Have You Had Your House Electrics Checked Recently

[youngmafbog]

or even ever ?

http://news.sky.com/story/1178638/teenager-electrocuted-in-christmas-accident

Do you have an RCD on your house circuits, if not have you ever considered it?

I was asked by someone recently to do a quick check for them (they didnt want to pay for a full periodic). I did and could immediately see some major issues - shower on an old style 3036 fuse,inadequate earthing etc. They had a young child too and some of the sockets were poor to say the least. I gave some recommendations but they decided against. Bumped into them the other day, they have not had it done - but both had shiny new smart phones and just bought a new car.

What price do you put on life ? IMHO this sort of thing should never happen in this country.

[daffy654]

We live in a privately rented terraced house (built approx. 1890), we have very few electrical sockets and the light fittings are dodgy to say the least. Our landlord won't pay for a rewire/upgrade or whatever it is called. How much would it cost to have say 6 double plug sockets and 8 new light fittings done (along with any wiring etc.)?

[redman41]

Unfortunately she will not be the last to die accidentally.
Leave electricity well alone if you do not know what you are doing !!
daffy654...
Get a free estimate from a reputable Electrician and take it from there....

[Kathyan]

We had a new consumer unit fitted about 3 years ago. We used a registered electrician who did other things at the same time, new sockets, new light fittings, garage rewired and an ouside double socket. I think we paid about £900 for everything and he checked all the wiring and gave us a safety certificate.

[Old_Geezer]

Drumming up business ? For sure, priority should be on getting the necessary things done before the treats; but human nature wants reward today rather than spend money where it won't be appreciated and may not prove to be needed. Rewiring is not cheap, certainly more than a phone or two, and the car needs periodic replacement also. In answer to your question, yes I have RCD on all but the freezer circuit.

[daffy654]

Thanks redman, and kathyann for the 'estimate'.

It's very sad about the young girl but it was an accident that could rightly be described as a 'freak' one I think.

[jake-the-peg]

Interesting figures from 2010

Deaths from domestic electricutions :22

Number receiving a serious injury: 350,000

http://www.esc.org.uk/industry/policies-and-research/statistics/

So freak? maybe, 22 isn't a whole lot but 350,000 serious injuries is a big number

[youngmafbog]

That is true Jake deaths are low, which is why (wrongly in my opinion) the Government relaxed the rules on what the DIYer can do.

Daffy read here: http://www.nhmf.co.uk/bestpractice/index.cfm?article=132

OG, no not drumming business, I am a qualified and registered electrician because I renovate property as well as my IT day job. I dont generally do other jobs except for people I know or friends of friends if pushed.