Here at Precision Electrical Services, Walton-on-Thames, we often take calls from homeowners who are concerned about their electrics. One of the questions we are most frequently asked is “does my house need rewiring?” To help make things clearer, our rewire specialists have put together their top tips for how to tell if your house needs rewiring.
How to tell if you need a rewire
It can be hard to tell if your Walton-on-Thames home needs rewiring at first glance as much of the wiring in your home is hidden from view. Ther are however, some signs to the age and condition of the wiring that can be identified when you know where to look.
Signs that your house needs rewiring include:
- Old fashioned fuse board – The age and condition of your fuse board can tell you a lot about the state of your electrics, so let’s take a look there first. Does it have a wooden backboard? Does it have large fuses that you remove and rewire after a fault? If so, then your fuse board is quite elderly and needs to be brought up to date. This is a good indicator that the rest of your electrics are of similar age – or even older! In this case it would suggest your house needs a rewire.
- Black, braided or fabric wrapped electrical wiring – Whilst it is hard to the majority of your wiring there are usually a few places where it is visible. Have a look around light fittings and near to the fuse board. Modern electrical wiring is either wrapped in white or grey PVCu. If the wires you can see are black, braided or wrapped in fabric then this indicates your wiring is quite old and is likely to have degraded. Rewiring is likely needed.
- Mismatched socket heights and styles – Are your sockets and switches all installed at different heights? If you are a bit of a perfectionist, you may have already noticed – and been annoyed by this. Are they mounted in or on skirting boards? This suggests they were installed some time ago before standards changed. Sockets at differing heights also suggests a partial rewire has occurred, particularly if you can also see that the wiring has been surface mounted.
If you have any of these signs of outdated wiring in your Walton-on-Thames home, or if you have any concerns about your wiring, our experienced electricians will be happy to advise you. We can carry out an electrical inspection and let you know if your house needs rewiring.
Can I rewire my house myself?
Rewiring your house is not something to take lightly. It is one of the largest and most complex electrical jobs that will be carried out in your Walton-on-Thames home. This is not a job where corners should be cut. If the rewire of your home is not carried out correctly, you can be left in serious danger of electrical shock and fire. Under building regulations, and for your safety, a rewire should only ever be undertaken by a qualified, competent and registered electrician. They have the skills, tools, and experience to carry out a rewire safely. They will do so in compliance with regulations, leaving you with the correct documentation. This is particularly relevant if you plan on selling your house later or if it is a rental property.
Precision Electrical Services are your local electrician In Walton-on-Thames, with vast experience in rewiring. Our electricians are all highly skilled, fully qualified and NICEIC registered. If your home needs rewiring, contact us today to speak to one of our friendly team.
