Apologies in advance if this post appears a bit long winded but I want to make sure that I give you all the info so that you can give me the right sort of advice.
Our two-bed semi was built in 1960, with an extension built in 1981 before we moved here in 1982. In 1998 we got it rewired with (at the time) a modern fusebox with trip switches. Previously we had the kind with pull out fuses and wires. We don't remember getting any paperwork from the guy who did it. He was quite old then and I doubt that he is still with us. In any case we have no contact info for him after 15 years.
Now for my story ...
Last weekend my husband screwed two brackets in to the wall above our fireplace, between two side lights, to put up a mirror. When he put the power back on and switched on the lights only side one lit up. He checked the bulbs and they were fine, so we can only assume he screwed through the wire leading to the side two.
I thought I was on a winner as we have British Gas Home Care 400 plan which covers home electrics. The electrician came to do the work today and I was all prepared for her having to raggle out the wall. When she look the lights down she said that she had expected to find two cables behind side one but there was only one, meaning that the cable must be jointed somewhere in order to supply power to side two. She also said there was no earth at either side. When she went to the light switches she said she couldn't do any work as the light switch also had no earth and it was VIR cabling, which Scottish Gas don't cover.
She then said that my husband shouldn't have installed the new lights or light switches as they are metal, because there was no earth. I was starting to get very worried by now. She put a block behind the side lights switch so that they can't be switched on.
She showed me inside the fuse box where there were dozens of red wires, but amongst these were three brown wires. She said these were the VIR cabled circuits. The trip switches are labelled - Lights, Lights Extension, Spare, Central Heating, Sockets Extension, Sockets Kitchen, Sockets (1), Sockets (2), Cooker, Shower.
Two of the brown wires are located at the Lights trip switch and one is at one of the Sockets trip switches. She said that, as far as the VIR cable was concerned, it was likely that all our lights, apart from those in the extension, were on the same circuit as the living room and was unsure which sockets would be affected. She advised these should all be rewired.
The checklist form she left with me states that the fusebox does not comply with current standards, but she explained this was ok. She has also ticked that we are 'At Risk', as well as Code 1 - Danger Present, Code 2 - Potentially Dangerous AND Code 3 - Improvement Recommended.
Last year and this year we have spent a lot of money getting the hall, stairs, extension and living room replastered, decorated, new carpets & furniture, etc. We also converted our loft for storage so it is now floored, which will cause further problems and cost if it has to be lifted up. We only finished the living room work in September so I am heartbroken at the thought of more work and having to redecorate these areas. We aren't getting any younger and had hoped, apart from the odd lick of paint, that this work would see us into our dotage!
My husband doesn't seem all that perturbed by this situation but I am really worried. This has been left to me to sort out since he is at work and I am at home. If I don't action this, then I know I would still not have any sidelights five years from now! I have looked on this Forum and am concerned about what may be involved to rectify things. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and teary right now.
Can anyone please give me some advice as to next steps should be and some answers to my questions. I am not at all technically minded, but I know I would feel a whole lot better just to have some info in layman's language. It's the not knowing that is making me sick with panic. Am I blowing things all out of proportion?
- How long can this be left undone, as I really don't want any upheaval before Xmas?
- We have accidental damage cover as part of our building/ home contents insurance. Does anyone know if this would cover this work, given that it was an accident, or are we likely to be told by insurers that it's our duty to have the house wired properly?
- Will everything need to be rewired, or just(!) the three VIR cabled circuits?
- How much would this work cost - our house has two bed, two public (one of these is the extension), kitchen and bathroom? I asked the electrician for a rough estimate and she said approx £2000, more if Scottish Gas were to do it.
- Would we need to get a new fusebox?
- Would we need any kind of certificate, notification to Council, etc?
- Will the entire house need to be pulled apart?
- What amount of work and upheaval is likely to be involved just to get the side lights working again? Could that part just be completed on its own or will all the rewiring need to be done at the same time?
Please help me, thank you.
Kate
Our two-bed semi was built in 1960, with an extension built in 1981 before we moved here in 1982. In 1998 we got it rewired with (at the time) a modern fusebox with trip switches. Previously we had the kind with pull out fuses and wires. We don't remember getting any paperwork from the guy who did it. He was quite old then and I doubt that he is still with us. In any case we have no contact info for him after 15 years.
Now for my story ...
Last weekend my husband screwed two brackets in to the wall above our fireplace, between two side lights, to put up a mirror. When he put the power back on and switched on the lights only side one lit up. He checked the bulbs and they were fine, so we can only assume he screwed through the wire leading to the side two.
I thought I was on a winner as we have British Gas Home Care 400 plan which covers home electrics. The electrician came to do the work today and I was all prepared for her having to raggle out the wall. When she look the lights down she said that she had expected to find two cables behind side one but there was only one, meaning that the cable must be jointed somewhere in order to supply power to side two. She also said there was no earth at either side. When she went to the light switches she said she couldn't do any work as the light switch also had no earth and it was VIR cabling, which Scottish Gas don't cover.
She then said that my husband shouldn't have installed the new lights or light switches as they are metal, because there was no earth. I was starting to get very worried by now. She put a block behind the side lights switch so that they can't be switched on.
She showed me inside the fuse box where there were dozens of red wires, but amongst these were three brown wires. She said these were the VIR cabled circuits. The trip switches are labelled - Lights, Lights Extension, Spare, Central Heating, Sockets Extension, Sockets Kitchen, Sockets (1), Sockets (2), Cooker, Shower.
Two of the brown wires are located at the Lights trip switch and one is at one of the Sockets trip switches. She said that, as far as the VIR cable was concerned, it was likely that all our lights, apart from those in the extension, were on the same circuit as the living room and was unsure which sockets would be affected. She advised these should all be rewired.
The checklist form she left with me states that the fusebox does not comply with current standards, but she explained this was ok. She has also ticked that we are 'At Risk', as well as Code 1 - Danger Present, Code 2 - Potentially Dangerous AND Code 3 - Improvement Recommended.
Last year and this year we have spent a lot of money getting the hall, stairs, extension and living room replastered, decorated, new carpets & furniture, etc. We also converted our loft for storage so it is now floored, which will cause further problems and cost if it has to be lifted up. We only finished the living room work in September so I am heartbroken at the thought of more work and having to redecorate these areas. We aren't getting any younger and had hoped, apart from the odd lick of paint, that this work would see us into our dotage!
My husband doesn't seem all that perturbed by this situation but I am really worried. This has been left to me to sort out since he is at work and I am at home. If I don't action this, then I know I would still not have any sidelights five years from now! I have looked on this Forum and am concerned about what may be involved to rectify things. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and teary right now.
Can anyone please give me some advice as to next steps should be and some answers to my questions. I am not at all technically minded, but I know I would feel a whole lot better just to have some info in layman's language. It's the not knowing that is making me sick with panic. Am I blowing things all out of proportion?
- How long can this be left undone, as I really don't want any upheaval before Xmas?
- We have accidental damage cover as part of our building/ home contents insurance. Does anyone know if this would cover this work, given that it was an accident, or are we likely to be told by insurers that it's our duty to have the house wired properly?
- Will everything need to be rewired, or just(!) the three VIR cabled circuits?
- How much would this work cost - our house has two bed, two public (one of these is the extension), kitchen and bathroom? I asked the electrician for a rough estimate and she said approx £2000, more if Scottish Gas were to do it.
- Would we need to get a new fusebox?
- Would we need any kind of certificate, notification to Council, etc?
- Will the entire house need to be pulled apart?
- What amount of work and upheaval is likely to be involved just to get the side lights working again? Could that part just be completed on its own or will all the rewiring need to be done at the same time?
Please help me, thank you.
Kate
