naylorpd
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I've had an EICR on the house in Reading that I rent out with some unsatisfactory points and I'm looking for some advice.
Broadly, there are no big surprises because I know that the CU is old, has no RCDs and needs to be changed out. But:
1) Circuits not buried more than 50mm....the house was built in the 1980s (with old red/black T&E) and the cable depth is what it is. Is this an item that they have to report and I just need to ignore?
Actually I doubt that the cable depth is more than 50mm even in my brand new house as it's only slab n dab plasterboard and the total depth is not even 50mm...but that's a different issue. This house is brick & breeze-block.
4, 9) Ceiling rose needs replacing, unswitched socket. I don't mind paying for things I can't do, but I'm perfectly capable to do this myself - but would I then need to get another EICR to show a clean report? So is there a real benefit to get the same sparky to fix this? If it's done at the same time as the CU presumably the cost will be quite small as the call-out is covered.
2) Identification on light switch wires - what is needed? Sounds like something else I can do. But see next point - if all the switches need to come off anyway to find an earth leakage, perhaps the cost is quite small?
10) High earth leakage readings...this is the big issue. What I've been told is "However if a new consumer unit was fitted the RCD safety devices would be continually tripping as there are three circuits that contain earth leakage currents that would be high enough cause constant tripping. There are other relatively minor issues that are fairly common and relatively easy to rectify. So, before we can even consider changing the consumer unit these faults need to be found and rectified. There are three circuits that need investigating, the two main socket outlet circuits and the downstairs lighting circuit. These will not be easy to find and remedy but I would suggest that myself and another electrician would spend a day there and see what we can find, this would be at a cost of £500.00."
I suppose what I'm concerned about here is:
a) is there anything I could do myself to trace these faults?
b) does it need two people and is £500 for a day reasonable
c) it doesn't actually give me any guarantees that they'll find the faults, so it's really just taking a punt
d) they could find it in an hour and I'd still need to pay for a day. But (for example) if that was the case, the rest of the day could be used to fit the new CU and not charge for that again....
Thoughts?
Thanks
Phil
Broadly, there are no big surprises because I know that the CU is old, has no RCDs and needs to be changed out. But:
1) Circuits not buried more than 50mm....the house was built in the 1980s (with old red/black T&E) and the cable depth is what it is. Is this an item that they have to report and I just need to ignore?
Actually I doubt that the cable depth is more than 50mm even in my brand new house as it's only slab n dab plasterboard and the total depth is not even 50mm...but that's a different issue. This house is brick & breeze-block.
4, 9) Ceiling rose needs replacing, unswitched socket. I don't mind paying for things I can't do, but I'm perfectly capable to do this myself - but would I then need to get another EICR to show a clean report? So is there a real benefit to get the same sparky to fix this? If it's done at the same time as the CU presumably the cost will be quite small as the call-out is covered.
2) Identification on light switch wires - what is needed? Sounds like something else I can do. But see next point - if all the switches need to come off anyway to find an earth leakage, perhaps the cost is quite small?
10) High earth leakage readings...this is the big issue. What I've been told is "However if a new consumer unit was fitted the RCD safety devices would be continually tripping as there are three circuits that contain earth leakage currents that would be high enough cause constant tripping. There are other relatively minor issues that are fairly common and relatively easy to rectify. So, before we can even consider changing the consumer unit these faults need to be found and rectified. There are three circuits that need investigating, the two main socket outlet circuits and the downstairs lighting circuit. These will not be easy to find and remedy but I would suggest that myself and another electrician would spend a day there and see what we can find, this would be at a cost of £500.00."
I suppose what I'm concerned about here is:
a) is there anything I could do myself to trace these faults?
b) does it need two people and is £500 for a day reasonable
c) it doesn't actually give me any guarantees that they'll find the faults, so it's really just taking a punt
d) they could find it in an hour and I'd still need to pay for a day. But (for example) if that was the case, the rest of the day could be used to fit the new CU and not charge for that again....
Thoughts?
Thanks
Phil
