When should you replace a fuse box?

When a person thinks about updating something in their home they inevitably think about getting a bigger TV or a new sofa set.

The more practically minded individuals may consider updating their heating system or even consider installing insulation.
There are multitudes of things to change, refine and update in a home but updating a fuse box is often overlooked. This can be a mistake, especially in older properties. At best, old, out-of-date fuse boxes can be incredibly inefficient, costing the property owner hundreds in their annual energy bills. At worst an old fuse box may be a fire hazard and could pose a significant danger to the property's occupants. This of course poses the question, when exactly should you replace your fuse box?
To answer this question, we’ll start by defining what a fuse board is.

What is a fuse box and what does it do?
Fuse boxes, sometimes referred to as fuse boards or electricity boards are systems that funnel electricity into the property. All electrical power in a building is passed through the fuse board.
A fuse box is made up of residual current devices, which control different parts of the property. A residual current device detects the amount of electricity entering the property and cuts it off immediately if there is a power surge. This is a safety feature to prevent injury or fires.

When is the best time to replace a fuse box?
When considering a fuse board replacement, it's best to consider what your electrical capacity needs are. Outside of replacing fuse boards that are old or damaged, sometimes even relatively new fuse boards may need to be replaced if the electrical needs of the property have changed.
If you regularly face blackouts or power surges that “trip” the electrical system in your home, you likely require a new fuse box.

How long does a fuse box replacement take?
Many factors need to be taken into account when discussing a fuse board replacement timeline. Of course, the skill and the experience of the electrician will be a factor in how long the job takes. All Alert Electrical electricians have years of experience and complete all jobs quickly and to the highest of professional standards.
The overall condition of the fuse board will also affect the time it takes to upgrade. Older fuse boards will likely require a much more comprehensive change and update.
As a very rough rule of thumb. A fuse board replacement can take anywhere from two to five hours.

How Much does a fuse board replacement cost
Much like the difficulties in calculating the time it takes to replace a fuse board, calculating the cost is also dependant on some variables. If other important electrical issues need to be addressed during the fuse box replacement, these issues will affect the cost. If the wiring isn’t up to standard on your fuse board this will also need to be addressed and will likely affect the overall cost.
The good news is that Alert Electrical always offer competitive, no-obligation quotes before any work is carried out, so clients know exactly what they are spending.

Still not sure if you need a fuse board replacement? See our fuse board page or give our Dublin electricians a call today.