In short
- ▸If you recognise two or more of the signs below, ask for an inspection.
- ▸A burning smell or hot sockets mean: switch off the circuit and call an electrician.
- ▸Aluminium wiring and panels with screw-in fuses can’t handle today’s loads.
The 7 signs
- 01Breakers trip often. Once a year is normal; several times a month means overload or an insulation fault.
- 02Warm sockets or switches, a smell of burnt plastic. The most serious sign: loose contacts or undersized cables heating up.
- 03Lights flicker when a large appliance starts. The washer, oven or air conditioning shouldn’t affect your lighting.
- 04Aluminium cables. Common before 1990; aluminium oxidises and its joints loosen over time.
- 05Sockets without an earth contact. Modern appliances need an earth to stay safe in case of a fault.
- 06A panel with screw-in fuses or no RCD protection. Old panels lack the protection current rules require for socket circuits.
- 07You’ve added big loads. Induction hob, heat pump or EV charger — each needs its own sized circuit.
Repair or full replacement?
Not every problem calls for new wiring. A burnt socket or a junction box with loose connections can be fixed on the spot. But if the wiring is aluminium, has no earth or the panel is outdated, repeated repairs end up costing more than a job done once, properly.
What a replacement involves
- 01On-site assessment: we check the panel, circuits and actual load.
- 02Diagram and quote: circuits, socket positions and schedule.
- 03Installation: new cable runs and a new protected, labelled panel.
- 04Testing and handover: measurements, tests and the wiring diagram.
For a typical apartment the work usually takes a few working days, depending on the size and finishes.
This guide is for information only. The real condition of an installation can only be established by inspection and measurements carried out by a licensed electrician.
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