Consumer unit upgrades and fuse box replacement
Something has made you look at your fuse box. The electrics keep tripping, an EICR or house survey has flagged it, you’re planning a new kitchen or an EV charger, or the board just looks old. Consumer unit and fuse board work is available across Redhill, Nutfield, Reigate and surrounding areas of Surrey.
Does an old board need replacing?
Not automatically. It depends what is in it and what condition it is in. Some boards need replacing. Others may not.
We check first and tell you plainly what’s actually needed. If the consumer unit doesn’t need replacing, we’ll say so.
Signs worth checking
None of these means the board must be replaced. They are worth a look.
Fuse wire rather than switches. Old enough to be worth checking.
No test button on the board. That usually means no RCD protection.
Trips that keep going. Often a fault on a circuit, which is worth finding either way.
A full board. No spare ways means no room to add a charger, a shower or a kitchen circuit.
Damage or heat marks. Cracks, browning or a burning smell should be looked at promptly.
An EICR code at the board. A C1 or C2 needs attention. What that involves depends on the fault.
Not sure what you are looking at? Ring and describe it.
What an upgrade changes
Fuses and circuit breakers protect against too much current on a circuit. Modern boards usually add an RCD, which disconnects a circuit quickly when current is leaking somewhere it should not. That reduces the risk of an electric shock. It is additional protection rather than a guarantee of absolute safety, but it covers situations a fuse on its own is not designed to detect.
Older rewireable boards often have none, and that is the main practical difference. A modern board can also use RCBOs, which put both types of protection on each circuit, so a fault on one is less likely to take out the others.
What the job includes
Checking the existing circuits first
Fitting the new consumer unit, with the right protection for each circuit
Testing the circuits afterwards
An electrical installation certificate recording the work and the results
Notification under the building regulations, where it is required
The power is off for much of the work. Testing can also reveal faults on existing circuits that an older board was not showing up, and those are separate from the board replacement itself.
What customers have said
“Alex did such a great job on installing a new consumer unit and wall sockets for us. He was on time, very thorough and easy to talk to. We really appreciate his flexibility on dates to coordinate with the decorators.”
A Quinney, Google review
“Top notch job finding the fault in the circuit and replacing the fusebox; excellent communication throughout…”
Checkatrade review, fusebox replacement, RH11
“Alex was very professional and thorough. Explained what he was doing and communicated well prior to and after the work. Felt confident that he was focussed on doing a good job and worked hard throughout.”
Checkatrade review, new consumer unit and EICR remedials, KT17
Common questions
How do I know if my fuse box needs replacing?
It is not always possible to tell by looking. The signs above are the ones worth having checked.
Is the work notified to building control?
Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable. Our electricians are NAPIT approved, so the work can be notified through the scheme rather than arranged separately with building control.
Will I get a certificate for the work?
Yes. An electrical installation certificate recording what was installed, what was tested and the results. It is worth keeping with the property’s records, and it is useful later when selling, letting or having further work done.
Describe what you have got
What the board looks like, whether it has a test button, and what made you look at it. You can also send a photo of the board on WhatsApp. Consumer unit work is one of the electrical services available.