5 Simple ways to check the condition of your home electrics

5 Simple ways to check the condition of your home electrics

All electrical installations, over time, deteriorate naturally as they are a working mechanism made up of various components and working systems. Just as you would have your car serviced every year you need to check the condition of the electrics in your home. There are around 20,000 house fires every year in the UK which are caused by faulty electrics.

There are two types of inspection you can do to check your electrics. The first is a visual inspection and the second is an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).

Visual Inspection

Here are 5 simple checks that you can do yourself without the need for calling an electrician unless of course you do come across a serious problem or fault.

1. Ensure plug sockets are not damaged or scorched. Any scorch marks around a socket are an indication that something is not right with the wiring behind the walls and that you should call a registered electrician to investigate further.

2. Check that leads or cables are not damaged or frayed.

3. Check that lights are working correctly and there are no signs of visible damage or buzzing sounds.

4. Check that sockets are not overloaded or that too many extension leads are in use.

5. Check that the main fuse box (consumer unit) has RCD protection fitted. An RCD (Residual Current Device) will trip should it detect an overload in the circuit.

Other warning signs to look out for include:-

---

If you have an older distribution board i.e. more than 10 years old like the one pictured above, we recommend replacing it to avoid any issues or challenges in the future. If you have any concerns about your electrics, then always get an electrician to check and repair them for you.

---