Electrician help needed please

Clueless101

Hello

I'm looking for advice about electrics, please.

I'm worried about the electrics in my Mum's house. Everything is potentially original to the house (35-40 years old) except for the dimmer switches in the bedrooms which were added by my Mum 28 years ago. One of these no longer works and another is temperamental (it buzzes too).

Downstairs the living room/ dining room is open plan and there are two light fittings, but only one switch (well there's a switch with a separate dimmer next to it, but the dimmer has never worked). One of these two lights doesn't turn on when using this switch, (it hasn't done since I was little!), is this safe?

Also, there is a triple plug socket used for the TV etc. but it doesn't have any switches, so sometimes when you plug something in, there is a small spark! :eek: The area around one of the sockets is a little black, so it worries me to use that one, is this really dangerous?

In the kitchen, there is one panel on the wall with a plug socket (that doesn't work) and a switch for the cooker (no socket, just a switch, the electrics are hidden in the wall). The washing machine used to be in the garage, but now it's in the kitchen it doesn't have a socket nearby, so my Mum uses a 4-way adapter/extension to power it from across the room - it runs along the floor at the base of the cabinet with the sink above, this can't be safe?! :eek:

The bathroom and toilet have pull cord light fittings (the toilet one also turns on an old noisy extractor fan as there is no window), but Mum has put energy saving lightbulbs (free from utility company) in them so they flicker strangely when you turn them on, should these be changed?

On the landing the light can be switched on/off from downstairs and upstairs - downstairs is just a switch, but upstairs is a dimmer, a different kind to the bedrooms though, you press the dimmer in/out to turn on before twisting it - this light sometimes flickers too.

I have no idea what the "box situation" is, it's all in the garage and will be original to the house.

I would like to know how it is best to proceed, please? Should a few things just be repaired or does it sound like too much will probably need replacing? I'm guessing a new fuse box of some kind will be needed and maybe some of the wiring will need replacing, so it could turn into a big job anyway and small repairs may no longer be an option.

However, I was thinking would it be more cost effective to get everything done at once in a sort of future-proofing way rather than just doing some basic replacements/repairs? I know a few more plug sockets would be useful (there's a few singles that would be better as doubles) and the TV triple could do with being at least 4 since it probably needs changing to include switches anyway. Maybe fix the living room/ dining room lights to work with separate switches. Maybe have the washing machine and fridge electrics hidden in the wall like the cooker (or is this better left to be done with a eventual kitchen renovation?). Also, the smoke/ fire detectors are currently battery operated and the telephone socket in the hall has a very long cable running all the way upstairs to the router, so perhaps another telephone socket would be a good idea too. I'm not sure about lighting as I know there's a lot of options, plus any other options for sockets etc.

I'm mostly worried about the safety aspect, but obviously if the necessities cause a lot of work and re-plastering is needed afterwards anyway, then I thought making other changes might be a good idea, but I don't really know where to start.

Also, what are the requirements in terms of building regs or certificates? How is best (other than recommendation) to find a fully qualified electrician and what questions should Mum be asking? Does she just ask them round to discuss what does/doesn't need doing and then quote from there?

Sorry this post is so huge! I just really don't know where to start!

Thanks

Myser

There are a number of issues some of which are quite dangerous. You should find a good electrician to assess the installation and provide a report.

If you cannot find one through recommendations from friends/family, search the Electric Safe Register:

http://www.electricsaferegister.co.uk/

There are far too many items you have listed to comment on.

happy35

my electrics were a nightmare and got sorted out last year, I though I would need a full rewire but didnt

I got everything upgraded and a new box installed so everything meets current standards, there were a few problems around hte kitchen and utility area that took extra time and needed floors taken up etc.

I know have a certificate saying that everything is fine, think it cost me about £750

Clueless101

Myser wrote: »

There are a number of issues some of which are quite dangerous. You should find a good electrician to assess the installation and provide a report.

If you cannot find one through recommendations from friends/family, search the Electric Safe Register:

Link

There are far too many items you have listed to comment on.

Thanks for your reply. Would it be best to ask for an assessment report first? Would there just be a fixed fee for this? Or should Mum stick with getting a few free quotes first to discuss options?

Thanks for the link - is there any particular difference between the different schemes that one is better than another, NICEIC, ELECSA, NAPIT etc.?

Clueless101

happy35 wrote: »

my electrics were a nightmare and got sorted out last year, I though I would need a full rewire but didnt

I got everything upgraded and a new box installed so everything meets current standards, there were a few problems around hte kitchen and utility area that took extra time and needed floors taken up etc.

I know have a certificate saying that everything is fine, think it cost me about £750

That's encouraging, thank you. Mum doesn't really want the disruption of a full rewire, but then again would probably prefer anything that's likely to need doing in the next 5-10 years be done now, so that she could at some point decorate without having to worrying it's a waste of money should further work be needed that would undo any of the work (if that makes sense).

Myser

The various membership bodies are a much of a muchness really. Recently, there was a merge between the major membership bodies to make it easier for the consumer. Hence the Electric Safe Register - like the Gas Safe Register.

I would suggest that you obtain a few quotes for an EICR before having any work carried out:

http://www.esc.org.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/industry/best_practice/BestPracticeGuide4-Locked.pdf

This site may give you an idea of cost based on where you are:

http://www.whatprice.co.uk/prices/electrician/periodic-electrical-inspection-incl-certificate.html

Clueless101

Myser wrote: »

The various membership bodies are a much of a muchness really. Recently, there was a merge between the major membership bodies to make it easier for the consumer. Hence the Electric Safe Register - like the Gas Safe Register.

I would suggest that you obtain a few quotes for an EICR before having any work carried out:


This site may give you an idea of cost based on where you are:

That's great, thanks very much for your help.