- All
- Burglar Alarms
- Consumer Unit Replacement
- Electric Questions
- Emergency Lighting
- Fire Alarm Installation
- Landlord Checks
- Rewiring a House
- Security Cameras and CCTV
- Underfloor Heating
When looking for a trustworthy local electrician in Shrewsbury we suggest start with recommendations. Ask your friends if they’ve hired an electrician before. Word of mouth on forums is a great way to find out more about local electricians that charge a fair rate for their work. For more information about finding a good electrical contractor in Shrewsbury read this handy guide.
To check if your emergency lighting is still working, there will be a push to test button somewhere, either on the casing or nearby. You may need a special key to test your system.
CCTV stands for closed-circuit television. So how does a modern CCTV system work? The answer depends on the type of system involved. The systems are best defined by the types of cameras used.
Regulations for landlords changed on 1 June 2020 meaning that every properly let from that date will require an electrical safety certificate, landlords with existing tenants have up until 1 April 2021 to arrange an electrical safety certificate.
Here are three of the most common reasons why your electric underfloor heating isn’t working:
Thermostat Issues
Is there a display showing on your thermostat? If you can’t see anything, then check your consumer unit hasn’t tripped an RCD, if the RCD is in the on position check the power supply going to the thermostat.
If the display is working, check the error code against the manual. Is there no error code? Try resetting the thermostat clock. If that doesn’t work, it’s time to call an electrician.
Temperature Sensor Problems
If the temperature sensor has failed, you’ll notice that the thermostats temperature display looks abnormal. It’s a fairly simple job to replace a temperature sensor.
Damaged Cable
Accidents happen. If you’ve a damaged cable, it’s a fairly easy job to replace the damaged cable yourself, but an experienced electrician can do this for you quickly.
Don’t be put off by the initial costs of underfloor heating. Over time underfloor heating reduces running costs because it gives out the same amount of heat as radiators but at a lower temperature. Over a period of years, underfloor heating can work out cheaper than a conventional heating system.
After the initial outlay, an electric underfloor heating system is more efficient than running just a conventional heating system because heat is more evenly distributed throughout a room.
Just like any electrical equipment it’s always a good idea to keep on top of maintenance, that includes electric underfloor heating. We suggest an annual check before the winter months when the cold bites.
Fitting a fire alarm in a domestic property is fairly quick for a simple wired system. For commercial properties, you’ll need an expert with a detailed knowledge of British Standard BS 5839.
Many people looking at purchasing a home will look to see how old the electrics are. So will rewiring a house add value: probably not. But will a rewired property make a home more attractive to buyers: most definitely.
- Begin to Prepare the house by lifting carpets and removing any obstructions on the floor or walls.
- Identify and lift floorboards where the wire will be laid.
- Rewiring will require loft access, prepare space where possible.
- Manage the post-rewire cleanup.
- After rewiring, self-decorate your house.
Rewiring a house is messy, but how much mess depends on the age of the property and if there are any changes to the current house wiring designs. First fix is the messy stage where cable and wiring is being installed. We suggest you avoid the mess and have a few days away.
It is likely that your house will need to be rewired if it was built in the 1960s or earlier. Current regulations (BS 7671:2008) state wiring should be coated with PVCu. Cable insulated with rubber, fabric (1960s) or lead (1950s) will need replacing as it crumbles with age.
Homeowners insurance will cover your electrical wiring. You should have your wiring checked every ten years, and rewire the house as guided by the electrician report. This will help minimise your home insurance premium and remove/reduce the risk of an electrical house fire.
It’s possible to rewire a house without removing drywall by feeding cables through space within a wall. In most cases though, the best way to rewire a home is to remove or at least cut into the wall. A professional, safe job is more important in the long run.
How long it takes to fit and replace a fuse box with modern consumer unit depends on a) the size of the house and b) how many circuits are involved. In a typical three-bedroom house you might expect six circuits. If there is nothing wrong with the wiring of the property then it will take around 2 hours to install the consumer unit and up to half a day for testing.
You do not need to replace an existing consumer unit unless it is defective or unsuitable for continued use.
Not all MCBs fill all installed consumer units, although they should be standard. For domestic consumer units you’ll need type B MCBs, type C are used for loads with high inrush currents.
BS 7671:2008, document M suggests that consumer units should be installed on a wall so that the switches are between 1350mm and 1450mm above floor level.
You wire a consumer unit by fixing the live cable into the top of an MCB. The neutral cable is screwed into the RCD neutral terminal block. The earth cable will then be fed into the consumer unit and wired up to the appropriate MCB.
Changing a fuse box for a modern consumer unit should be performed by a certified professional electrician who is Part P compliant. The replacement board should meet BS 7671:2008 regulations.
