To supply and fit a new consumer unit costs typically between £650 and £1200 for a domestic property. Where the Garage requires a new consumer unit, these are often cheaper ranging between £300 and £450. The costs include an Electrical Installation Certificate, Notification to Building Control and associated Certificate. The costs also include inspection and testing of the existing circuits, testing of the new consumer unit, and removing the old consumer unit.
Back to topYes. Every so often, a new consumer unit should be installed in your home. The electrical system in our homes is one of the most overlooked and under considered systems that we have. We tend to ignore the wiring and fuse box year after year and never question if everything is ok because “there has never been a problem” and “well it's working, isn’t it?”.
The truth is, electrical systems can operate fairly effectively even when several serious dangers may be present. Electricity, unlike gas, does not often give a smelly warning when electric shock risks, potential fire risks or overloading is about to happen.
Back to topIt is a good idea to have the electrical system checked before installing a new consumer unit. There are some advantages to having a thorough electrical inspection carried out prior to swapping the old fuse box out for a new consumer unit:
Your home electrical system should be checked by a professional electrician every ten years or sooner if they recommend it. This is also recommended by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET).
Back to topA consumer unit or fuse box should be changed every 20 years or so with electrical inspections carried out in between. A modern consumer unit can last longer than this but electrical equipment needs to operate properly and safely in the event of an electrical fault. Older electrical equipment, may no longer operate correctly when there is a dangerous electrical fault if it is worn, damaged or aging.
If you are at all worried about the condition of your electrical equipment, fuse box or wiring, then please get in touch. There is an article about how long trip switches and circuit breakers last here.
Back to topWhilst trip switches and consumer units may last longer than 20 years in some cases, you will begin to start missing key safety features offered by newer consumer units if you don’t upgrade your unit every couple of decades. Think about driving around in a car with no air bags or seat belts, madness!
If you would like a quote to upgrade your consumer unit, get rid of your old fuse box or improve the safety of your electrical system then just get in touch.