How to make sure the wiring in your house is safe

18:36 08 January 2015

An electrician at work. PA Photo/Thinkstockphotos.

Archant

Unless a property is new, or you have it newly rewired yourself, it is hard to know how old the wiring is and, crucially, if it is safe.

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There are tell-tale signs of old electrical work, such as surface-mounted cables, old-fashioned light switches, flexes and ceiling roses, and fuse boxes that use fuse wire, rather than pop-out fuses.

However, fuse boxes are sometimes replaced without the rest of the wiring being updated, and many with pop-out fuses dont comply with current regulations.

The only way to know for sure is for a qualified electrician to check the electrics. This should be done every 10 years anyway, even if you think everything is fine, and whenever you buy a property, as if you do need to rewire, it can cost thousands of pounds.

Of course, a full rewire isnt always necessary - your homes wiring may just need updating, such as adding or moving sockets or wiring in new light fittings.

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How to make sure the wiring in your house is safe