Electrical Instulation

Mutton_Geoff

Consumer units (fuse boxes) often have “chunks” cut out of them to facilitate cable entry. Maybe the hole was larger than your sparky liked?

The box is full of live wires, and neutrals and earths. The live wire was likely to be insulated (can you see a red or brown wire?). These are still safe to touch although not recommended to be sticking your fingers inside.

My guess is the sparky is softening you up for a replacement metal consumer unit to meet the latest regs. There is no requirement to do this. If it’s a cracked or damaged cover made of plastic, you should be able to find new old stock of the identical make on Ebay since they can’t be installed in new jobs any more.

Maybe post a photo or get a second opinion.

If it’s a report for building regs then it should be on the local council building control website. What was it for? It could be as minor as adding an additional circuit and nothing to do with the consumer unit. And in any case, this was not a condition report for your own use, if you wanted one of those, you shoukd have commissioned one.

Worst case? New metal consumer unit for a few hundred quid. Welcome to home ownership!

Jarviscocker

I think his problem with the box was that the wire could be touched by accident because of the hole. As I said before I really don’t know for sure because it went over my head and my dad (who’s used to commercial property management) didn’t think the sparky as taking the P. Sadly he’s not bought a house for many years and my family members are many hours away and we don’t speak much, so they are useless haha.

This forum is so good for getting knowledge. I’m going to search boiler cover now.

G_M

Jarviscocker wrote: »

This forum is so good for getting knowledge. I’m going to search boiler cover now.

By 'boilercover', do you mean an annual contract which covers breakdown?


My own view is that you are better off finding a reliable local independant engineer who will do a service every year or two (my elderly dad went 22 years without a service though I don't recommend that....).


Then put £20 pm aside in a savings account and use that to pay for any breakdown. No breakdown? After 2 years you'll have £480. Enough for a really nice weekend away!

Jarviscocker

^yes self insure is always a good idea. But how much are services? What if something does happen l.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Most boiler cover scams don't include boiler replacement, so the cost of £20 a month is far in excess of my service at £40-£60 every two years. I use my local gasman to do this, that keeps him in work and not some greasy filthy gas bored employee!


The money you save is easily liquidated once a year on a blow out with BoPsie down the wobbleade emporium!

ThePants999

G_M wrote: »

my elderly dad went 22 years without a service

He has my sympathy.

Owain_Moneysaver

ThePants999 wrote: »

He has my sympathy.

I've only had the cover off and a quick poke round once or twice in the same period myself.

G_M

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

I've only had the cover off and a quick poke round once or twice in the same period myself.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Jarviscocker

@davidmcn I didn’t want advice about contract. My question is at the end of the post - how can an electrician sign of the work when those two faults where present. What exactly does the piece of paper say is of satisfactory condition.

davidmcn

Jarviscocker wrote: »

@davidmcn I didn’t want advice about contract. My question is at the end of the post - how can an electrician sign of the work when those two faults where present. What exactly does the piece of paper say is of satisfactory condition.

I don't know, because I haven't seen the piece of paper.

My point is that even if the vendor's electrician has made a mess of whatever they've certified, you can't do anything about it because they're not your electrician.