Old Fuse Box Warrington

1) Is my fuse box in Warrington too old?

If you are asking that question then yes, it is more than likely too old. If your fuse box was a car, would you be embarrassed to be seen in it? Yes, you would. If your fuse box looks like that one in the picture above get it changed. If you have and old fusebox in Warrington or the surrounding areas we can definitely help.

2) Why do I need to change it if it is working?

The fuse box / consumer unit is the brains of your electrical system. Its purpose is to protect the wiring in your home, the electrical appliances in your home and to protect the occupants of the home. Older boxes do not do this very well anymore. Technology improves and things change.

Newer consumer units or fuse boxes have many advantages over ancient ones such as:

• Electric Shock Protection
• Surge Protection for all the appliances and you wiring
• Circuit Breakers instead of Wire
• Protection against Arcing and Sparking
• Reduced risk of electrical fires

These newer boxes will also be a better selling point if you are selling your home. The buyers will be able to know that they have the best and most up to date protection for their electrical system, not to mention the necessary certificates that come with a new consumer unit may mean you don’t have to have a further electrical inspection carried out.

3) When should I have my fuse box changed?

We attend a lot of emergency calls to consumer units / fuse boxes that have tripped. Sometimes the components within the fuse box have failed themselves and require replacing. In certain cases, the components are so old that they are no longer manufactured. This is a problem. We then may have to leave you without electricity whilst we source a rare replacement. Even questionable quality second hand parts (never a good idea) can take a week to arrive.

In these instances, it is wise or sometimes necessary to replace the consumer unit. It is obviously better to plan the replacement because there are occasions when these little disasters happen and we can’t replace the consumer unit!!!! ☹

4) Eh? What? Why?

So, a newer consumer unit or fuse box is fantastically sensitive, packed with modern technology and will protect you against electric shocks, surges and missile strikes. (Just kidding with that last one, checking you are awake). The trouble with this kind of technology is that it can pick up on minor and major deficiencies in the wiring system in your home.

This can mean that the consumer unit gives up one evening and we turn up to find that we cannot put a replacement unit in for you because thanks to all the modern (and lifesaving) technology, the new unit will simply not turn on!!!! That means it’s time for a rewire!!!

5) What shall I do then?

If you have a consumer unit that looks like the one in the picture or you suspect that it is very old, it is a really good idea to have an electrical inspection carried out on your homes electrical system. A thorough electrical inspection will highlight how old the wiring is likely to be, will pick up on many of the deficiencies that a new consumer unit will and will give you some time to plan when you might want to rewire your property if it is necessary.

6) Is there a cheap option?

Yes. We are able to perform a visual inspection check or a full periodic inspection and test for you.

These may not offer more protection or any upgrades but will at least let you know of any safety issues that our team will come across whilst checking your property for you.

7) I am a landlord with a domestic property do I need a new fuse board?

This entirely depends on the opinion of the inspecting engineer during your last Periodic Electrical Inspection. The wiring regulations change regularly and at the time of writing, the most recent wiring regulations are BS7671 18^th Edition Amendment 2. These regulations are now instructing us that the use of Arc Fault Detection Devices is necessary in HMO and student accommodation amongst other types of accommodation. At this moment in time, very few properties will be compliant and when re inspection is due, we will find that lots of HMO and student properties will require upgrading.

If you are a landlord and are worried about electrical compliance in your properties, speak to us first. We are conversant with the wiring regulations and able to talk about compliance with these in the most cost-effective ways. We can carry out Periodic Electrical Inspections for you and produce an EICR. We are able to rectify electrical faults and problems and should you need advice we are here to help.

8) My property is located in another area do you cover fuse box replacements elsewhere?

If you have an old fusebox in Warrington we can help. If you have an old fuse box anywhere else in the North West then we are likely to be able to assist also. If your project is not in an area that we cover or for whatever reason we are unable to take your project then we will likely be able to recommend a trusted colleague for your works.

Between us we cover a large area between Liverpool and Leigh. We travel for work and we are happy to give you an estimate over the phone / internet and a quote following this if necessary. If you have an electrical emergency then don’t hesitate to call us as this is our specialty.

9) How long can an old fuse box go on for?

Actually, we have seen fuse boxes / consumer units in service that are 70 years old or more. They can last a surprisingly long time. They tend to be quite reliable and with regular inspection and servicing the electrical installations can last a very long time indeed. Unfortunately, electrical systems tend to get forgotten and taken for granted until there is a spectacular failure. There in lies the issue. These older systems don’t provide the protection that a modern installation needs, are very crude in the protection that they do provide and will also have obsolete parts that cannot be replaced.

10) What is the best thing to do?

If you have not had an electrical periodic inspection (sort of like an MOT for a car) carried out in the last 10 years and the property is over 10 years old then it is a good idea to have everything checked out. We will find things that you would not be able to see visually, our tests will tell us if everything is ok or if wiring defects exist. We will give you peace of mind and an honest opinion.

If your fuse box is a little older but does not need changing then we will tell you. For more information, contact us today!