The most important safety upgrade you can make to your home. We replace dangerous, outdated fuse boxes with modern, metal-clad Consumer Units that protect your family and your electronics.
Your fuse board (technically called a “Consumer Unit”) is the brain of your home’s electrical system. It is the gatekeeper that decides when to cut the power to save your life. If your fuse board is over 20 years old, it likely lacks the life-saving technology required by today’s strict safety standards.
At Yare Electrical, we specialise in fuse board upgrades. We don’t just “swap the box”; we perform a comprehensive health check of your entire electrical installation, ensuring that your new unit provides maximum safety with minimum nuisance tripping.
Is Your Fuse Board Wooden?
Why Upgrade? The Risks of Old Fuse Boxes
Many homes in Norwich still rely on technology from the 1970s or 80s. While these might still “work,” they offer zero protection against electric shock.
1. No RCD Protection
Old fuses only protect the cable from burning, not the human touching it. A modern RCD (Residual Current Device) monitors the flow of electricity. If it detects even a tiny leak (like a child sticking a fork in a socket or you cutting through a lawnmower cable), it cuts the power in less than 0.04 seconds—saving your life.
2. Fire Hazard (Plastic vs Metal)
Since BS7671 Amendment 3 (2015), all new consumer units in homes must be made of non-combustible material (usually steel). Old plastic units were prone to catching fire if a connection became loose. Upgrading to a metal-clad unit contains any internal sparking, preventing a house fire.
3. Asbestos Risk
Very old fuse boxes often contain asbestos flash pads behind the fuses. We are trained to identify and safely work around these hazards during removal.
What We Install: The Technology Inside
We install premium consumer units (typically Hager or Schneider) that exceed the minimum requirements.
RCBOs (Individual Circuit Protection)
In cheaper installations, one RCD protects half the house. This means if a lightbulb blows in the kitchen, you lose power to the internet, the fridge, and the living room TV. This is called “Nuisance Tripping.”
We prefer to install RCBOs. These combine the fuse and the RCD into one switch for every single circuit. If you have a fault on the upstairs lights, only the upstairs lights go off. The rest of the house stays on.
Surge Protection Devices (SPD)
Modern homes are full of sensitive electronics—smart TVs, computers, washing machines with digital displays. These are vulnerable to “transient overvoltages” (spikes) from the grid or lightning strikes up to a mile away.
We install Type 2 Surge Protection as standard. This diverts excess voltage harmlessly to earth, protecting your expensive gadgets from being fried instantly.
Arc Fault Detection (Optional Upgrade)
For the ultimate safety, we can install AFDDs (Arc Fault Detection Devices). These advanced microcomputers detect “arcing” (sparking) caused by crushed cables or loose connections—faults that standard fuses can’t see. They are highly recommended for timber-framed buildings and sleeping accommodation.
The Installation Process: No Nasty Surprises
A fuse board upgrade involves testing your existing wiring. Sometimes, this testing reveals hidden faults (like a nail through a cable) that were previously unnoticed. To manage this, we follow a strict process:
Step 1: The Pre-Work Survey
Before we quote, we visually inspect your current setup. If we see obvious issues (like rubber cables or broken sockets), we will tell you upfront that these need fixing as part of the job.
Step 2: Installation Day
We turn off the power (usually for 4-6 hours). We remove the old unit, label every cable, and install the new metal unit. We ensure the finish is neat, often installing a white pattress board behind the unit if the wall is uneven.
Step 3: Testing & Fault Rectification
Once the new board is on, we energise the circuits one by one and test them. Important: Modern RCDs are very sensitive. If your old wiring has a “neutral fault” (which is common), the new RCD might trip immediately. We include time in our quote to trace and rectify minor faults. If major rewiring is needed (rare), we will discuss costs immediately.
Step 4: Certification
We issue an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) and notify Building Control (Part P). This proves your home is safe and compliant—vital for your home insurance.
Why Choose Yare Electrical?
We don’t cut corners on safety.
- NICEIC Platinum Promise: Our work is backed by a 6-year warranty.
- Quality Brands: We do not use cheap, unbranded imports found on eBay. We install trusted brands like Hager, FuseBox, and Schneider, ensuring reliability and readily available spare parts.
- Tidy Work: We respect your home. We use dust sheets and clean up any plaster dust created during the swap.
Future-Proof Your Home
Replacing your fuse board is the perfect time to prepare for the future. If you are planning an EV Charger or Solar Panels, tell us! We can install a larger board with “spare ways” ready for these additions, saving you money on future upgrades.
Book Your Safety Upgrade
Don’t wait for the lights to go out. Contact Yare Electrical on 01603 626400 for a free, no-obligation fuse board quote.