Does my house need rewiring? It’s a question every homeowner needs to ask. A home with old or faulty wiring can be a serious health and fire risk. It can lead to electrocution, short-circuiting of appliances and cause sockets to buzz and eventually burn. None of which is healthy for you or your home.
Being aware of the tell-tale signs that your wiring is not up to scratch is a simple and quick way to help identify issues. As soon as you spot a problem, the next step is to get your electrics tested to see what’s next. The cost to rewire a house may seem prohibitive, but it's an essential investment that will keep your home safe for years to come.
There is no single definitive answer to whether your home needs rewiring or not. But there are some things to look out for that may indicate a rewire is required. Here, Paul Collins, Technical Director at NICEIC, lists the common signs.
1. Age of property
The older the home, the greater the chance you may need a rewire, as Paul Collins explains, “Wiring degrades over time and in older homes, it is more likely that alterations have been carried out over time, such as DIY alterations by previous inhabitants or poor-quality repairs.”
He adds, “Other environmental factors that could cause further damage include pest damage or previous accidents, such as an unknown water leak.”
As a general rule for older homes, a check-up is needed, as Paul shares, “If the property is 25 – 40 years old, the home's electrical installation should be checked as upgrades or improvements could be made to improve overall safety.”
Paul Collins is NICEIC’s Technical Director and is respected both within NICEIC and across the wider electrotechnical industry as a champion of technical integrity, competence and safety.
2. Old consumer unit
A consumer unit is where the fuses for the home are situated and may need replacing dependent on age (check consumer unit replacement costs), as Paul Collins explains, “If a consumer unit/fuseboard has a wooden back, is made from Bakelite, or has cast iron switches, it’s probably very old and would need to be checked against safety standards.”
However, it's not just age; regulations need to be adhered to, continues Paul. “Most importantly, current standards require residual current device (RCD) protection on electrical circuits.” He adds, “An RCD switch should be labelled with ‘RCD’ and have a test button labelled ‘T’ next to it.”
Not sure what this means? Paul says, "If you’re unsure, contact a certified electrician for help.”
Try these as part of a house rewire
A slim brushed steel double socket for standard UK 3-pin plugs. Includes two fast charging standard USB sockets and colour-coded terminals for easy installation.
A simple basic square white two-way light switch, ideal for hallways. Requires a 16mm back box and comes with a two-year guarantee.
A stylish contemporary black kitchen light with four adjustable spotlights. Measures 22cm x 22cm and uses GU10 bulbs which are not included.
3. Power regularly tripping
If your power supply is tripping (where the power supply is automatically cut due to an overload or fault), there could be problems as Paul Collins shares, “If tripping is a regular occurrence, it may mean your existing wiring can’t meet the electrical demands of your home, and may need upgrading.”
He adds, “It may also mean there is an electrical fault with your wiring, which will need urgent attention.”
4. Buzzing sockets
If any of the sockets in your home have a low buzzing or humming sound they will need sorting out, and quickly. Paul Collins reveals why, “This is a sign of a loose connection or faulty wiring that will need immediate attention.”
5. Old and discoloured sockets
Paul Collins shares a visual sign that suggests a fault could be hiding in your wiring: “Make sure socket outlets aren’t showing signs of yellowing or browning, as this may indicate heat damage due to an electrical fault.” Learn more in our 'Electrical Sockets Explained' guide.
6. DIY wiring
It's almost inevitable in older homes that you’ll find unqualified electrical work, but this can be hard to spot by non-professionals as Paul Collins points out, “It can be tricky to spot DIY electrical work if you’re not an electrician,”
He adds, “If you have any evidence to suggest DIY work has been done, contact a certified electrician to assess it properly.”
7. Antiquated wiring
One easier-to-spot sign that your home might need a rewire is the state of the current wiring. Paul Collins points out what to look out for, “If you happen to notice any wiring in your home that is coated in black rubber (not used since the 1960s), fabric or lead – it will need replacing at some point.
Paul finishes with some wise words, "It is really important that if you note any of the above signs or are unsure, you contact a NICEIC-certified electrician to come and look at your property and give you a clear and definitive answer.”
FAQs
How long does a rewire take?
It's not easy to quantify how long a rewire will take due to there being a host of factors to consider. Paul Collins points out, “How long can’t be answered with any certainty, as several factors could cause a delay to a project, often unforeseen. However, if the property is large or has a complex structure, it may take longer.”
He adds, “If you’re living in the property during the rewiring, this could cause delays too.” Most electricians like to work in an empty space, as this makes the job easier and quicker.
And, be prepared for spells without electricity if you're staying home when the job is being done.
As a general guideline, a full rewire will take between one and two weeks. To get an accurate timeline, Paul advises, “It is a good idea to ask your chosen electrician.” He adds, “Once they have assessed the situation, they will give you a sense of how long the project will take. This will help you set your expectations.”
How often does a consumer unit need replacing?
A consumer unit may or may not be part of a full rewire, depending on its age and condition, as Paul Collins explains “There is no legal requirement to have a consumer unit replaced after any specific time, however, inspections up to every ten years from when it is new are strongly recommended for homeowners.” He adds, “As it gets older, you may need to consider inspections at shorter intervals.”
Paul points out a sign that you should look out for: “If you notice that your property doesn’t have RCD protection or older rewirable fuses, it’s likely you have an older fuse board or consumer unit.” If this is the case, he recommends seeking further guidance from a certified electrician. He continues, “An EICR test (more below) will likely be recommended before the unit is replaced to identify any issues that may be hiding.”
What is an EICR test?
To ensure your wiring meets standards, it's advisable to have it tested. Collins explains, “An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) should be thought of as an MOT for the building’s electrical system.”
He adds, “It is a comprehensive assessment of the condition and safety of a property’s entire electrical circuit – assessing electrical equipment to identify faults, damage or where the wiring does not meet the requirements of BS 7671 – the Requirements for Electrical Installations.
While this is not a legal requirement, Paul says, “It’s strongly recommended to get a test up to every ten years or when buying a new property.”
It will produce a report that can highlight any issues and will cost anything from £80-£150.
A full rewire can be a messy job, so it's a good idea to plan to paint and decorate as soon as the work is complete. Check out our practical how-to guides, on painting a wall and painting skirting boards, along with wallpaper tools for adding wallpaper.
EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this article included a quote from a purported expert whose credentials we have not been able to verify. The quote has been removed. We regret this lapse in our verification process and have updated our internal protocols to reduce the risk of recurrence.
