House Rewiring

Elser Electrical offers a full house rewiring service in Medway and Maidstone.

House rewiring is the process of replacing all existing electrical wiring and related components in a home with new ones. It involves removing old cables, installing new wiring, and fitting a new consumer unit (fuse board), back boxes, switches, and sockets.

A full house rewire can significantly improve the safety and efficiency, as well as the overall value, of your property.

What Exactly Does a House Rewire Involve?

Rewiring a house is quite a major job and requires a qualified electrician. There are a couple of stages to rewiring, the first of which is called the “first fix” and this involves:

• Removing old wiring 

• Installing new electrical cables 

• Replacing back boxes on switches and sockets 

• Rewiring power and lighting circuits 

• Rewiring telephone and TV aerial sockets 

• Adding or moving switches, sockets, and light fixtures 

• Adding cabling for new technology or to transform your home into a smart home

Then we have the “second fix” which involves:

• Installing a new consumer unit

• Connecting everything up to the new wiring

• Testing that all works correctly 

How Do You Know If Your House Needs Rewiring?

Rewiring is usually necessary when the existing wiring is outdated, unsafe, or unable to handle modern electrical loads. This is typically the case in older houses where the homeowners have not updated their electrical system since the house was built. Electrical wiring lasts about 25 years or so before it can start to turn brittle. This is why it’s a good idea to get your electrics tested by an electrician from time-to-time, when you purchase a property, or if you are a landlord renting your house to tenants.

You can tell by looking at your fuse box roughly how old your wiring may be - if you have old fashioned cartridges or rewireable fuses then it ideally needs an upgrade.

Electrical faults, such as lights dimming when you turn on appliances can also indicate that the system is overloaded and may need an upgrade. Something else to consider is whether there are enough plug sockets - most older homes only have one or two socket outlets in each room, which may not be enough for modern electrical needs.

As your house’s wiring becomes older, it can be prone to overheating and short circuits, which can be a serious safety hazard. This is particularly the case with modern electrical demands, where you may have a lot more electrical appliances in your house now than in the past, with things like games consoles, phone chargers, smart home technology or modern kitchen appliances.

Modern wiring, on the other hand, is designed to withstand higher currents and is equipped with safety features like circuit breakers. It also brings the house up to the newer safety standards.

Rewiring can also save you money on your electricity bills. This is due to the fact that older wiring may have high resistance, leading to energy loss and increased electricity bills. New wiring, especially if it's paired with energy-efficient appliances, can help you save on energy costs.

If you’re thinking of selling your home, then a freshly rewired home is more attractive to potential buyers. It demonstrates that the property is well-maintained and up-to-date with modern standards. This can increase your home's value and make it more appealing to buyers in a competitive housing market.