Must I rewire the whole house?

[Midwest]

Honestly, all I want is a house that is electrically up-to-date/safe for me and my family. It is the electrician who is suggesting a full rewire.
I am on a tight budget and I'll rather the house be electrically safe and have no paint on the walls. Although, not waste money that I don't have.

Wow, wish my customers were like you. Most of mine are just concerned about their new kitchens & bathrooms.

My house was built in 1989, I wouldn't really need to test to say it doesn't need rewiring. That said, it seems most manufacturers only give a life span of twenty years for their pvc sheathed cables. Think they are rather cautious. If your house hasn't been subjected to DIY alterations, then as others have said perhaps a partial rewire, using the good bits.

It's your money, so do what you feel most comfortable with.

 

[Midwest]

I am not so keen on aesthetics of the house due to my budget. If I did decide to go full hog - Is it possible to do this without ripping the kitchen and bathroom apart? I mean full rewire but not have to fork out money on kitchen and bathroom till another time. I ask because I was told if I am doing a rewire, I should just start all over again. Rewire it all, I can manage to do that. But to get a new kitchen and bathroom cos of full rewire....no funds for that.

You should have a chat with your electrician. Its worth keeping in mind the kitchen will be altered in due course, and allow for some spare flexibility in cables. Not sure you would need that in a bathroom, which is basically lighting and perhaps a cable for a electric shower or shower pump, perhaps dual fuel towel radiator. There's only so much that can go in a bathroom, electrics wise?

 

[westward10]

Alarm bells should always ring when the content of the Report only makes reference to absence of rcd protection. This instantly tells me a thorough inspection has not taken place and whether you pay £20 or £200, NICEIC or no NICEIC you are entitled to thorough job. Unfortunately there is a band of people out there undertaking EICRs who are not competent to do so and hence there view on an installation stretches no further than looking for additional rcd protection and consumer units with metal enclosures.

 

[DPG]

I'd be amazed if 25 year old T&E failed any tests. Unless it had been nailed through somwhere of course! But as above, it depends on what needs adding/moving etc. as to the extent of what work is actally needed. Get a 2nd opinion from someone on here.

 

[buzzlightyear]

did he look like this fellow!

 

[David M]

As Midwest said ^^^^^

If I was quoting for you then I would consider all options and advise on what is best for you. I have done re-wires where the client has had a tight budget to work with. Rather than cutting corners we agreed to have a thorough job done over a period of time as & when finances were available. Some circumstance may allow you to have certain rooms done at later dates.Its not ideal and can be a pain for both the client and the electrician. As I said it will cost you more in the long run, but may fit in with your requirements.

A decent electrician will take a look at the job in hand and will be able to offer you advise on what you can and can't do with your electrical installation.

 

[Octopus]

The only enemies of 25 year old wiring are:

DIYers
Rodents
Water

 

[Yung]

This thread alone has given me more insight into home wiring than all the googling that I have done for weeks! Thank you all so very much

 

[Yung]

did he look like this fellow!View attachment 37144

Yes but without the guns to make me feel at ease lol but I am grateful because now I know about this wonderful place and the professional people here.

 

[telectrix]

The only enemies of 25 year old wiring are:

DIYers
Rodents
Water
Electrical Trainee's


corrected that for you.

 

[DPG]

DIY rats with buckets of water are the worst.

 

[ED17]

What about DIY rats with buckets of water that have been on a 5 week course?

 

[NDG Elecs]

That EICR, the £120 paid for it and the location (presuming London) makes me smell a rat. A really big humongous rat at that! The limitations of the report are poor. It would take very little time to do the R2 tests for instance, and given the lack of Zs figures there is no effective knowledge as to whether the protective earth conductors are satisfactory.

The wording in the observations column will mean little to nothing to the average customer, and my guess is that it is like that on purpose, so the customer is left in the dark. It is extremely vague wording also with no particular reference to where the issues are found within the property.

I also think that the company that carried out this report are probably of the ilk that carry out cheap EICRs to then serve as an income generator for remedial works.

Not all electrical contractors are like this. I think you have been had on this occasion - sorry.

I would suggest getting the consumer unit changed and earthing/bonding upgraded, where by which you will get all the circuits tested. Going forward this will give you an idea of which, if any circuits are in need of rewiring. It will also mean new sockets etc can be added much more easily.

I would be looking for a new electrician, and I would show them the report and even your forum post (if they are interested to look!) Tell them your concerns and take it from there. There will be someone on here who should be able to help.

Good luck.

 

[sparkdog]

The report & the electrician are Unsatisfactory, not the wiring.

 

[Yung]

That EICR, the £120 paid for it and the location (presuming London) makes me smell a rat. A really big humongous rat at that! The limitations of the report are poor. It would take very little time to do the R2 tests for instance, and given the lack of Zs figures there is no effective knowledge as to whether the protective earth conductors are satisfactory.

The wording in the observations column will mean little to nothing to the average customer, and my guess is that it is like that on purpose, so the customer is left in the dark. It is extremely vague wording also with no particular reference to where the issues are found within the property.

I also think that the company that carried out this report are probably of the ilk that carry out cheap EICRs to then serve as an income generator for remedial works.

Not all electrical contractors are like this. I think you have been had on this occasion - sorry.

I would suggest getting the consumer unit changed and earthing/bonding upgraded, where by which you will get all the circuits tested. Going forward this will give you an idea of which, if any circuits are in need of rewiring. It will also mean new sockets etc can be added much more easily.

I would be looking for a new electrician, and I would show them the report and even your forum post (if they are interested to look!) Tell them your concerns and take it from there. There will be someone on here who should be able to help.

Good luck.

Thank you!!! Sparkie30 has agreed to have a look by weekend. Maybe I'll be able to do what is electrically necessary and still have some money left for a coat of paint. Happy days