Signs Your Consumer Unit Needs Upgrading

If your fuse board has rewireable fuses or no RCD protection, trips often or is housed in an old plastic or wooden enclosure, it is probably time for an upgrade. A modern consumer unit with RCBOs and surge protection costs around £600 to £1,200 in York.

A lot of people only think about their fuse board when something goes wrong. The lights go off, a fuse blows or an inspection flags the board. The consumer unit is the part of your home that protects every circuit and everyone in the house, so it is worth knowing what a healthy one looks like and when it is time for a new one.

Warning Signs Your Fuse Board Is Out of Date

• Rewireable fuses: If you open the cover and see fuse carriers with wire in them rather than switches, the board is very old and offers little of the protection modern regulations expect.
• No RCD protection: RCDs are the devices that cut the power fast if someone touches a live part. Many older boards have none, or only cover some circuits.
• Frequent tripping: A board that trips regularly is telling you something. It could be a fault on a circuit or an older board that groups too many circuits together, so one fault takes out half the house.
• A plastic or wooden enclosure: Since 2016 the regulations have called for consumer units in homes to be housed in a non-combustible enclosure, usually metal. Older plastic boards and boards mounted on wooden panels do not meet this.
• Heat, scorch marks or a burning smell: Buzzing, warmth or discolouration around the board is not something to wait on. Switch off if it is safe to do so and get it looked at straight away.

What RCBOs and Surge Protection Do

A modern consumer unit does a lot more than an old fuse box. The two parts worth understanding are:

• RCBOs: An RCBO combines overload protection and RCD protection in one device, one per circuit. If a fault occurs, only that circuit switches off. With older split-load boards, a single fault can take out several circuits at once, including the lights.
• Surge protection (SPD): A surge protection device helps guard against spikes in the supply, which can damage TVs, computers, kitchen appliances and EV chargers. The 18th Edition Wiring Regulations expect surge protection to be considered on new installations.

Other Reasons to Upgrade

Sometimes the board is not failing, but other work brings the question up:

• Fitting an EV charger: A charger needs its own protected circuit. If the board has no space or unsuitable protection, it may need upgrading first. See our EV charger installation page.
• An EICR with C1 or C2 codes: An EICR often flags the board itself. Landlords in particular need those issues put right.
• Kitchens, extensions and new circuits: Adding circuits to an old board is often not possible or not sensible.
• Buying an older house: If the survey mentions the electrics, the board is usually the first place to look.

How Much a Consumer Unit Upgrade Costs

A consumer unit upgrade in York typically costs £600 to £1,200. Where your job sits in that range depends on:

• The number of circuits: More circuits mean a larger board and more RCBOs.
• Access and position: A board in an easy-to-reach utility cupboard is quicker than one tucked under the stairs behind the meter.
• Earthing and bonding: If the main earth or bonding to gas and water pipes is not up to standard, it needs putting right as part of the job.
• Faults found in testing: Every circuit is tested before the new board goes live. If a circuit has a fault, it needs fixing before it can be connected and certified. Henry will always talk you through anything found before doing extra work.

Pricing is assessed case by case, so Henry will look at your board and circuits and give you a clear quote before any work starts.

What Happens During the Upgrade

• Survey and quote: Henry looks at the existing board, the circuits and the earthing, and explains what is needed.
• On the day: The power is off while the old board comes out and the new one goes in, and Henry will tell you how long to expect. Plan ahead for fridges, freezers and anyone working from home.
• Testing: Every circuit is tested and the board is clearly labelled, so you know which RCBO controls what.
• Certification: A consumer unit change is notifiable under Part P. Henry is NAPIT registered, so the work is self-certified and you receive an Electrical Installation Certificate plus the Building Regulations compliance certificate.

If any of the warning signs above sound familiar, see the consumer unit upgrades page or get in touch for a free quote.

Frequently Asked Questions