A lot of Watford homes are still running a board that went in long before anyone thought about RCD protection. In the 1930s semis it is often a rewireable fuse board in the hall cupboard, sometimes with a newer trip bolted on beside it. In the Victorian terraces in West Watford it is usually a small plastic board that has had circuits added to it over the years until there is no space left.
A modern consumer unit gives each circuit its own protection, so a fault in the kitchen no longer takes out the upstairs lights. It also picks up earth faults an old fuse would sit through. I check the earthing and main bonding before anything else, because a new board on an old supply arrangement does not make the house safe on its own. Then I test every circuit, certify the work and notify it as an NICEIC Approved Contractor.
Earthing and bonding first
Main bonding to gas and water is checked and corrected as part of the job, because a new board on old bonding is only half the work.
Room to grow
The new board is sized with spare ways, so adding a charger, a shower circuit or a garden supply later does not mean starting again.
Labelled and certified
Every circuit is tested, clearly labelled and covered by the certificate, so the next person to open the cupboard knows what is what.
Your questions, answered
How much does a new fuse box cost in Watford?
Most replacements land between £600 and £1,100 for a typical home, depending on the board and the circuit count. If the earthing needs work first that is quoted separately and up front.
Will you have to make a mess?
Very little. The board is swapped in the same position in nearly every case, so it is a day with the power off rather than a job with plaster coming down.
My board keeps tripping, do I need a new one?
Not necessarily. Nuisance tripping is often a faulty appliance or a damp circuit rather than the board itself, so I test first and tell you honestly which it is.
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