Red Elec Electrical Services provides professional consumer unit upgrades and fuse box replacements for homes, landlords and businesses across Widnes, Runcorn, St Helens, Warrington, Liverpool and the surrounding areas.
Your consumer unit, often called a fuse box or fuse board, is one of the most important parts of your electrical system. It controls and protects the electrical circuits in your property, including sockets, lights, cooker circuits, showers, outdoor power and more.
If your fuse box is old, damaged, regularly tripping or lacks modern protection, it may be time to consider a consumer unit upgrade.
Local Consumer Unit Electricians You Can Trust
Red Elec is a family-run electrical company based in Widnes and established in 2006. We carry out domestic and commercial electrical work across the North West, including consumer unit upgrades, electrical fault finding, EICRs, rewiring, emergency repairs and general electrical installations.
Our electricians are City & Guilds trained, NAPIT affiliated and experienced in replacing old fuse boxes with safer, modern consumer units.
We can help with:
- Consumer unit upgrades
- Fuse box replacement
- Fuse board replacement
- RCD and RCBO protection
- Surge protection advice
- Electrical testing before replacement
- Electrical Installation Certificates
- Landlord and rental property upgrades
- Consumer unit checks after faults or failed EICRs
- Additional circuit work where required
What Is A Consumer Unit?
A consumer unit is the main electrical distribution point inside your property. It receives power from the mains supply and distributes it to different electrical circuits around the building.
A modern consumer unit may include:
- Main switch
- MCBs or RCBOs for individual circuits
- RCD protection
- Surge protection where required
- Clearly labelled circuits
- Metal enclosure
- Safer circuit isolation
Electrical Safety First explains that RCDs are designed to help prevent fatal electric shock and can also provide some protection against electrical fires. RCD protection gives a level of personal protection that ordinary fuses and circuit breakers cannot provide.
Signs You May Need A Consumer Unit Upgrade
You may need to replace or upgrade your consumer unit if:
- Your fuse box is very old
- You still have rewireable fuses
- Your consumer unit has no RCD protection
- Your electrics keep tripping
- You notice buzzing, heat or burning smells near the fuse box
- Your consumer unit is damaged or poorly labelled
- You are adding new circuits
- You are installing an EV charger, extension, kitchen or bathroom upgrade
- An EICR has recommended consumer unit replacement
- You are a landlord and need to improve electrical safety
- You are renovating or rewiring the property
Older consumer units may not provide the same level of protection as modern units. NICEIC guidance notes that old fuseboards with wooden backs, Bakelite construction or no RCD protection are likely to be outdated and may need inspection by a qualified electrician.
Why Upgrade An Old Fuse Box?
A modern consumer unit can improve electrical safety and make your electrical system easier to manage.
A consumer unit upgrade can help with:
- Better protection against electric shock
- Improved fire safety
- Safer circuit isolation
- RCD or RCBO protection
- Clearer circuit labelling
- Support for new electrical circuits
- Compliance when electrical work is upgraded
- Easier fault finding in future
- Peace of mind for homeowners, landlords and businesses
A consumer unit replacement should always include proper inspection and testing. Electrical Safety First’s best practice guide for replacing consumer units says testing should include checks at accessible socket outlets, checks at points or accessories on circuits, and RCD testing using both a test instrument and the device’s own test button.
Is Consumer Unit Replacement Notifiable Work?
Yes. In England and Wales, replacing a consumer unit is usually notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. This means it should be completed by a qualified electrician who can certify and notify the work correctly.
The Planning Portal states that electrical work in homes, gardens, garages, sheds and other domestic buildings must comply with Building Regulations, with Approved Document P giving practical guidance on electrical safety.
NAPIT guidance also states that replacing a consumer unit is classed as new work and requires an Electrical Installation Certificate, along with a Building Control Compliance Certificate.
Our Consumer Unit Upgrade Process
1. Initial Assessment
We inspect your current fuse box, electrical setup and any issues you have been experiencing, such as tripping, faults or lack of RCD protection.
2. Circuit Checks And Advice
Before replacing the consumer unit, we check the existing circuits and advise if any faults or safety concerns need to be dealt with first.
3. Safe Consumer Unit Installation
We remove the old unit and install a suitable modern consumer unit with the correct protection for your property.
4. Electrical Testing
After installation, we test the circuits and protective devices to make sure the installation is safe and working correctly.
5. Certification And Handover
We provide the relevant certification and explain the new consumer unit, including how to reset circuits and test RCDs where applicable.
Consumer Unit Upgrades For Landlords
Landlords have a duty to keep electrical installations safe for tenants. If an EICR has highlighted issues with an old fuse box, lack of RCD protection or outdated electrical equipment, a consumer unit upgrade may be recommended.
Red Elec can help landlords with:
- Consumer unit replacement
- Electrical Installation Condition Reports
- Fault repairs after failed EICRs
- Rental property electrical upgrades
- Testing and certification
- Urgent electrical repairs between tenancies
Consumer Unit Upgrades For Home Renovations
If you are renovating a property, adding an extension, upgrading a kitchen or bathroom, or installing an EV charger, your existing consumer unit may need checking first.
A consumer unit upgrade may be required if the existing board cannot safely support new circuits or current electrical requirements.
This is especially relevant for:
- House rewires
- Kitchen refurbishments
- Bathroom upgrades
- Extensions
- Garden rooms
- Outdoor power supplies
- EV charger installations
- Electric showers
- Rental property improvements
Consumer Unit Upgrade Areas We Cover
Red Elec Electrical Services provides consumer unit upgrades and fuse box replacements across Widnes and the wider North West.
We regularly work in:
Why Choose Red Elec For Consumer Unit Upgrades?
Consumer unit replacement is not a job for guesswork. It needs proper testing, safe installation, certification and clear advice.
Customers choose Red Elec because we are:
- Family-run and established since 2006
- Based locally in Widnes
- City & Guilds trained electricians
- NAPIT affiliated since September 2006
- TrustMark registered since 2008
- Experienced in consumer unit upgrades and fault finding
- Able to support domestic, landlord and commercial properties
- Clear and practical with our advice
- Focused on safe, tidy and reliable workmanship
Book A Consumer Unit Upgrade In Widnes
Need an old fuse box replaced or a consumer unit checked?
Contact Red Elec Electrical Services today to arrange a consumer unit upgrade in Widnes, Runcorn, St Helens, Warrington, Liverpool or the surrounding areas.
Consumer Unit Upgrade FAQs
What is the difference between a fuse box and a consumer unit?
A fuse box is the older term many people still use. A consumer unit is the modern name for the electrical distribution board that controls and protects the circuits in your property.
Do I need to upgrade my old fuse box?
You may need to upgrade if your fuse box is old, damaged, has no RCD protection, uses rewireable fuses, keeps tripping, or has been flagged during an EICR. A qualified electrician can inspect it and advise whether replacement is needed.
Is replacing a consumer unit notifiable?
Yes. Replacing a consumer unit in a domestic property is usually notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales. It should be completed and certified by a qualified electrician.
Will I get a certificate after a consumer unit upgrade?
Yes. A consumer unit replacement should be tested and certified. NAPIT guidance states that replacing a consumer unit requires an Electrical Installation Certificate and a Building Control Compliance Certificate.
Why does my consumer unit keep tripping?
Repeated tripping can be caused by faulty appliances, damaged wiring, overloaded circuits, moisture in outdoor electrics, earth leakage or a fault inside the consumer unit. Red Elec can carry out electrical fault finding to identify the cause.
How long does a consumer unit upgrade take?
Many standard consumer unit upgrades can be completed in one day, but this depends on the condition of the existing wiring, the number of circuits, access, testing results and whether any faults are found.
Do I need an EICR before replacing a consumer unit?
Not always, but the existing circuits should be inspected and tested before and after replacement. If the installation is old or there are signs of faults, an EICR may be recommended before major work is carried out.