired interlinked smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms fitted in Congleton and across Cheshire, to current regulations. NICEIC Approved Contractor. - All services on the homepage Common questions ## PAT Testingquestions answered Anything not covered here, call Mike on 07946 541693. How much does PAT testing cost?+It depends on the number of items and the location. Give us a rough count and you will get a fixed price in advance, with no deposit required. Is PAT testing a legal requirement?+There is no law that names a test interval, but there are duties to keep electrical equipment in a safe condition in workplaces and in let property. Inspection and testing is the recognised way of showing those duties have been met. How often should appliances be tested?+It is risk-based. Hand-held and site equipment needs checking most often, movable items such as kettles and heaters regularly, and stationary IT equipment far less frequently. We will recommend intervals for your particular equipment. How long does a visit take?+A small office or a let property is usually a couple of hours. Larger item counts take longer, and you are told the expected duration when the job is quoted. Do you test new appliances?+New equipment does not usually need a full test straight out of the box, but a visual check is still worthwhile because transit damage and badly fitted plugs both happen. What happens if an appliance fails?+It is labelled, removed from service and explained to you. Simple issues such as an incorrect fuse or a poorly fitted plug can often be put right on the spot; anything more serious means repair by the manufacturer or replacement. Do I get paperwork?+Yes. You receive a written register listing every appliance, its location, its test results and its pass or fail outcome, and each item carries a dated label. Can you test extension leads and chargers?+Yes, and they should be included. Leads, four-ways and chargers are among the most frequently failed items because of the way they are used and stored. Does PAT testing cover my fixed wiring?+No. Appliance testing stops at the plug. Sockets, circuits and the consumer unit are covered by an EICR, and many clients have both carried out in the same visit. Can you test at a let property between tenancies?+Yes, and change of tenancy is the sensible time to do it, while the property is empty and before new equipment arrives with the next tenant. Next step ## Get your appliances tested and recorded properly Tell Mike roughly how many items there are and where they are, and you will get a fixed price for the visit. No deposit, and a written register at the end of it. 07946 541693 - NICEIC Approved Contractor, registration 041430 - £5,000,000 public liability insurance - Free quotes, no deposit required - 4.8★ from 58 Google reviewsMon–Fri 8am–7pm · Sat 9am–3pm Accredited, approved and independently reviewed - - - - - - Congleton-based domestic electrical contractor and rewire specialist. NICEIC Approved Contractor, registration 041430. Established 2007. - 07946 541693 - michael@amaraelectrical.co.uk - 8 Amsom Close, Somerford, Congleton, CW12 4QEFacebookGoogle Business Profile ## Services - All electrical services - Full House Rewires - EICR Reports - Home Buyer Electrical Reports - Consumer Unit Upgrades - EV Charger Installation - Emergency Electrician - Sockets - Lighting - Smoke & Alarm Installations - Wired Alarm Installation - Wireless Alarm Installation - PAT Testing ## Areas Covered - All areas we cover - Congleton - Cheshire - Manchester - Stoke-on-Trent - Stockport - Cheadle - Wilmslow - Altrincham - Crewe ## Opening Hours - Monday – Friday8am – 7pm - Saturday9am – 3pm - SundayClosed © 2026 Amara Electrical Contractors Ltd. All rights reserved. ContactAbout MikeOur WorkReviewsHelp & AdvicePrivacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsNICEIC Approved Contractor 041430 · £5,000,000 public liability Call Mike Free Quote