What's Included in Our Consumer Unit Upgrades Service
A consumer unit upgrade involves removing your old fuse box and replacing it with a modern unit that includes RCD (residual current device) protection, correctly rated circuit breakers, and clear labelling for every circuit in your property. We assess your existing wiring and circuits first, identify anything that needs attention alongside the swap, and make sure the new unit is sized correctly for your property's needs, including any future additions like an EV charger or extra sockets.
Why Choose Paredes Electrical for Consumer Unit Upgrades
- Modern RCD protection reduces the risk of electric shock and electrical fires
- Correctly labelled circuits make it easy to identify and isolate individual areas
- NAPIT-registered work, fully tested and certified once complete
- Most upgrades completed in a single day with minimal disruption
- Clear, upfront pricing before any work begins
We're a small, local team rather than a national call centre, so when you get in touch about consumer unit upgrades you speak directly to someone who can give you a straight answer. Every job is carried out by our own NAPIT-registered electricians, so you know exactly who is doing the work and the standard to expect.
Our Consumer Unit Upgrades Process
We start by inspecting your existing consumer unit and wiring to understand what's there and flag anything that needs attention. We'll explain what's involved, agree a price, and arrange a convenient time. On the day, we isolate the supply, fit the new unit, reconnect and test every circuit, and make sure everything is working and properly protected before we finish. You'll be left with a modern, safely labelled consumer unit and the paperwork confirming the work meets current regulations.
Signs You Might Need Consumer Unit Upgrades
Common signs you may need a consumer unit upgrade include a fuse box using old rewireable fuses rather than circuit breakers, frequent nuisance tripping, no RCD protection listed on the unit, visible scorch marks or a burning smell near the unit, or simply not knowing when it was last checked. If you're planning an extension, a new kitchen, or adding an EV charger, upgrading your consumer unit is often a sensible first step.
Getting an Accurate Quote
Pricing for a consumer unit upgrade depends on the size of your property, the number of circuits, and whether any additional remedial work is needed alongside the swap. We'll always inspect first and give you a fixed price before starting, so there are no surprises. Across Northampton's mix of older terraces and newer estates, we see everything from straightforward like-for-like swaps through to larger jobs where additional circuits or rewiring work is recommended alongside the upgrade.
Something Worth Knowing
A modern consumer unit is a foundation for the rest of your property's electrical safety, everything else, from sockets to lighting to appliances, relies on it working correctly. Metal-cased consumer units are now the standard requirement under current wiring regulations for domestic properties, replacing the plastic-cased units commonly fitted years ago, which don't offer the same fire containment properties. If your property still has a plastic-cased unit, particularly an older one without RCD protection, it's genuinely one of the highest-value safety upgrades you can make. We'll always explain honestly whether your existing unit needs full replacement or whether targeted repairs would suffice, we're not interested in recommending unnecessary work.
Serving Northampton, Milton Keynes and Wellingborough
Across Northampton, Milton Keynes and Wellingborough we see a real mix of properties needing this work, from Victorian terraces in Northampton's older neighbourhoods that may still have units from the 1980s or earlier, through to newer estate homes in places like Milton Keynes where units are more likely to already meet modern standards but may need expanding to accommodate additional circuits. Wherever you're based, we bring the same careful, methodical approach and won't recommend a full replacement if a smaller fix will do the job safely.
Frequently Asked Questions: Consumer Unit Upgrades
How long does a consumer unit upgrade take?
Most consumer unit upgrades are completed in a single day, though this can vary depending on the condition of your existing wiring and the size of your property.
Will I be without power during the upgrade?
Yes, the electricity supply needs to be isolated while we fit the new unit, but we keep this to the minimum time necessary and let you know in advance what to expect.
Do I need a new consumer unit if mine is only a few years old?
Not necessarily. If your existing unit already has proper RCD protection and is in good condition, a full replacement may not be needed. We can inspect it and give you an honest recommendation.
Is a consumer unit upgrade a legal requirement?
It's not automatically required unless you're carrying out notifiable electrical work or your current setup is unsafe, but it's strongly recommended for older units without RCD protection.
Can you upgrade my consumer unit if I'm also getting an EV charger installed?
Yes, we can size and specify your new consumer unit to accommodate an EV charger circuit, either as part of the same visit or ahead of a future installation.
Will I get a certificate after the work is done?
Yes, you'll receive the appropriate certification confirming the consumer unit upgrade was carried out and tested to current regulations.
Can I stay in my property while the consumer unit is being upgraded?
In most cases, yes, though you'll be without power for part of the day while we carry out the work safely.
What's the difference between a fuse box and a consumer unit?
They're essentially the same thing, just different terms. Older units are commonly called fuse boxes, while modern units with RCD protection are usually called consumer units.
Do you dispose of the old consumer unit responsibly?
Yes, we remove and dispose of your old unit responsibly as part of the job, so you don't need to worry about it.
Do you work evenings or weekends for consumer unit upgrades?
We offer some flexibility around evening and weekend appointments where our schedule allows, particularly for jobs that need to work around a busy household or business, just ask when you get in touch.
We Serve These Areas
We carry out consumer unit upgrades across Northampton and the surrounding towns, including:
See our full areas we serve page for everywhere we cover.
Our Other Services
Alongside consumer unit upgrades, we also offer:
See our full services overview for everything we offer.
