Rewiring a House

From the rewiring process itself, finding out how much a rewire may cost, to knowing how to tell when a house needs rewiring. JP Electrical are your experienced local rewiring electrician in Huddersfield. We have put together this short guide to help answer all your questions about rewiring your house.

1) When does a House need Rewiring?

The most common reason for rewiring a house is the age and condition of its existing wiring. Electrical wiring is typically designed to have a lifespan of 25 years. If your home has not been rewired in this timeframe, then it will likely need rewiring. There are some signs that your wiring is ageing. These include:

• Flickering lights that often need changing.
• Frequent tripping on your fuse board.
• Damaged cables or sockets.
• An old fuse board with rewireable fuses or a wooden backboard.
• Sockets set low on the skirting boards.

If you are unsure of the age and condition of the wiring in your home, then it is best to seek the opinion of a qualified electrician. They can perform an electrical inspection of your home and advise you if your wiring is safe.

2) Other Reasons to Rewire

There are several other reasons that you may need to rewire your Huddersfield home. Rewiring is often required to be compliant with Building Regulations during remodelling or renovations. This could be when extending your home, converting your loft, or adding a garden room. Your wiring must conform with Part P regulations and will need to be fully certified for these works to be signed off. The installation of an EV Charger, new kitchen or addition of Solar PV panels can also mean a rewire will be essential. Your wiring may need updating to handle the additional demands of these new technologies.

3) Who can Rewire my House?

Rewiring your Huddersfield home is a complex, dangerous task and should only be undertaken by a suitably qualified and registered electrician. Much of your homes wiring is hidden away within walls and under floorboards. It is vital for your safety that it is installed by a competent, experienced electrician who understands all relevant safety regulations and works in compliance with them. JP Electrical are fully qualified and NICEIC registered electricians. With a wealth of experience rewiring many properties in the Huddersfield region, you can be certain you are in safe hands.

4) Rewiring Process

So, what actually happens during a rewire? The rewiring process will involve every room in your home including the loft, basement, and garage if you have one. Your electrician will need to access the walls, floor and ceiling in each room. They will lift floorboards and chase out the walls. The rewiring process can be messy and noisy. The rewire will take several days to complete and the power will be off for much of this time. It is best if you vacate the property whilst the rewire is underway. Your electrician will remove your old wiring, sockets, switches and light fittings and will replace them with new fixtures that meet current safety standards. Your fuse board will also be replaced. There will be some damage to the decorative finishes in your rooms and a plasterer will be needed to repair the walls where new chases have been cut. After all the new fittings have been installed your electrician will tidy up and the rewire will be complete.

5) How much does a Rewire Cost?

Rewiring a house is a complex task and can take several days to complete. The exact cost can vary depending on a number of factors. The size of your property, complexity of circuitry, age and location of your home will all have a bearing on the cost. To help give you an idea of the overall cost you can input your specific needs into our Rewire calculator.  

If you are based in Huddersfield and would like to speak to your local, friendly electrician about rewiring your home, JP Electrical are here to help. Our fully qualified, NICEIC registered electricians will be happy to answer your questions and make the decision to rewire your home simple. Contact us today.