At some point, depending on the age of your property, it’s possible that you may need to carry out a full house rewire of the electrics. This typically needs to take place every 25 years or so and if you neglect this particular job, you are putting yourself at risk of an electrical fire breaking out… which could be fatal.

Aside from the age of your house, there are various signs to look out for that could indicate that it’s time to start thinking about rewiring. Look out for burning smells, discoloured plugs and switches, flickering lights, blown fuses, tripping circuit breakers and loose wall sockets with exposed wiring.

As it’s a relatively big job, it’s important to know what to expect from a full rewire so you can properly prepare for any potential disruption that may take place. The amount of disruption and the length of time it takes to complete the job will naturally depend on the size and layout of the property.

Stage 1: The First Fix

The first stage of the process is often referred to as the First Fix, where the wiring is replaced and installed, alongside back boxes for all the switches and sockets throughout the house.

Here, all the work that’s needed on hidden cabling has to be carried out before the walls can be plastered, including rewiring power, heating and lighting circuits, rewiring any TV aerial and phone sockets, and installing the cabling required for any new technology like outdoor lights, smoke detectors, security systems, doorbells and so on.

This work must only be carried out by a competent and fully licensed electrician in order to comply with health and safety standards, and building regulations.

If you’ve just moved into a new house and it’s apparent that a rewire is necessary, it’s advisable to do this as early on as you can, before decorating or bringing in furniture, to make it as easy and efficient as possible.

You’ll know if a rewire is required because it will be revealed during the surveys prior to purchase, with an electrical installation condition report generated that summarises everything you need to know about your new home’s electrics.

Stage 2: The Second Fix

The second stage of the process (the Second Fix) involves connecting the electrics by fitting all the lights, sockets and switches, as well as the consumer unit. Once done, everything is tested to make sure that it’s live.

Electrical Installation Certificate

Once all the necessary checks have been completed and the electrics inspected, you’ll be provided with an electrical installation certificate. This is the electrician’s way of certifying that all the work carried out is correct and safe for you to use.