Signs Your Home Needs Rewiring or Electrical Updating

Wiring does not last for ever. Cables, switches and fittings age, and the way we use electricity has changed beyond recognition since many homes on the Fylde coast were built. A house with a good-looking kitchen can still be running on wiring that is decades old. This guide explains the warning signs, what rewiring involves and how to find out whether you need it. It applies to homes in England.

A single sign does not mean you need a full rewire, and many problems can be fixed locally. The only reliable way to know is to have the installation inspected and tested by a competent person.

How long does wiring last?

There is no exact expiry date. The life of wiring depends on the materials, how heavily it has been used, whether it has been damaged or overheated and how it was installed. Older insulation, such as rubber or fabric covering, deteriorates with age and can become brittle. Newer plastic insulation lasts longer, but it too can be damaged by heat, by being squashed or by nails and screws.

Electrical Safety First recommends that owner-occupied homes are inspected at least every 10 years, and our EICR guide explains what an inspection involves. Older properties benefit from more regular checking, especially after you buy them.

Warning signs

Signs you can see

• Old consumer unit. A fuse box with rewirable fuses, a wooden back-board or no RCD protection is a sign that the installation may be old. See our consumer unit guide.
• Old-style cables. Cables covered in rubber or fabric, or lead-sheathed cables, are a sign of very old wiring. You might see these in lofts or under floorboards, or at the back of the consumer unit.
• Round-pin sockets or old switches. Sockets with round pins, or old brown or black switches in a style no longer made, point to old wiring behind them.
• Scorch marks or discolouration. Dark marks around a socket or switch, or on a plug, suggest overheating.
• Cracked or damaged fittings. Sockets or switches that are cracked, loose or that feel warm to the touch need attention.
• Not enough sockets. If the house relies on adaptors and extension leads, that is a sign that the installation has not kept pace with the way you use electricity, and it can lead to overloaded sockets.

Signs you can hear, smell or feel

• A buzzing, crackling or sizzling sound from a socket, switch or the consumer unit.
• A burning or fishy smell, which can be a sign of overheated plastic.
• A tingle or shock when you touch an appliance or switch.
• Lights that flicker or dim when another appliance comes on.

Signs in the way the system behaves

• Fuses that blow or breakers and RCDs that trip often, especially if no obvious appliance is to blame. See our guide to tripping circuits and RCDs.
• Sockets that sometimes work and sometimes do not.
• Bulbs that burn out quickly.

What to do if you notice a warning sign

If you smell burning, see smoke or sparks, or have a shock, stop using the circuit, switch off at the consumer unit if it is safe to do so, and call a registered electrician or the emergency services if there is a fire. Do not keep using a socket that is hot or scorched. We offer emergency electrical repairs in the Blackpool and Fylde area, and you can call 01253 364101.

For less urgent signs, arrange an inspection. A report that finds C2 observations will tell you what must be dealt with urgently, and the electrician can tell you whether the problem is local or points to the whole installation.

Rewire or partial rewire?

A full rewire replaces most or all of the cables, sockets, switches and the consumer unit. It is generally needed when the cabling is at the end of its life, when the insulation has deteriorated or when the layout is no longer fit for the way the home is used. It is disruptive, because floorboards come up and walls and ceilings are often chased, so it is best done when a property is empty or being renovated.

A partial rewire replaces part of an installation, for example one floor, an extension or specific circuits. This is a sensible answer when the problem is localised, for example if the downstairs has been rewired and the upstairs has not.

Sometimes you do not need to rewire at all. A faulty circuit can be repaired, a consumer unit can be replaced and extra sockets can be added, all without touching the wiring that is still in good condition. A good electrician will explain what the choices are and why they recommend one.

What a rewire involves

Although every house is different, the stages are broadly:

1. Survey and inspection. The electrician looks at the existing installation, tests it and discusses how you want to use each room.
2. Planning. You agree where sockets, lights and switches will go. This is the time to ask for more sockets, USB sockets, outdoor power or a circuit for an EV charger, see our EV charger guide.
3. First fix. Old cables are removed and new ones are run, with back boxes fitted.
4. Making good. Plastering and decorating usually follow.
5. Second fix. Sockets, switches, lights and the new consumer unit are fitted.
6. Testing and certification. The installation is tested and an Electrical Installation Certificate is issued.

A rewire is notifiable under Part P in England, so the work should either be done by a registered electrician or be notified to building control. See our Part P guide.

Planning around the disruption

A full rewire can be done while you live in the property, but it is noisy and dusty, and the power is off for parts of each day. Many people move out, or arrange the work around a renovation. Ask your electrician how long the work is expected to take, how they will protect your floors and furniture, and what happens if they find a problem once the walls are open. Agree the finishing of plaster and decorating before you start, as this is often handled by other trades.

Getting a view

To find out where your house stands, you can ask for an inspection, or for advice on a particular concern. See our domestic electrical page for the work we do for homes, or call 01253 364101.