Hi everyone,
I need some advice about my electrics! I had a lot of work done to my house a couple of years back, including wiring of a new extension, rewiring of part of the main house etc and a new consumer unit. This was all done by a NAPIT registered bloke recommended by the builders, signed off etc, and we have had no problems with the electrics since.
I am in the process of renovating a bedroom, and wanted to move some sockets, but wasn't sure of how they'd wired the thing up (this was not part of the work that was done a couple of years back) so called an electrician in. I couldn't get in touch with the previous electrician I used (he might have retired) so called a local firm out of the yellow pages (NICEIC) - 'It's not a big job' I thought!
Anyway, this firm recommended I have the upstairs circuits tested which I did - no problems there, and they sorted the sockets out for me. However, they then told me that there was a problem with the consumer unit because it wasn't big enough and some of the circuits are doubled up on the board - they are recommending that I have the whole house tested (at £300+VAT) and probably a new consumer unit, plus any other remedial work done because 'if the CU is like that who knows what else we'll find!'.
So my questions are:
Is this setup a problem? Should I be worried?
Obviously I am concerned that either the old electrician hasn't done the job properly, or that the new firm are trying to squeeze me for more cash for stuff that doesn't need doing. I hate using people I don't know for exactly this reason, but figured this was only a small job!
I'd be grateful for any advice anyone can offer!
Cheers,
Gus
I need some advice about my electrics! I had a lot of work done to my house a couple of years back, including wiring of a new extension, rewiring of part of the main house etc and a new consumer unit. This was all done by a NAPIT registered bloke recommended by the builders, signed off etc, and we have had no problems with the electrics since.
I am in the process of renovating a bedroom, and wanted to move some sockets, but wasn't sure of how they'd wired the thing up (this was not part of the work that was done a couple of years back) so called an electrician in. I couldn't get in touch with the previous electrician I used (he might have retired) so called a local firm out of the yellow pages (NICEIC) - 'It's not a big job' I thought!
Anyway, this firm recommended I have the upstairs circuits tested which I did - no problems there, and they sorted the sockets out for me. However, they then told me that there was a problem with the consumer unit because it wasn't big enough and some of the circuits are doubled up on the board - they are recommending that I have the whole house tested (at £300+VAT) and probably a new consumer unit, plus any other remedial work done because 'if the CU is like that who knows what else we'll find!'.
So my questions are:
Is this setup a problem? Should I be worried?
Obviously I am concerned that either the old electrician hasn't done the job properly, or that the new firm are trying to squeeze me for more cash for stuff that doesn't need doing. I hate using people I don't know for exactly this reason, but figured this was only a small job!
I'd be grateful for any advice anyone can offer!
Cheers,
Gus