Are you at risk of electric shock?

There are a lot of common myths that exist around home electrics. One of the most common myths is actually spurned on by electricians themselves and that myth is surrounding fuse boxes and upgrades. If you are a householder who has recently been recommended a fusebox upgrade, you might like to read on...

Is a fuseboard upgrade really necessary?

If you have not had a new fuseboard or rewiring work carried out in your property in recent years, then you may well have been told you need a new fuseboard (in todays terms, consumer unit.)

Many people are tricked into a new consumer unit thinking that they are at huge risk of electric shock or that they are in immediate danger. I have had clients in the past who have had consumer units condemned by other electricians when there has been no need to do so.

Let me dispel a myth....you are not necessarily in danger if you need a consumer unit upgrade, you have time to obtain quotations and find an electrician you trust to carry out the work. Unfortunately all too often I hear stories of customers being frightened into having a consumer unit upgrade then and there, only to find that the job was not completed properly or was not necessary to begin with.

A consumer unit upgrade is not always necessary

Another myth to dispel is just because your wiring is old or you have no RCD protection does not mean you need a new consumer unit. As an electrician in Coventry and covering Royal Leamington Spa, I carry out testing on older consumer units to ascertain if an upgrade is necessary. It is only by carrying out proper electrical testing that you will know for sure if an upgrade is necessary.

Only last week on a two bedroomed terrace house in Coventry, which was rented, the landlord called us because the tenants had complained about a plastic burning smell throughout the property. This house was built in the 1930's and although it had been rewired at some point it still had an old style fuse board with rewireable fuses. Whilst carrying out an Electrical Installation condition Report (EICR) the installation was clearly old due to the lack of sockets throughout the property. In fact there was only one double socket in the kitchen and there were 20 extension leads being used thoughout the property where some where even plugged into further extension leads! As a rule of thumb this can be a sign that the installation and fuse board needs upgrading.

The last 30 years has seen a huge increase in electrical equipment being used in our homes therefore installations like these just simply are no longer up to the job and can be easily overloaded.

Generally speaking, if you have had no electrical work carried out in recent years and you find yourself using extension leads more and more then you probably do need a consumer unit upgrade and perhaps your electrical system updated at the same time. You will be much safer with up to date technologies such as RCD protection.

All too often I hear that electricians are telling householders to upgrade their consumer units because they were fitted before 2008 and they do not have up to date MCB's or circuit breakers (CB's) as they're known as now. Your consumer unit is not necessarily unsafe because you have old style MCB's but if you are unsure about the electrical safety of your electrical system then I would always recommend to call a qualified professional electrician in Coventry and Leamington Spa.

Electrical Experts – keeping you safe

After dispelling the consumer unit upgrade myth, I can tell you that electrical dangers in your home do not end with it's wiring, consumer units, or any other electrical fitting, it is your own electrical appliances. Electrical appliances are often misused or maintained incorrectly and are also responsible for record numbers of call outs for electrical fires in the home.

From covering vents with tea towels to overloading extension leads, care needs to be taken when using electrical appliances at home. In particular, only using appliances for the purpose for which they are intended and away from other electrical dangers such as water.

Check for danger before using electrical appliances

Before using electrical appliances, particularly portable appliances, it is worth carrying out some visual checks before switching on:

• Check the plug is secure and not damaged

• Check the cable for damage such as bare wires showing, damage to the rubber etc. Do not use appliances where tape has been used to carry out repairs.

• Check for burn or scorch marks – do not use any appliance with these as it suggests overheating.

Always ensure you use electrical appliances in accordance to the manufacturers instructions. If you have any concern over the safety of an appliance or it malfunctions, unplug immediately and do not use.

Consumer units in rental properties

I would like to add here though if you are renting a property then it is a legal requirement to have your electrical system protected by an RCD. In addition to this if new electrical wiring is being installed and is not installed 50mm or more deep in the wall then an RCD is also required.

As a qualified and registered electrician working in Coventry and Leamington Spa, I carry out home safety checks including PAT testing. If you have any concerns over your electrical safety at home, please give me a call.