Without a thorough professional electrical inspection there is no definitive answer to this question, here at Sheen Electrics our electricians offer a free electrical inspection.

However, we do have a few things for you to consider if you are trying to work out whether you should have your property rewired;

• Have your lights stopped working properly or stopped working altogether?

• Do you constantly have to change fuses?

• Has your home ever been flooded?

• Has the rubber encasing your electrical wires deteriorated since it was installed?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then we recommend you get in touch with us to arrange your free electrical inspection.

It is difficult to assess the condition of your electrical wiring as it is hidden within your walls, however, there are a few ways you can work out the age of your existing wiring;

Cables in black rubber were phased during the 1960s.

Cables in lead or fabric were installed before the 1960s.

Any fusebox with a wooden backing, iron switches, or a mixture of fuse boxes was installed before the 1960s.

Round pin electrical sockets, round light switches, braided flex hanging down from a ceiling rose, brown or black switches and sockets on skirting boards all date back to before the 1960s.

Wall-mounted light switches inside bathrooms are from before the 1960s.

Aluminium wire was used rather than copper, which is likely to catch fire more easily

There was no earth cable in houses before the early 80s and this means you’re more likely to have electrical shocks. The whole point of an earth wire is to get rid of access to electricity so you can avoid getting electrocuted – without this your house is an accident waiting to happen.

If you believe your property has not been rewired for 25 years or more then we stronly recommend you have a rewiring carried out. You can arrange a free electrical inspection from Sheen Electrics to have your property assessed.

Before the rewiring process can get underway there is some preparation has to be undertaken by you before our team can get started.

First of all you will need to decide what fixtures you would like to be moved, changed or removed. Coming to a concrete decision on this is important as changing your mind once the process is underway can lead to additional costs. Take the time to sit down, consider your requirements and the options available to you before reaching a conclusion, we’re happy to talk this through with you.

Packing up your belongings to keep them safe during the rewiring process is also important. Whilst we do work hard to minimise dust and mess and clean up after ourselves, there will be a significant amount of dust created during the rewiring process.