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If you have a consumer unit in your home, you’re probably wondering what a fuse box is! 

But to owners of old apartments, the fuse box is a concern all too familiar. If you have lived in a house with a fuse box, you’re probably used to fuses blowing up and leaving the house in darkness.

Sometimes the fuses are so old, or the main fuse board becomes too damaged because of an electrical incident that the fuse box becomes inoperable. In other instances, the addition of a new circuit to the house, like a power shower or any other electrical device with high input, demands a new fuse box.

But electrical fuse box installation is not a task that can be handled by inexperienced individuals. The risks to the technician aside, improper installation of a fuse box can cause a disaster and damage the electrical circuit in your home and overload your electrical appliances. 

But to know when a fuse box needs to be replaced, you don’t have to wait for an electrician to check the box. Sometimes there are more apparent indicators:

Common reasons for the purchase of a new fuse box include:

• Adding a device with an additional electrical drain to the circuit, such as new sockets, extended lighting fixtures, or a new electrical door for your garage. 
• The physical degradation of the fuse box or fuses
• Frequent fuse trips with no new changes in the circuit
• Electrical overload that has burned out the fuse board
• Constant fluctuation in the power circuit 
• Electrical safety report results that call for mandatory change

What is so special about a fuse box?

The fuse box is the gateway that connects you to the electrical grid and supplies power to all electrical circuits in your home. Every electrical appliance and fixture is drawing power from the same point, so any faults in the fuse box can cause accidents affecting the entire system.

A damaged fuse box can cause irreparable damage to your concealed wiring, which can be very troublesome to change, not to mention expensive. All your electrical appliances are exposed to excess in case of an overload due to electrical faults with the fuse box. If they are not protected with dedicated electrical surge devices, they will be fried. Add that to the expense of changing the fuse box too, and you’ll realise how avoiding a new fuse box installation could set you back a few thousand pounds.

Is there an expiration date on fuse boxes?

Practically speaking, based on the average electrical use in households, most electricians recommend a new fuse box every ten years. If your electrical fuse box is already older than ten years, then you should call an electrician as soon as possible and ask about your options. 

Sometimes installing a new consumer unit instead of a fuse box can be a starter to upgrade your electrical circuits one by one. Consult EWL electricians to find out the best option for your home.

How soon can the electrician replace my fuse box?

Like all other contract work, providing a set deadline for an unknown project can seem dishonest and cause disappointment for the client. To be clear, replacing a fuse box for a standard home won’t take more than six hours if there are no unexpected complications. But if the house is older than a quarter of a century, you will need substantially more work to accommodate a new fuse box. In such cases, the electrician will recommend the necessary changes in wiring and electrical circuit design.

What are the advantages of upgrading my fuse box?

If you have been unable to plug in a few appliances at once, especially those with a higher power drain, a new fuse box is what you need. Other advantages include safety and stability in the electrical current, which can be a positive factor if you want your electrical appliances and devices to last longer. In addition, you can install new RCD or residual current devices that prevent electrocution and build-up of residual charge in the house’s wiring. This extra charge can also damage the wiring and reduce its lifetime. 

Adding a new fuse box is also ample opportunity for turning an old basement into a room or your own bat-cave. Or you can turn the old storage unit into a game room or install massive Christmas or Halloween decorations. 

What do I need to know before calling for a fuse box installation?

If you want the replacement process to go smoothly, you can provide specific details when you’re contacting us that help us prepare better before dispatching our electrician;

• Determine the model of your fuse box, or at least the fuse sizes already installed 
• Let us know if you want to upgrade your fuse size and amperage
• Check for any strange issues with the fuses and the status of the fuse box

You can contact Electric Works London, if you are unsure about your fuse box and fuse sizes; our staff can guide you through the fuse box to figure out the case. If this isn’t enough, you can send us pictures of your fuse box for better identification.

Our staff is available for dispatch with short notice to deal with emergencies caused by a faulty fuse box installation.