Frequent tripping, a board with rewireable fuses, no RCD protection, burning smells or a fuse board that predates the 2000s are all signs it is time for a new consumer unit. A modern unit adds RCD and surge protection and brings your home up to current standards, usually for £800 to £1,000.
Your fuse board rarely fails without warning. It tends to give plenty of hints first, and knowing what to look for means you can sort it out on your terms rather than in a hurry after a fault. Here are the signs worth watching for, and what a modern consumer unit actually changes for your home.
What a Consumer Unit Does
The consumer unit, or fuse board, is where the electricity supply enters your home and splits into the circuits that feed your lights, sockets and appliances. It is also your main line of defence: it should cut the power quickly and safely if a fault or overload occurs. Older boards do this far less effectively than a modern unit, which is why upgrading is one of the best value safety improvements you can make.
Five Signs to Watch For
- Frequent tripping: If your board keeps tripping for no obvious reason, it is often an ageing unit or a single faulty circuit rather than a fault with everything. It is worth having it looked at rather than living with it.
- Rewireable fuses: If your board still uses old-style wire fuses rather than switches, it is well behind current standards and offers much less protection.
- No RCD protection: An RCD protects against electric shock. If your board has no RCD, or only a single one covering the whole house, an upgrade is a real safety improvement.
- Burning smells or scorch marks: Any smell of burning, discolouration or warmth around the board should be checked straight away. Do not ignore it.
- An old board: If your fuse board looks like it predates the 2000s, it is likely due for replacement to meet current wiring standards.
Worried About Your Fuse Board?
Call G&M Electrics on 07584 294650 for a straight answer and a fixed price on consumer unit replacement across Merthyr Tydfil and South Wales.
Call for a Free QuoteWhat a New Unit Changes
A modern consumer unit brings your installation up to current standards and adds protection an older board simply cannot offer.
- Individual circuit protection: With RCBO protection, a fault on one circuit no longer takes out the whole house. The rest of your home keeps running.
- Better shock protection: Modern RCD protection reacts far more quickly to a fault, protecting everyone in the home.
- Surge protection: Where suitable, a surge protection device helps guard your appliances and electronics against voltage spikes.
- A clean bill of health: Changing the board is the perfect time to check the wiring behind it and put right anything that has been niggling you.
Cost Guide
Most consumer unit replacements fall between £800 and £1,000, depending on the number of circuits and the condition of the existing wiring. The power is usually off for around three hours while we carry out the change, and you get a certificate on completion. We give you a fixed price up front after a quick look at your current board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most replacements are done in a single visit, with the power off for around three hours while we carry out the change and test the installation.
Not always. Tripping is often a single faulty circuit or an old board. We find the cause first, and in many cases a new consumer unit resolves it without the cost of a full rewire.
Yes. Once the new board is in we test the full installation and hand you a certificate, which you will want for insurance and for selling your home.
Very little. Aside from the power being off for a few hours, the work is contained around the board. We keep things tidy and clear up after ourselves.
