Removing electric fireplace / installing new socket?

SecondStar

First time solo-homeowner (got keys yesterday!), and feeling more than a little overwhelmed. Apologies if this is a stupid question.

I want to remove the big ugly eyesore or an electric fireplace from my living room, but the blooming thing is wired in, and electrics scare the pants off of me.

I turned off all the fuses and had a look under the cover. From these quick and dirty photos, does it look like an amateur could remove the wiring for the fireplace, and possible replace with a functional single socket? Or even a blank plate, as I do have plenty of sockets in that room?

It would be nice to know how to do things myself, and not always be the little woman who has to call a professional in for every tiny job.

grumbler

Yes, it's and easy DIY job, especially if it's a blanking plate in which case you'll nedd a terminal block to terminate the wires - https://www.toolstation.com/connector-strip/p85099

Post a photo of your consumer unit to make sure that you switch of the electricity correctly and check the result with the connected fireplace - it has to stop working.

ETA: you don't even need a new plate and a terminal block. Just disconnect the fireplace and screw the existing plate back.

SecondStar

Thank you @grumbler !

There is a fuse socket to the right, which I assume is for this fireplace. I’ve also attached a pic of the main fuse box.

If I’m installing a blanking plate, I guess that fuse on the right just stays turned off permanently?

dil1976

If you are unsure, there is nothing wrong knowing your skill set. not a big job to do but if you are unsure it wont cost much to get it done correctly. 

SecondStar

dil1976 said:

If you are unsure, there is nothing wrong knowing your skill set. not a big job to do but if you are unsure it wont cost much to get it done correctly. 

Also true, and I’m certainly never opposed to the idea of hiring professionals, but it would be nice to know how to do small things.

I have emailed off to a local guy to see what it would cost though, just in case!

Simonon77

If adding a socket, just connect up the red ( live ) black ( neutral ) and yellow/green ( earth ) to the relevant terminals on the new socket. If you can turn a screwdriver is a dead easy home DIY job to do

dil1976

Should cost too, much, depending on your location I would say in the region of £50 to £70. Will be picked up by them between jobs. How ever be prepared to ask several people before someone does it as its only a small job so you will b eat there mercy when its done.

Simonon77

dil1976 said:

Should cost too, much, depending on your location I would say in the region of £50 to £70. Will be picked up by them between jobs. How ever be prepared to ask several people before someone does it as its only a small job so you will b eat there mercy when its done.

She was asking if she could do it herself rather than call someone in. £50 for less than 5 minutes work you can do yourself is a lot !

housebuyer143

SecondStar said:

First time solo-homeowner (got keys yesterday!), and feeling more than a little overwhelmed. Apologies if this is a stupid question.

I want to remove the big ugly eyesore or an electric fireplace from my living room, but the blooming thing is wired in, and electrics scare the pants off of me.

I turned off all the fuses and had a look under the cover. From these quick and dirty photos, does it look like an amateur could remove the wiring for the fireplace, and possible replace with a functional single socket? Or even a blank plate, as I do have plenty of sockets in that room?

It would be nice to know how to do things myself, and not always be the little woman who has to call a professional in for every tiny job.

Go and turn the fuse board off so there is no power to it and then unscrew the screws holding in the wire. Done! 

YouTube will be your best friend and you will be surprised how many jobs you can do. Wiring a socket and switch are very easy. Just note which wires come out of were and wire them back in the same.

dil1976

Simonon77 said:

dil1976 said:

Should cost too, much, depending on your location I would say in the region of £50 to £70. Will be picked up by them between jobs. How ever be prepared to ask several people before someone does it as its only a small job so you will b eat there mercy when its done.

She was asking if she could do it herself rather than call someone in. £50 for less than 5 minutes work you can do yourself is a lot !

As the OP has already stated they have a limited skill set. The cost isnt for time spent doing the job its for the time spent learning to do the job properly

grumbler

The safest way to work is to switch off the big separate double swith on the left side of your CU. 
Yes, if the fused switch (not socket) in the room operates the fire it's better to keep it swithched of.