Do I Need My House Rewired?

By Author: avinash
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For almost 100 years now we have benefited from electricity, from lighting and heating to powering our computers and appliances. But sometimes we forget the dangers that can occur if a electrical system is not kept in a good condition and up to date. In this article I will give you advice on how to spot if you need a rewire and the benefits.

Normally if you have maintenance and periodic inspections by qualified electrician your electrics should be up to date and safe. However, if you have not kept up to date there are some things you can look out for yourself to determine if you need a full rewire. If in any doubt or need any advice get in touch with a fully qualified electrician.

The first and most obvious is the fuse board, if your fuse board is the old style which has push in rewire-able fuses then the property is most likely at least 30 years old and may need rewiring. You may have had a fuse board upgrade at some point so you still may require work doing.

Secondly is the wires themselves, if you can see black cables in your home then you definitely need a complete rewire. A good place to spot the cables ...
... is above your fuse board. These cables are at least 40 years old, rubber and over time the insulation on the cables will have broken down and is most likely not safe.

Thirdly is the accessories them selves, look at your lighting and socket points. If your lights are a two wire twined pendant style then is likely your lighting circuit is not earthed. Not being earth presents a danger if you have added your own metal light fittings. Also check the socket to see if they are the round pin style, that's another good indication of age which could mean a rewire.

There are other things to look at for but there not as obvious as above, the size of the mains cables. These days there is a bigger demand on electricity as we have more appliances which means you need 25mm2 tails. As well as that the earth bonding cables also needs to be bigger, 10mm2. Not sure what this means seek expert advice.

The benefits with having you house rewired, well the main benefit is your own piece of mind knowing your home is in a safe condition. After your home has been rewired the company will test it and provide you with a certificate, this is also a benefit as it will help to increase the value of your home when up for sale and for mortgage providers. Also after a rewire you will have all your sockets and lights in your specified positions where as before you may of had extension leads trailing around skirting boards.

I hope this has been helpful and if you require any more information you can check out this site,
electricians in birmingham.