Does my fuse box need to be replaced?

Knowing when it is time to replace your fuse box can be difficult if you have no electrical knowledge. 
There are often warning signs that your fuse box needs replacing, but many homeowners don’t know what these are. If you are experiencing any problems with your fuse box, then it is best to get in touch with your local electrician. If you are based in Romsey, Hampshire then N.D.M Electrical are your local, qualified electrician and we will be happy to give you our expert advice and ensure your home is kept safe.

What is a fuse box?

For most homeowners in Romsey, their fuse box isn’t something they have spent much time thinking about. Fuse boxes, or consumer units as their modern counterparts are called, are the electrical heart of your home and control the flow of electricity. Their job is to distribute power safely throughout your home and to cut that power if a fault is detected. Your fuse box is often tucked away in a cupboard, out of sight and out of mind. It’s not until something goes wrong that most homeowners go to take a look.

What you will see when you do look is one of two things:

• An older style fuse box – This will have fuses that have to be manually removed in the event of a fault. You then rewire the fuse and pop it back in to restore the power. This can be a fiddly task, particularly in the dark! This style of fuse box will almost certainly need to be replaced. This is a very old design which will be at the end of its lifespan and is far less safe than a modern fuse box.
• A newer consumer unit – A consumer unit is the modern equivalent of a fuse box and essentially performs the same task. A consumer unit houses a bank of small switches that are connected to each circuit in your home. When there is a fault the switch for the affected circuit toggles off immediately. This makes it easy to see where the fault has occurred and restoring the power is as simple as flicking a switch. 
   

Reasons your fuse box needs to be replaced

There are several reasons that may mean the fuse box in your Romsey home needs replacing. These can include:

• Age of current fuse box – This is the most common reason for fuse box replacement. With time and use all parts of our home need to be replaced and your fuse box is no different. If your fuse box is of the older rewireable style, then it is definitely time for an upgrade.
• Electrical Issues – Do your lights keep flickering or are you experiencing problems with your sockets? This can be a good indicator that your fuse box is beginning to deteriorate. If you are experiencing these problems, call in your local electrician as soon as possible.
• Added RCD protection – RCDs are an important safety component in modern consumer units and are vital in protecting against electric shocks. Older fuse boxes were not designed with RCDs, so an upgrade will be recommended. 
• Adding capacity – Sometimes a fuse box replacement may be needed because your current consumer unit is full, and you require additional circuits. This is common when renovating your home and when adding additional electrical installations such as EV chargers.

If you have concerns or questions about a fuse box replacement, then our friendly electricians at N.D.M Electrical are happy to answer all your queries. Highly experienced in fuse box replacement, we are your local, trusted electrician in Romsey Hampshire. Call and speak to one of our fully qualified, NICEIC registered electricians today.