Does my house need a Rewire?

I often get asked: ‘Does my house need a Rewire?’ Well, the chances are – if your lights are flickering and there are not enough plug sockets to charge your gadgets then yes! It could well do! Rewiring your home can help to reduce the chance of an electrical accident caused by old, faulty, or damaged wiring.

Signs of rewiring 

An old house

If your house is more than 30 years old and you’re not sure if it’s been rewired, or if the switches, sockets, and fuse box appear to be old, you should have an electrician inspect it. If you own your house, you should have your electrical system evaluated every ten years, and if you rent, you should have it tested every five years. Older homes also have fewer electrical sockets, which means extension cords are more likely to be utilised, and plugs can be dangerously overloaded at times.

Lights that flicker or dim

A single flickering or dimming light is most often caused by a faulty bulb, but if you find flickering lights in multiple rooms, it could be a symptom of electrical issues that should be investigated.

Fuses are repeatedly blown

If your fuses are blowing frequently and unexpectedly, it could be an indication that your home needs to be rewired, though it could also be a malfunctioning device. If it keeps happening and you can’t figure out what’s causing it, hire an electrician to look over your wiring.

Sockets or switches that are scorched or discoloured

Brown stains on electrical sockets can be the consequence of small flames created by loose connections inside the sockets, which can generate small electrical arcs and fires. And just because there aren’t any scorch marks doesn’t imply there isn’t an issue, as electric currents could occur within the walls’ wiring. Any discoloration should not be ignored since it could lead to a more serious condition.

Burning Smell

When an electrical short develops near your switches, the small fire usually produces a slight burning odour. If you smell a burning odour but can’t place the source, your wiring could be shorting behind your walls or beneath your floors. Any odour of unidentified burning in your home should be investigated as soon as possible by a skilled electrician.

Power fluctuations

Loose wiring, overloaded sockets, or a conductor transporting power to your home can all create power fluctuations. If you’re not daisy chaining your appliances and you’re experiencing power fluctuations, there could be a more serious problem with your electrical wiring. An increasing reliance on extension cords is also a sign that your home needs to be rewired with more plugs installed in common living spaces.

What is the cost of rewiring a home?

The cost of rewiring your home is determined by a variety of criteria, the most important of which are the size, age, and location of the property. House electrical rewiring costs for a one-bedroom flat are anticipated to range between £1,500 and £4,500, with a turnaround time of 4 to 7 days. On the other hand, a two-bed flat would cost between £2,000 and $5,000 on average. The average cost of rewiring a three-bedroom house is around £5,750. The rewiring process should take 6-10 days, depending on the size and style of the property.

Finding a good electrician for a rewire 

Even if the job appears minor, home electrics are a major concern. While most of us can turn on and off the fuse box, anything that involves electric wiring should be inspected by a qualified electrician. Even legally, this will need to be done.

Accidents and injuries can be considerably reduced when a system is properly installed and maintained. As a result, all electrical installation work should be performed by personnel who have the necessary knowledge, abilities, and experience to avoid the dangers that electricity might cause.

Begin by confirming that the person is a member of one of the government-approved schemes. Choosing a licenced electrician provides you with additional protections if something goes wrong. If you want to double-check an individual’s registration, contact the scheme directly.

So, does my house need a Rewire? Well, don’t feel compelled to decide right away. If an electrician makes you feel uneasy for any reason, get professional counsel before hiring them to complete work for you. Also, acquire a couple quotations to compare your possibilities. One thing to remember is that the cheapest quote may not be the best deal.

If you enjoyed this article on ‘Does my house need a Rewire?’ then you might also like to read about Should you replace your Combi with a heat pump boiler? and Damp Proofing Old Houses