If you live in an old house, the likelihood is your electrical wiring system is also old. Every home has an electrical system wired throughout the walls, ceilings, floors, that powers all of your appliances, such as lighting, sockets, perhaps even heating.
The team at AMP Electrical have explained exactly what house rewiring is, and what you need to look out for when you book a property rewire.
What Is An Electrical Rewire?
An electrical rewire is a process where you’ll require complete rewiring of your home. The wiring system in your home typically starts to wear down with age, and it becomes a lot less efficient as electricity demands increase for modern homes.
A complete rewiring process of your home will involve replacing all of the wiring in your home and upgrading your consumer unit to ensure that your electric system is functional at its maximum capacity, safe to use, and it meets the required legislations and regulations.
When Does Your House Need To Be Rewired?
If you’re a current homeowner or you’re moving into a new home soon, it’s crucial that you know what to look out for that can indicate if and when your house would need rewiring. Here are some warning signs that you should definitely keep an eye out for:
1. The electricity keeps tripping
If you notice your electricity tripping out on a regular basis, it could be a sign that the fuse box needs replacing. If you diagnose this problem further, it could indicate that your house would need to be completely rewired. Another sign could be that your lighting starts to dim, or that you need to replace your bulbs regularly.
2. Buzzing sounds from your electrical components
If you hear crackling or buzzing sounds coming from any of your electrical components, such as your sockets or light switches, it could be a sign that you’re suffering from faulty wiring. Be very cautious as it could appear that your fuses may have also blown, and that they would need to be replaced or upgraded.
3. Wiring/fittings discolouration
If your wiring or fittings are starting to discolour, it could be a sign that your wiring is overheating or burning out, which is a clear indication that you need a rewire.
4. Your electrics haven’t been rewired in 25 years
As technology advances over time, the demand on your home electrical system will increase. If your property hasn’t had any rewiring within the last 25 years, it is recommended that you contact a qualified electrician to service your home electrical needs as soon as possible.
What To Consider When Looking To Rewire Your Home
If you’re curious as to what is exactly involved when your home needs a rewire, the expert electricians at AMP Electrical have broken down the process:
1. Adequate planning and budgeting
It’s important to understand that rewiring your home can be a major project that could take time. You need to ensure that you have planned and budgeted accordingly, and be realistic with your budgets. A complete rewiring process isn’t necessarily cheap, and you must ensure that your budget meets the requirements. An electrician should be able to provide you with an estimate cost, but always take the estimate with a pinch of salt.
2. Choosing an electrician
When you’re on the hunt for an electrician, it is crucial to ensure that they’re fully NICEIC qualified and licensed. Do not think it’s rude to ask for the electrician to prove this with adequate documentation – it is better to be safe than sorry.
3. Pre-wiring inspection
It is important to have an electrician come in and complete an existing wiring inspection to ensure that it is completely necessary. There could only be a few faults which wouldn’t necessarily need a complete rewiring, or they could find electrical faults in abundance.
4. Fitting your wiring
If you’ve been advised that a full rewire is necessary, an electrician would need to completely strip your home of its old wiring and installations from within the walls, under the floors, and within the ceiling. Once this has been completed, it will be time to feed the new wiring in, and install the consumer unit. Your electrician will also install your electrical components for you, such as your sockets, and lights, so if you’re in the market for new sets, buy them before your electrician installs your old ones.
5. Post-installation testing
Once your new home wiring has been installed, your electrician must be tested to ensure that they’re safe, and compliant with legal regulations – this is known as an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
If you’re aware that your home needs to be completely re-wired, or you’re on the hunt for some information, get in touch with AMP Electrical, who service the North West of England, and they’ll be able to advise you on what you may need.
