Rewiring Your Home

Are you unsure what rewiring your home involves? Or how to tell if your home needs rewiring? BTM Solutions are your local, professional rewire electricians in Southend, Essex. Our experienced, fully qualified electricians are here to guide you through the process and make the decision to rewire your home simple. 

Does my home need rewiring?

The first thing to find out when you are thinking of rewiring your home is the age of the current wiring. In general, wiring should be replaced every 25 years. This helps keep your home safe from the risk of faulty wiring causing an electrical fire. It also means your home’s electrical system will meet current standards for safety. If you are unsure when your home was last rewired, there are a few areas you can look at to give you an idea.

The best place to start is your fuse box. Is your fuse box an older style with fuses that have to be replaced in the event of a fault? If so, it is likely that your property is due for a rewire. A modern fuse box, also known as a consumer unit, has switches that toggle on and off if a fault is detected. If you have one of these it can indicate your wiring has been recently upgraded.

Most of a home’s electrical wiring is hidden away in the walls. There are a few places where you can see the wiring itself and this is the next area to check. You should be able to see some exposed wiring around your fuse box and often around light fittings. Modern electrical wiring has PVCu insulating cable and is either white or grey. If your cabling is encased in rubber or fabric, your wiring is quite elderly and will need replacing to keep you safe. Older PVCu wiring will also need replacing if it does not feature twin earthing.  If you are in any doubt, consult a qualified electrician about the condition of your wiring. They will have the knowledge and experience to advise you on the best course of action.

When would a rewire be necessary?

Besides the age of your home’s existing wiring, there are other reasons that a rewire would be necessary. If you are planning any major remodelling or renovations, rewiring is often necessary to be compliant with Building Regulations. This would include extending your home or converting your garage or attic. Your wiring will need to conform to Part P regulations and will need to be capable of handling the additional loads your home improvements require. This can also be the case if you add new technology to your home such as an EV charger or have a high-tech kitchen installed.  

What happens when my home is rewired?

Having your home rewired is a major undertaking. Every area of your home will be affected. A rewire is often performed as planned part of major renovations and should be carried out at the first fix stage. Floorboards will be lifted; new channels will be made in walls for the electrical wiring and all fixtures and fittings will be replaced. The rewiring process will take a few days. The duration will depend on the size of your home and the complexity of the circuitry required. You will usually need to spend a few days away from home whilst the rewiring is carried out. Your electrician will advise you before any work commences how long they expect the work to take and will keep you informed every step of the way.  

If you are planning on having your home rewired, BTM Solutions are your local, professional electricians. Our Southend based; fully qualified electricians will be happy to share their expertise with you. We come highly recommended and strive to provide an outstanding service to all our customers. Call us today and experience our 5-star service for yourself.