Hi,
Been recommended to ask a question on here from another forum.
I'm having my boiler upgraded to a vaillant combi and moved about 8 feet along the kitchen wall. Got an estimate for the work (i asked for a quote and only realised it was an estimate two weeks after paying the deposit). The work included adding a socket in the kitchen for a fridge and a fused spur for an outside light.
Last week the electrician came along to survey the site and left saying .....
You either need a new consumer unit (330 quid) or an additional consumer unit box just for the new boiler (160 quid). No one else has mentioned the electrics needed upgrading when providing quotes for the job. The house was build in 1989 and uses the existing fuse wire consumer unit. About 8 years ago a shower was added, this uses a MCB and i've got a MCB on the ring main circuit. I don't have any free spaces on the existing consumer unit - although surely he could re-use the immersion heater 'slot' which already has a cable to almost the right place & the floor is being lifted between the immersion and the boiler.
Does it sound like i'm being taken for a mug or do you need a separate feed just for the boiler? Perhaps another way of asking this is .... why would my dad who's had the same work done 6 months ago in a similar house not need the fuse box upgrading?
If I do get the consumer unit replaced - how do i know he's doing a good job? What should he do before / during / after replacing the consumer unit? How long should it take?
Been recommended to ask a question on here from another forum.
I'm having my boiler upgraded to a vaillant combi and moved about 8 feet along the kitchen wall. Got an estimate for the work (i asked for a quote and only realised it was an estimate two weeks after paying the deposit). The work included adding a socket in the kitchen for a fridge and a fused spur for an outside light.
Last week the electrician came along to survey the site and left saying .....
You either need a new consumer unit (330 quid) or an additional consumer unit box just for the new boiler (160 quid). No one else has mentioned the electrics needed upgrading when providing quotes for the job. The house was build in 1989 and uses the existing fuse wire consumer unit. About 8 years ago a shower was added, this uses a MCB and i've got a MCB on the ring main circuit. I don't have any free spaces on the existing consumer unit - although surely he could re-use the immersion heater 'slot' which already has a cable to almost the right place & the floor is being lifted between the immersion and the boiler.
Does it sound like i'm being taken for a mug or do you need a separate feed just for the boiler? Perhaps another way of asking this is .... why would my dad who's had the same work done 6 months ago in a similar house not need the fuse box upgrading?
If I do get the consumer unit replaced - how do i know he's doing a good job? What should he do before / during / after replacing the consumer unit? How long should it take?