A consumer unit, the fuse box in the trade, should be replaced when it can no longer protect you properly. The clearest signs are old rewireable fuses (ceramic holders with fuse wire), a board with no RCD safety switch, any sign of overheating such as scorching, a burning smell or a cracked casing, and a board that trips repeatedly. It's also the natural time to upgrade when you're adding a demanding new circuit like an EV charger, an electric shower or a full rewire. Age on its own isn't a reason to swap a sound modern board, but a pre-RCD unit is well worth upgrading.
We upgrade fuse boxes across Bristol and the surrounding towns, and most are done in a day. We test every circuit before the changeover so there are no surprises, fit a quality board with surge protection and a safety switch on every circuit, label it clearly and walk you round it before we leave. As a NAPIT-registered firm based in Bedminster Down we notify the work and issue your certificate, so the job is signed off correctly and you've got the paperwork to prove it.
Modern protection
A safety switch on every circuit and surge protection as standard, so one fault never blacks out the whole house.
Circuits tested first
Every circuit is tested before the swap, so hidden faults are found and priced honestly up front, not after.
Certified and notified
A clearly labelled board, fully tested, certified and notified to Building Control through our NAPIT registration.
Your questions, answered
Does an old fuse box have to be replaced by law?
No, not simply for being old. But if yours has rewireable fuses, a wooden back or no RCD safety switches, upgrading is strongly worth it for the protection a modern board gives you. If yours is sound, we'll say so.
How long does a replacement take?
Most consumer unit upgrades are finished in a day, with the power off for just a few hours in the middle. We plan the changeover so the disruption to your home stays as short as possible.
Why would a new board trip when the old one never did?
Because a modern board catches faults the old one silently ignored, which is exactly the protection you're paying for. We test every circuit at changeover, so anything the new board flags is found and fixed properly.
Ready for electrics done properly?
Free fixed quotes across Bristol and Bristol. Certified work, an immaculate finish and a price that doesn't move.