What to look for when Rewiring your House in UK

Rewiring a house is a big job that involves replacing old or dodgy wiring with new wiring to make your home’s electrics safe and efficient. Whether you’re renovating an old property or upgrading your existing wiring, here’s what you need to know.

1. Current Wiring Assessment

Before you start rewiring, you need to assess the state of your home’s wiring. Here are the signs your house may need rewiring:

• Tripping circuit breakers or blowing fuses regularly.
• Flickering or dimming lights.
• Discoloured or charred outlets and switches.
• Burning smells or buzzing sounds from outlets.
• Old wiring systems like rubber or fabric insulated cables.

Get a qualified electrician to do a full inspection to determine if and how much rewiring is needed.

2. Qualified Electrician

Rewiring is a complex and dangerous job that must be done by a qualified and registered electrician. In the UK, electricians should be registered with a competent person scheme like NICEIC, ELECSA or NAPIT. This means they meet the required standards and are qualified to do electrical work safely and legally.

3. Permissions

Depending on the scope of the rewiring job, you may need to notify your local building control. In the UK, significant electrical work is covered by Part P of the Building Regulations. Registered electricians can self certify their work which makes the process easier, but if your electrician is not registered you’ll need to submit a building notice and have the work inspected.

4. Planning the Rewire

Proper planning is key to a successful rewire. Consider:

• Design the Electrical System: Plan where sockets, switches, light fittings and other electrical devices will go. Think about your current and future needs to ensure enough capacity and flexibility.
• Create a Schedule: Rewiring can be disruptive so plan the work to minimize the disruption. If possible, plan to be out of the property during the most disruptive parts.
• Budgeting: Rewiring a house can be expensive. Costs vary depending on the size of the property, the complexity of the work and regional variations. Get quotes from several electricians and budget for the unexpected.

5. Safety

Safety should be number one during a rewire. Key safety considerations:

• Isolation of Power: Make sure the power is isolated before you start.
• Asbestos Awareness: Older properties may have asbestos which is a serious health risk if disturbed. Get your property checked for asbestos before you start work.
• Fire Safety: New wiring must comply with current fire safety regulations including the installation of smoke alarms and fire barriers.

6. Regulations

Electrical work in the UK must comply with the BS 7671 Wiring Regulations. Your electrician should know these regulations to ensure the work meets the standards. You should receive an Electrical Installation Certificate and a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate if applicable.

7. Post Installation Inspection and Testing

Once the rewire is finished a thorough inspection and testing of the new electrical system is essential. This will ensure all the work has been done correctly and safely. The electrician will test the wiring, the electrical components and overall safety.

8. Finishing Touches and Rebuilding

• Repair and Paint Walls: Holes and channels in walls for wiring will need to be filled and painted.
• Replace Flooring: If floorboards were lifted they need to be refitted and any damage repaired.
• Reinstall Fixtures: Reinstall light fittings, sockets and other fixtures that were removed during the rewire.

9. Looking After the New System

Regular maintenance is important to keep your new system safe and efficient. Get periodic inspections and tests done especially if you notice any issues like tripping breakers or flickering lights.

Summary

Rewiring your house in the UK is a big investment in safety and convenience. By assessing your current system, getting a qualified electrician, planning and complying with regulations you can get through the process. Remember to put safety first and budget for the finishing touches. With proper planning.