Rewiring Query FTB

Newuser0

Hi everyone,

I was hoping to get some advice on re wiring. I’ve just become an owner of a house and got the keys today! :money: :T

The house has a very old fuse box, so wanted to know if anyone can tell if re wiring has been done in the past. Our survey didn’t show it up as the vendors themselves were unsure.

Ive attached an image too, thanks in advance!

Newuser0

Newuser0

https://m.imgur.com/gallery/YenluQK

buggy_boy

I dont see any photos, it would be difficult to tell as a lot of houses have new consumer units but wiring has not been renewed..

How old is the property?

buggy_boy

I see it now, thats a wylex rewireable fuse box from about the late 60's-70's so doubt it has been rewired since then... Without doing tests though it would be impossible to state how good the wiring is and if it needed a rewire...

Check a pendant and see if the cable has twin and earth, if it just has twin then I would recommend a rewire... But really you need to get an electrician in, at the best you need a new consumer unit with RCD protection (You dont have to do it but thats like driving an old car without a seatbelt)

buggy_boy

If you are completely renovating the property then now is a good time to do a rewire as it is an extremely messy job (presuming you want the cables cut into the wall..

Newuser0

Thanks for your replies buggy boy! Sorry for the image, for some weird reason it wasn’t uploading via the url button.

I was intending on upgrading the fuse box as my first point of action. But as I am planning to plaster the whole house I thought - as you mentioned - to get it all done and then plaster it up.

The property was built approx 1935 and vendors were there for 30 yrs.

Newuser0

Don’t get me wrong, I was hoping to read a lot of ‘it doesn’t need re wiring/wires look new’ comments ! Haha

AdrianC

Built 1935? Then, yes, it's been rewired... Probably about 40-50 years ago. 1930s would have been minimal amounts of cotton- or lead-covered wiring running in iron or steel conduits.

As for "does it need rewiring"...? Well, that depends. It's PVC, so it's not going to have deteriorated. It's minimal circuits, with rewireable fuses - so if something does go, it's taking a big chunk of the house out and you're fannying with a roll of fusewire with a torch in your mouth - and if you want to use anything outside, get a plug-in RCD... You could just fit a new RCD and breaker consumer unit. But are all the sockets and lights where you want them?

Newuser0

Thanks for the reply Adrian.

I’m the last person who needs a blowout as I’d have no clue what to do lol

A few sockets are in weird places but I can live with that and the house doesn’t have an external socket. I just didn’t want to plaster the whole house and then have problems with the electrics and then have to mess the walls up again.

dimbo61

So if you plan on staying and want a safe home for yourself and family then now is a good time to completely rewire the whole house.
Three or Four double sockets in every bedroom. Consider where the bed will go ! Maybe a socket behind the bedside cabinet.
Maybe another higher up the wall for a TV and Sky box.
One next to the mirror wardrobe for the hairdryer.
Four/Five in the lounge and dining room.
10 in the kitchen
Security lighting and alarm system.
New RCB fuse box
I have just spent £3,000 on a house doing just that for the rewire and alarm, smoke alarms