Domestic
Rewires
Rewiring a house is a task best left to a qualified electrician. As an electrician or tradesperson, you understand that rewiring a home is a significant project that requires careful planning. However, with house electrical wiring regulations, tools, and supplies frequently changing, there may be some aspects of the job that you haven't considered, especially if it's not something you do regularly.
This professional guide will provide you with a clear understanding of what to consider when rewiring a house and the best practices to follow. You'll discover the signs that indicate a house needs rewiring and what a rewire involves. Additionally, you'll learn about Electrical Installation Condition Reports and current wiring regulations, and we'll go through a list of the top rewiring supplies and tools.
Signs your home may need a rewire
If a home hasn’t been rewired for 25-30 years or more, it may need wiring work to bring it up to current standards. But there are other typical signs to look out for that indicate when to rewire a house, such as:
The consumer unit trips out regularly, and fuses or bulbs blow.
There’s a crackling or buzzing noise from electrical sockets.
The electrical wiring is covered in black rubber, fabric, or lead.
There are signs of burning, such as discoloration around plugs and sockets, or a burning smell.
Lights are constantly flickering, and bulbs need to be changed often.
There are switches made of cast iron.
There’s no labeling on the consumer unit.
The consumer unit has a wooden back.
Sockets are broken or cracked.
Sockets have rounded plug entries instead of 3-pin entries.
There are less than two plug sockets in each room.
Plugs get very hot.
Please note, it is always recommended that this work is completed by a qualified electrician.
What Does Rewiring a House Involve?
When rewiring a house, the process typically involves removing old wiring and installing new electrical wiring along with all related components. This includes replacing electrical cables and installing a new consumer unit, fitting new cabling into the walls and beneath the floors, replacing back boxes on all switches and sockets, rewiring power and lighting circuits, rewiring telephone and TV aerial sockets, and adding or moving switches, sockets, and light fixtures as required. Additionally, cabling for new technology such as speakers, CCTV cameras, and automated lighting is added if necessary.
All of this wiring work can be broken down into two stages, known as ‘fixes’:
First Fix
The first fix stage involves all the necessary work on concealed cabling that must be completed before plastering. This includes cutting chases and installing cabling into the walls, fitting new back boxes for switches and sockets, rewiring power, heating, and lighting circuits, rewiring phone and TV aerial sockets, and adding cabling for new technology such as burglar alarms, CCTV cameras, smoke detectors, doorbells, outdoor lighting, etc.
When cutting chases into walls, it's important to comply with electrical regulations and not compromise the stability of the wall. Here are some key guidelines to follow:
A vertical chase should not be cut deeper than one-third of the total wall thickness.
In a cavity wall, a vertical chase should be no deeper than one-third of the thickness of the skin it's being placed in.
No chases, whether horizontal or vertical, should be made back-to-back.
A horizontal chase should not be cut deeper than one-sixth of the total wall thickness.
In a cavity wall, a horizontal chase should be no deeper than one-sixth of the thickness of the skin it's being placed in.
Chases must go from point A to point B in a straight line, vertically or horizontally. There should be no diagonal chases.
Certification
When the first and second fixings are completed, an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) can be issued, and the installation can be registered with the local building authority under the Part P building regulation scheme.
