Electrician Leicester
As a homeowner, it’s good to understand all of the services a local Leicester electrician offers so you can make informed decisions regarding electrical work you need doing around your home. From inspections and installation of home security systems to house rewiring, Leicester electricians provide many services designed to ensure that your electrical systems are operating safely and correctly in your home. If any concerns arise with your system's electrical components or function, be sure to reach out immediately and hire an experienced and licensed electrician who will assess and recommend repairs.
Consumer Unit Upgrades
Consumer units act as the control centre for your electrical system, distributing electricity to various circuits and protecting them from overloading or electrical faults. Over time, the electrical demands of modern households have significantly increased due to the proliferation of electronic devices, innovative home technologies, and energy-intensive appliances. Consequently, older consumer units may struggle to cope with these higher loads, increasing the risk of electrical failures, safety hazards, and potential fire incidents.
By upgrading your consumer unit, you can ensure it is equipped with the latest safety features and meets the current electrical regulations. This proactive approach helps safeguard your home, protect your family, and mitigate the risk of electrical accidents. Upgrading your consumer unit also enhances your Leicester home's electrical efficiency, allowing for smoother operation, reduced energy wastage, and potential cost savings in the long run.
The Need for Consumer Unit Upgrade
Consider the case of a family living in an older house constructed several decades ago. The consumer unit installed in their home was designed to accommodate a significantly lower electrical load compared to modern standards. Over time, the family has incorporated various electrical appliances into their daily lives, such as air conditioning units, electric vehicles, and many entertainment devices.
As a result, the consumer unit is constantly subjected to higher electrical demands than it was initially designed to handle. This strain can lead to frequent tripping of circuit breakers, inadequate power supply to certain areas of the house, and potential safety risks. To address these issues and ensure the safety and functionality of their electrical system, the family decides to upgrade their consumer unit.
Household Benefits of Consumer Unit Upgrades
By opting for a consumer unit upgrade, households can enjoy many benefits that contribute to their safety, convenience, and peace of mind. Let's explore some of these benefits:
- Enhanced Electrical Safety: Consumer unit upgrades typically involve installing residual current devices (RCDs) and circuit breakers with improved safety features. These components provide better protection against electric shocks, short circuits, and overloads, significantly reducing the risk of electrical accidents.
- Greater Electrical Capacity: Upgrading your consumer unit allows for increased electrical capacity, enabling the seamless use of multiple high-demand appliances simultaneously without overloading the system. This ensures a steady power supply to all areas of your home, eliminating voltage fluctuations and electrical disruptions.
- Improved Energy Efficiency: Modern consumer units are designed to optimise energy usage, reducing wastage and promoting efficient distribution. By upgrading, you can minimise energy losses, potentially lowering your electricity bills over time and contributing to a greener environment.
- Compliance with Regulations: Electrical regulations and safety standards evolve over time to address emerging risks and technological advancements. Upgrading your consumer unit ensures compliance with these regulations, protecting you from potential legal issues and insurance complications.
Safety Inspections – PAT Testing & EICR
Electrical safety inspections are essential in ensuring your property meets all necessary safety requirements, as they help identify any potential electrical hazards, such as faulty wiring or equipment, which could result in fires, electric shocks or other dangerous incidents.
EICR and PAT testing are two essential electrical safety inspections necessary to maintain a secure property. An EICR involves an in-depth inspection of your property's electrical installations while PAT tests check all portable electrical appliances for compliance.
Does Electrical Inspection Apply to Me?
To better illustrate the importance of electrical safety inspections, let's take the example of a small business owner named John, who operates a coffee shop. One day, one of John's customers reported receiving an electric shock while using one of John's electrical appliances in his coffee shop. Let's consider an electrical safety inspection scenario as an example to demonstrate.
John was alarmed to hear of this development and immediately called an electrician to inspect his Leicester property. The electrician discovered some faulty appliances and outdated wiring, which may pose safety hazards; therefore, he suggested conducting EICR and PAT tests to identify any additional issues.
Tests revealed multiple electrical hazards at John's coffee shop that, left unaddressed, could result in serious accidents. John was given a comprehensive report outlining these findings and recommendations for remedial action - which he promptly implemented.
John could use the inspection as an opportunity to ensure his business was operating safely, preventing potential accidents or legal liabilities from occurring.
Safety Inspection Benefits of Inspections
Home and business owners alike can gain many advantages from safety inspections. Some of the main benefits include:
- Safety: On an electrical level, inspections can help identify potential electrical hazards that are detrimental to human safety, reducing risk and decreasing accidents.
- Compliance: Safety inspections help ensure that your property meets current electrical safety standards and regulations while saving costs by identifying and rectifying electrical hazards early.
- Peace of mind: Knowing that your property meets all safety and occupancy standards gives you and your occupants peace of mind.
The Process of Conducting Safety Inspections
- Safety inspections: Be it EICR or PAT testing - typically entail several steps:
- Visual Inspection: An electrician will conduct a visual inspection to identify any visible defects or damages to electrical installations and appliances.
- Testing: After inspecting and testing, an Leicester electrician will use specialised equipment to conduct safety and functionality testing of your installations and appliances, providing a report with their findings and any recommendations for corrective action or changes needed based on these tests.
House Rewires
House rewires ensure your electrical system remains safe, efficient, and up-to-date. An outdated electrical system can pose risks like electrical fires or shocks; house rewires involve replacing worn-out wiring components such as components and fixtures and installing new circuit breakers to meet current safety standards and upgrades in your home's electrical system.
My Home Is Old; When Will Rewiring Be Necessary?
Living in a house built before 1970 could present you with an outdated electrical system that may no longer meet modern safety standards, necessitating home rewiring to ensure it complies with current electrical safety requirements and ensure its safe functioning. It may become necessary when remodelling, adding appliances or upgrading your electrical system. In such instances, house rewiring becomes essential.
House Rewire Benefits
Rewiring your Leicester home offers multiple household benefits. First and foremost, it ensures your electrical system is safe and up to date; an upgraded electrical system can accommodate more appliances for greater efficiency and convenience. Furthermore, house rewires increase home value, making them more appealing to potential buyers.
Home Rewiring: The Step-by-Step Process
The initial step of any house rewire involves conducting an electrical inspection to ascertain the scope and cost of work required. An Leicester electrician will then develop a plan and give you a quote for this work. When all parties involved agree on these aspects of the project, work will start by switching off power to your home and disassembling all electrical components and fixtures before installing new wiring, electrical components and fixtures, upgrading your system according to current electrical safety standards before conducting final inspection and turning it back on for power restoration.
Time and Cost
A house rewire typically takes four days and several weeks, depending on its complexity and materials used, size, the scope of work required and available materials. A small rewire might take just days, while larger projects might span several weeks. Cost estimates range anywhere from £3,000 to over £15,000, depending on the scope of work required.
FAQ:
What is PAT testing, an EICR Report & does it apply to my Leicester property?
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) involves inspecting electrical appliances to ensure their safety. Most defects can be detected visually when inspecting them closely; however, others require testing in order to reveal them. Health and Safety Executives (HSE) does not recommend how often PAT tests are to be performed because every environment and appliance requires different measures.
It's a good idea for landlords to get all their appliances tested PAT before they move in with a new renter. Then, the smaller appliances will be PAT tested at intervals of two years. Larger items such as fridges and washers should then be tested four times a year.
My Leicester house is getting old; how often should the electrics be tested?
Leicester homeowners should test their electrics every 10 years for optimal safety.
What is involved in a house rewire?
Your electrical wiring system provides electricity to all of the appliances, equipment, and lighting in your home. Over time, however, its installation needs updating; therefore, house rewiring involves replacing all wiring in every room in your house to upgrade equipment - an upgrade should occur every 25 years as recommended by guidelines. Rewiring involves an electrician (or team of electricians) taking out and replacing with new installations throughout your house for maximum safety and reliability.