Is my fuse box safe?
Five quick taps with Flick. You’ll get a plain answer and the right next step, whether that’s nothing at all, a safety check or a new board.
- About a minute
- From NAPIT-registered electricians
- No details needed
Question 1 of 5
Don’t leave this one
Get it looked at today.
If it’s safe to, switch off at the main switch and call us. In our working hours (8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday) we do same-day fault visits when we can. If there’s smoke or flames, get everyone out and call 999.
Time for an upgrade
Your fuse box is behind the times.
It isn’t illegal to have an old board, but it’s well short of today’s safety standard. A new one from us starts at £650 + VAT, with a metal board, RCBO protection on every circuit, surge protection, full testing and the certificate.
Worth a proper look
Book a safety check.
Nothing here says danger, but there’s enough to want a proper test. An EICR checks every circuit and tells you, in writing, what’s fine and what isn’t. From £150 + VAT for a flat, £170 + VAT for a two or three bed house.
Good news
Sounds like it’s in good shape.
From what you’ve told us, your board is a modern one and nothing sounds wrong. Keep testing it, and get the wiring checked every 10 years.
What we picked up
- A burning smell, scorch marks, heat or crackling all mean something is overheating.
- Pull-out fuses date from before the 1990s, and boards like that have no RCD protection.
- A mix of fuses and switches usually means the board has been added to over the years.
- No test button usually means no RCD. An RCD cuts the power in a split second if someone touches something live.
- You weren’t sure what’s on the board. That’s normal, and a test will tell you for certain.
- Something that keeps tripping is doing its job: it’s telling you there’s a fault somewhere.
- Flickering or dimming lights can be a loose connection, which is worth finding before it gets hot.
- It’s been over 10 years since the wiring was tested, or nobody knows. Homes should be tested every 10 years.
- Landlords need an EICR at least every five years, with a copy for the tenants.
- Landlords need an EICR every five years, so keep the date in the diary.
- Your landlord has to get the wiring tested at least every five years and give you a copy. Ask them for it.
- Business premises are usually tested every five years, and more often for some uses.
- Switches and an RCD test button are what a modern board looks like.
- Press the test button every few months. The power should cut off; switch it back on and you’re done.
This is a guide from five answers, not an inspection. Only testing the circuits tells you for sure.
How to tell if your fuse box is safe
You don’t need to open anything or touch anything to get a good idea. Four things on the outside tell you most of the story.
1. Switches or fuses?
A modern board has a row of switches (circuit breakers or RCBOs) that flick down when there’s a fault. Older boards have fuses that pull out, either a holder with fuse wire across it or a cartridge. They work, but they’re slower, you can fit the wrong size, and they give no protection against electric shock.
2. Is there an RCD?
An RCD is the bit that saves lives. It watches for current leaking to earth, through a person for example, and cuts the power in a split second. You can spot one by its test button, marked T or Test. No test button usually means no RCD.
3. Any warning signs?
A burning smell, brown scorch marks, a board that feels warm, buzzing or crackling: all of these mean something is overheating, usually a loose connection. Don’t wait on those. Switch off at the main switch if it’s safe to, and call an electrician.
Something tripping again and again isn’t the board failing. It’s the board doing its job and telling you there’s a fault on a circuit, often an appliance. That needs finding, not resetting forever.
4. When was it last tested?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is the proper test. We check every circuit and give you a written report coded by urgency. Homes should be tested every 10 years, rented homes every five, and it’s worth doing when you move in. More about EICRs in Derby, or the rules for landlords.
Common questions
How do I know if my fuse box is safe?
Look at the front. A row of switches with a test button marked T or RCD is a modern board. Fuses that pull out, no test button, scorch marks, heat or a burning smell are all reasons to get it looked at. Only an electrical test (an EICR) tells you for sure.
Is it illegal to have an old fuse box?
No. There’s no law that makes homeowners replace an old fuse box. But an old board without RCD protection is well behind today’s safety standard, and landlords must have the installation tested at least every five years and fix anything found to be dangerous.
What does the test button on my fuse box do?
It tests the RCD, the device that cuts the power in a split second if current leaks to earth, for example through a person. Press it every few months: the power should cut off. Switch it back on and you’re done. If nothing happens, call an electrician.
How often should the wiring be tested?
Every 10 years for a home you own, every five years for a rented home, and usually every five years for business premises. Also when you buy a house, and before big jobs like a new kitchen or an EV charger.
How much is a new consumer unit in Derby?
Ours start from £650 + VAT. That includes a metal board, RCBO protection on every circuit, surge protection, full testing, the Electrical Installation Certificate and Part P notification, assuming the existing wiring is safe to connect to.
Old fuse box?
A new consumer unit from £650 + VAT: metal board, RCBO on every circuit, surge protection, tested and certified.
Fuse box upgradesNot sure? We’ll come and look.
Send us the details and the postcode. One of the team gets back to you to book a free visit and give you a written quote.