Consumer Unit & Fuse Box Upgrades
The consumer unit is the part of your installation that has to detect a fault and disconnect before anyone gets hurt. An old board with rewirable fuses and no RCD protection simply can't do that job.
Signs your board is due for replacement
You don't need to be an electrician to spot most of these:
- A board with rewirable fuses, or cast-iron switches
- No RCD protection at all (no test buttons on the board)
- A wooden back-box or a plastic enclosure showing heat damage
- Circuits that trip for no obvious reason, or won't reset
- No room left to add a circuit for a shower, EV charger or extension
- Scorch marks, a burning smell, or a buzzing board
What a modern board gives you
Current boards are housed in a non-combustible steel enclosure and use RCD or RCBO protection to detect earth leakage - the fault condition that causes electric shock - and disconnect in milliseconds. Where we use RCBOs, each circuit is protected individually, so a fault in the kitchen no longer takes the upstairs lighting out with it.
We also make sure the things a board depends on are actually right: main earthing and bonding to gas and water services, the incoming supply arrangement, and correct labelling so the next person can tell what each way does.
It's not just a swap
A board change is only safe if the circuits behind it are sound. New RCD protection will find pre-existing faults that an old board was quietly tolerating, which is why we test the circuits first rather than fitting a new unit and hoping. If something needs attention we'll tell you before we start, not after.
The work is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations, and you get certification for it on completion.
Common questions
Do I legally have to upgrade my fuse box?
There's no law that says you must replace a working board simply because it's old. But if an inspection finds the installation unsafe, or you're a landlord with an unsatisfactory EICR, the remedial work isn't optional. Boards without RCD protection very commonly fail an inspection.
Will you find other problems once the new board is in?
Sometimes, yes - that's the point of RCD protection. Wiring faults that an old fuse box ignored will show up as tripping. We test the circuits before fitting the new board specifically so this is a conversation up front rather than a surprise on the day.
How long is the power off for?
The supply has to be off while the board is changed. We'll give you a realistic idea when we quote, and work to keep it as short as we can.
Available 24/7 for emergency call outs
Efficient and friendly service - customer satisfaction at the heart of our values.