Do you need to rewire your home?

What are the tell-tale signs that indicate out-of-date electrics and what do you do if your electrical survey shows that a rewire is necessary?

There are several indicators to look out for, including:

• Cables coated in black rubber – this was phased out back in the 1960s

• Cables coated in lead or fabrics, which will be even older – modern cables use PVC insulation, which is usually coloured grey or white

• A fuse box with a wooden back, cast-iron switches ora haphazard mixture of fuse boards inside it

• Old-style round-pin sockets and round light switches

• Braided flex hanging from ceiling roses to light fittings

• Black switches

• Sockets mounted in skirting boards – this is now banned

• Burn marks round sockets.

If any of these are present, you should arrange for a full electrical survey, also known as a Periodic Inspection Report. A PIR should, in any case, be carried out at least every ten years. It will reveal if electrical circuits are overloaded, find potential hazards in the installation, identify defective DIY work and highlight any lack of earthing or bonding.

If the PIR shows unsatisfactory wiring, you should then employ a government-registered, NICEIC-affiliated electrician to carry out the electrical work needed to bring your electrics up to current safety standards. Bear in mind that rewiring work can be a disruptive and messy job – so don’t plan to redecorate before work starts. Wiring work may also require floor coverings and floorboards to be lifted, and you’ll need to remove furniture and protect anything that’s left behind from the dust that will be created.

On completion, your electrician will provide you with a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate to certify that the work meets national safety standards and fulfils the requirements of Part P of the Building Regulations – which covers electrical safety, particularly in wet areas.

Electricians qualified to carry out PIRs and undertake rewiring work can be found by visiting findanelectrician.info or you can call the NICEIC on: 0870 013 0382.