It is a 1960s semi. What needs to be done to rectify the problem and how much will it cost?
2006-09-15 23:15:26 · 16 answers · asked by Joss K 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
you may need to get in touch with an electrician and you Will get a price quotation
2006-09-15 23:20:56 · answer #1 · answered by teeeck5 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the house was built in 1960 and has never been rewired, that would make your wiring some 40/45 years old.
Are your socket outlets of the old round type, ie 5amp or 15amp ? and not the standard 13 amp square pin type.
The recommended life of electric wiring is 25 years max.
Do not intend to frighten you in any way, but would strongly suggest you have the wiring checked as a matter of urgency. If there was a fire ( God forbid ) you may also find that your insurance company would not honour your claim.
A rewire would be in the region of £1000-£1500 depending on your location and the size of your property.
2006-09-16 19:15:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before you hire in help it doesn't need the house rewired.
If you want to do it yourself be careful.
It needs an earth wire running in the same conduit as the original wire, or pull the old wire out with the new three wire cable attached to its end.
Replace the junction box if necessary with the mains earth now connected and you are finished.
My advice.
Write up a little specification outlining what you want based on what I have told you.
Count up the number points you want done and ask three electricians to quote.
It is a nothing job in itself but like all this type of work 90% of the effort is spent in getting to it.
2006-09-16 06:42:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like its wired in twin core cable, instead of twin and earth. Quite common in 50's to about 1960. This will only apply to the lighting circuits, as the power will (should!) be earthed. This is obviously old wiring and you should be looking at a full rewire and upgrade of the electrical installation.
If you MUST fit a metal light fitting in the meantime, you could run an earth wire from an earth terminal in the power circuits or from the fusebox to the metal light earth terminal
2006-09-16 06:23:25 · answer #4 · answered by jayktee96 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
omg, silly answers above, first off I've been in the electrical field for over 30 yrs, never heard what you described . my own home was built in 1940 and i dont have that problem. Ok even if your house has only 2 conductors(wires) running thru it, one is definately grounded. This is what electricity is based on, a live conductor searching to go to a grounded conductor! So if you do not have a grounded conductor you would NOT have electricity!
I am guessing you either misunderstood, or he simply wants to "Ground" the system, which means running a proper GOUNDING conductor to the EARTH, not to be confused with a GROUNDED conductor which is your nuetral wire or white.
Grounded and grounding are in fact TWO differant wires. Meaning most systems now require a 3 wire system for homes for 110volt devices. One wire being hot or live. the second wire being the GROUNDED wire or nuetral, and the 3rd wire being the Grounding wire or green or bare copper usually As far as usuing metal lamps I scoff at this. I am sitting here right now looking at my NEW just purchased lamp above my pc which I just bought at lowes, and it only has 2 wires...called a twin cord in the trade. it does not have the grounding wire and guess what? its a metal light
2006-09-19 17:45:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All lighting points & switches should have an earth terminal to meet the current regulations & electricty at works act. Do not as has been surgested ignor putting a metal fitting & fit one that doesn't require an earth.
I surgest that you contact the NICEIC, they will give you a list of competent electrical contractors, they in turn will carry out a periodical inspection of your installation with recommendations, this being the best way of checking out if you have a safe installation.
Hope this has been helpful.
2006-09-16 11:37:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get an electrician to install one. It means that a rod will be driven into the ground close to the house and a green/yellow wire will be run to the meter box and connected, therafter all the "earths" "GROUNDS" are then connected throughout the house, It will then be safe to connect anything you like in the knowledge that you are safe.
Costs vary but you are talking £!00 to £200 Get 3 quotes
2006-09-16 06:25:41 · answer #7 · answered by xenon 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your house needs inspecting(electrically) and then its your choice to either have a complete rewire(recommended) or just have the remedial work done.It is all for your own safety and if you are somewhere in the north west you can get me on accebs@yahoo.co.uk and i can arrange to have a look and give you a report.
2006-09-19 07:19:01 · answer #8 · answered by accebs 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's a HUGE undertaking.
More than likely it's got two wire romex thruout the house.
You're looking at removing all the interior walls, replacing all the wireing with three wire. Plus replacing the outlets. and switches.
Just go with nonmetal light fixtures.
2006-09-16 09:55:58 · answer #9 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call an electrician and get the house grounded... it seems you have an older house and upgrades are needed.. as for cost depends on where you live and what needs to be done.. get at least 5 quotes before deciding who will do the work.
2006-09-16 09:50:57 · answer #10 · answered by bluedanube69 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Re-wiring the house will cost a 4 figure sum.
2006-09-16 06:24:47 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋