Consumer Unit Replacement
- Modern RCD and surge protection
- Electrical Installation Certificate
- Fixed price agreed upfront
- NICEIC-approved electricians
Consumer Unit (Fuse Box) Replacement
Your consumer unit, still called the fuse box in most homes, is the part of your electrics that decides whether a fault becomes a minor nuisance or something far worse. If yours has rewirable fuses, a wooden back board or no RCD protection, it was designed for a very different home from the one you live in now.
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Is your fuse box past its best?
ICE Electrical replaces consumer units across London and the South East. Our NICEIC-approved electricians fit modern, metal-cased boards that meet the current wiring regulations, test every circuit, and notify building control on your behalf.
Call 03335775805 to get a Quote.
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Our consumer unit replacement treatment process
Step 1 Contact
Send us a photo of your current fuse box and tell us about any new circuits you're planning, such as an electric shower or EV charger.
Step 2 The Quote
From your photos, or a short survey if needed, we give you a fixed price for the new board, including RCBOs, surge protection and full testing.
Step 3 The Works
Our electrician tests every circuit, swaps the old board for a metal-cased consumer unit and restores power, usually within a single working day.
Step 4 After care
You receive an Electrical Installation Certificate, and we notify building control through our NICEIC registration so the work is formally recorded.
Emergency Hotline
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the following ready:
- Your Name
- Company Name (if applicable)
- Site Postcode
- The problem you're having
- Email Address
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FAQs
Pricing & Payment
What affects the cost of a consumer unit replacement?
The number of circuits, the type of protection (RCBOs or shared RCDs), whether surge protection or AFDDs are needed, and the condition of the existing wiring. We look at all of these before giving you a fixed price, so you know the full cost upfront.
Booking & Response Times
How long does it take to replace a consumer unit?
Most domestic consumer unit replacements are completed in one working day. The power will be off for part of that time, and we'll give you an idea in advance of when it will go off and come back on. Tell us if anyone at home relies on powered medical equipment.
The Work Itself
What happens if a circuit fails testing during the changeover?
Old boards sometimes hide faults that only show once proper RCD protection is added. If a circuit fails, we explain the fault, make it safe and agree the repair cost with you before connecting it to the new board. Nothing extra is done without your agreement.
Do I need RCBOs or will a dual RCD board do?
A dual RCD board protects groups of circuits, so one fault can switch off half the house. An RCBO board gives each circuit its own protection. We usually recommend RCBOs, but we'll explain both and let you choose. The right choice depends on your circuits and how you use your home.
Regulations & Compliance
Is replacing a consumer unit notifiable under Part P?
Yes. Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable building work. As a NICEIC-approved contractor, we notify building control on your behalf, so you don't need to make a separate application. Building control then issues a compliance certificate, which we pass on to you with your Electrical Installation Certificate.
Is surge protection a legal requirement on a new consumer unit?
The current edition of BS 7671 requires a surge protection device in most domestic installations, unless a risk assessment shows it isn't needed. We fit SPDs as standard on new boards unless there's a clear reason not to. It also protects the electronics in your TV, router and boiler controls.
Does a new consumer unit have to be metal?
Yes. Since 2016, consumer units in homes must be housed in a non-combustible enclosure, which in practice means steel. It's designed to contain a fire if one ever starts inside the board. Older plastic boards aren't illegal, but any replacement must meet the current standard, and every board we fit does.
Certificates & Paperwork
Will a new consumer unit help when I sell my house?
Buyers' surveyors often flag old fuse boxes. A modern board with its Electrical Installation Certificate and building control record shows the work was done properly, which can help avoid awkward questions during a sale. It also gives buyers some reassurance about the rest of the electrics.
What paperwork will I get after my fuse box is replaced?
You'll receive an Electrical Installation Certificate with the full test results for every circuit. You'll also receive a Building Regulations compliance certificate once the work has been notified to building control. Keep both documents together, as insurers and buyers' solicitors may ask to see them in future.
Guarantees & Aftercare
What if my new consumer unit keeps tripping?
Call us. A modern board is more sensitive to faults than an old fuse box, so it can reveal an appliance or circuit problem that was always there. We'll come back, test the circuit and explain what's causing it. Most issues of this kind are quick to find with the right tests.
Our experts can arrive on site within 60 minutes
- COVID-19 secure
- Nationwide coverage, available 24/7
- Able to arrive within 60 minutes of your call
- Free survey provided prior to quotation
- Emergency response team
- Offer a bespoke service designed to suit all your needs
- All technicians hold professional health and safety qualifications, including BICSc, IOSH, IPAF & Safe Contractor
Signs your fuse box needs replacing
- It has rewirable fuses (the ones with fuse wire) or cartridge fuses instead of switches
- There's no RCD, or one RCD protecting the whole house
- The casing is plastic and mounted on a wooden board
- It trips regularly and nobody has been able to find a fault
- You're adding a new circuit, such as an electric shower, EV charger or garden office, and the board has no spare capacity
- An EICR has recommended an upgrade
- It's warm, buzzing, discoloured or smells of burning
What a modern consumer unit gives you
RCD protection on every circuit. RCDs switch off the power in a fraction of a second if current leaks to earth, which is what happens when someone touches a live part. They're one of the most effective life-saving devices in a home.
RCBOs instead of shared RCDs. We usually recommend a board with an RCBO on each circuit. If one circuit develops a fault, only that circuit switches off. The rest of the house stays on.
Surge protection. The current edition of BS 7671 calls for a surge protection device in most homes. It protects the electronics in your TV, broadband router, boiler controls and appliances from voltage spikes.
A non-combustible enclosure. Since 2016, consumer units in homes must be housed in a non-combustible enclosure, usually steel. If the worst does happen inside the board, the fire is contained.
Where it's appropriate, for example in a home with sleeping accommodation in a loft or a timber-framed building, we'll also talk to you about arc fault detection devices (AFDDs).
Testing comes first
A new consumer unit is only as good as the circuits connected to it. Before and during the changeover, our electrician tests every circuit for insulation resistance, earthing and polarity. Old boards sometimes hide faults that only show up when proper RCD protection is added, so testing means we find them on the day rather than leaving you with a board that keeps tripping.
If we find a fault, we'll explain what it is and agree the repair with you before going any further. Sometimes the test results show the wiring itself is past its best. If that's the case, our rewiring page explains the options.
How long does it take?
Most consumer unit replacements are completed in a single day, with the power off for part of it. We'll tell you in advance roughly when the supply will go off and come back on, so you can plan around it. If you work from home or rely on powered medical equipment, let us know and we'll plan the day accordingly.
Landlords
If your rental property's EICR has come back with a C2 or C1 code relating to the consumer unit, we can carry out the remedial work and provide the paperwork you need to show it's been done. See landlord EICR for how the inspection side works.
Why ICE Electrical for your new consumer unit
- Every board fitted by a NICEIC-approved electrician
- Full circuit testing before and after the changeover
- Building control notified for you, with the certificate sent on
- Clear advice on RCBOs, surge protection and AFDDs, without the upsell
- A fixed price agreed before the work goes ahead
Ready to replace your fuse box?
Send us a photo of your current board, or book a survey, and we'll give you a fixed price. Prefer to talk? Call 03335775805 or email enquiries@iceelectrical.co.uk.