Electrics

Nothing presents more potential for disaster in a period house than faulty electrical systems, so ensure yours are checked, updated and safe

Old or damaged wiring, poorly installed sockets, trailing cables and overloaded circuits may, at best, result in a home being plunged into darkness; at worst they can threaten the homeowners with electric shocks or cause a catastrophic fire. The majority of old buildings had no electricity when they were built and, even when a supply was installed, the number of fittings and power sockets was limited compared with the needs of today. Consequently, electrical installations have frequently been added to or altered over time, so it’s often difficult to evaluate their overall condition. It’s recommended that electrics should be professionally inspected every 10 years, but never leave them to chance; where there is any doubt as to the safety of a system, or if work is needed, always consult a registered electrician, preferably one with experience of old buildings.

Warning signs

Judging the overall condition of an electrical system is often difficult as much of it is hidden away in walls, ceilings and floors. It’s also easy to be deceived by modern fittings connected to old wiring. As a result it is all the more important to investigate thoroughly if there is any indication of a problem with the system.

What to look for:

● ● ● ● ● ● ● Outdated sockets, switches and fuse boards Lead, fabric or rubber sheathed cables Flickering lights

Intermittent power supply

Fuses that blow regularly

Rubbery or burning smells

Frayed or damaged cables and flexes

Fuse board

Old installations use fuses to protect circuits but modern boards, known as consumer units, contain residual circuit breakers (RCDS), which allow individual circuits to be isolated and should automatically ‘trip’ if there is a problem.