Fusebox upgrades

This is a question we get asked a lot in and around Sleaford. It’s completely understandable that clients might question this when their fusebox has been quietly working away in the background, not causing them any issues for years.

However, just because something has been working, it doesn’t mean it’s safe. What was considered the best twenty years ago may now be obsolete and in a few cases actually unsafe. Take the use of asbestos for instance.

Replacing your fusebox will improve the standard of safety in your home, and therefore protect you and your family.

In 2008 the electrical wiring standards and regulations changed meaning all circuits required a Residual Circuit Device (RCD) protection by law. AN RCD is a life saving device which is designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live. Having a modern consumer unit (fusebox) fitted with RCDs gives you the best protection because they usually cover all the wiring, sockets and appliances in your home.

More than half of all accidental house fires start in the kitchen. Last year, nearly 5,500 electrical fires were reported in British domestic kitchens – that’s 15 every single day.

Even more worrying is the fact that over 70 casualties and fatalities per month were reported as a result. Most of these were due to people misusing electrical appliances, so it’s important that you take extra special care when using them.

Here are our top 14 tips to ensure you keep safe in the kitchen:

Power cuts can occur for a variety of reasons such as a storm or a cut power line. Not only do they cause us inconvenience, they can also be highly dangerous. Here are a few tips to keep you safe:

• Check if your neighbours still have power. If their power has gone too, it could be a sign that there has been a local power cut. If this is the case, contact your network distributor. If your neighbours do have power but you still don’t, it’s likely there is a problem with the fuses or trip switches in your home.
• Check your trip switch and fuses - Your trip switch should be on or near your fuse box/consumer unit. If the trip switch is off, try switching it back on. If it switches off again, this could indicate that one of your appliances may be faulty, so unplug all appliances and reset the trip switch. The best thing to do in this situation is to call an approved electrician. They will be able to inspect your system and repair any faults straight away, giving you peace of mind.

The importance of your Fusebox

Unfortunately this scenario crops up quite often when I go out to visit clients.

I hear often that electricians turn up hours after they had arranged, or in some cases not at all. This understandably leads to much frustration on the customers part and a general distrust of electricians in general.

I have to say that this kind of 'problem' is very common within the trade. Marshall Sadler Ltd however pride ourselves on a professional service and we understand that time is very valuable.

We offer full flexibility with our appointments – there is no need for you to take time off work and wait in for us.

Many of the blogs i have written in the past mention how important it is to have an RCD fitted in your home. Although i've explained the importance of having one, i've never actually explained what an RCD does and how it protects the household.

An RCD stands for Residual Current Device. It is an essential safety device that automatically cuts off the electricity if there is a problem. This might sound pretty boring and bog standard, and you might even wonder what the point of having one is.

Having made the decision to replace your old fuseboard, it is important to ensure that this important job is completed by a competent, registered electrician.

Think of your fuseboard as the main hub of your home- its the 'thinking center' to all of the electrical aspects in your home. If the job is carried out incorrectly, your home will be in a dangerous condition and your family is at risk from electrical harm.