When should a consumer unit be replaced?
A consumer unit, the fuse box, is the heart of your electrics, and age alone is not the deciding factor; what matters is the protection it gives. The clearest reasons to replace one are old rewireable fuses instead of modern breakers, no RCD safety switches to cut the power in a fraction of a second if something leaks to earth, a wooden or older metal-clad board, or any sign of heat damage, scorching or a burning smell around it. A board that trips repeatedly, or one being upgraded as part of a rewire or when a major new circuit such as an electric shower is added, is also a natural point to change it.
Not every old board needs replacing, though. If yours already has RCD protection, is sound and passes testing, we will tell you so rather than sell you a new one. We upgrade consumer units across Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Evesham and Worcester, and we test every circuit before the changeover so any hidden faults are found and priced honestly up front rather than becoming a surprise halfway through. As a NICEIC Approved Contractor the new board is fitted with surge protection, clearly labelled and certified before we leave, usually in a single day.
Rewireable fuses, no RCDs
An old board with rewireable fuses and no safety switches is the clearest case for an upgrade to modern protection.
Heat, scorching or a smell
Any sign of heat damage or burning around the board means stop using it and have it looked at without delay.
Not always necessary
A sound board with RCD protection that passes testing may be fine as it is, and we will tell you honestly if so.
Your questions, answered
Is age alone a reason to replace a consumer unit?
Not by itself. A board can be twenty years old and still give good protection. It is the lack of RCD safety switches, rewireable fuses or signs of heat damage that make an upgrade worthwhile, not the year it was fitted.
Why does my new board trip when the old one never did?
Because modern boards catch faults the old one silently ignored. That is exactly the protection you are paying for. We test every circuit at the changeover, so anything the new board flags is found and put right properly.
How long does replacing a consumer unit take?
Most upgrades are done in a single day, with the power off for only a few hours in the middle. We plan the changeover so disruption stays as short as possible, and certify the board before we leave.
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