Homeowners in Loughton are advised to complete an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) every 10 years, though for older homes it’s recommended that you carry out an EICR every 5 years. If you’re going to be purchasing a new property, it is recommended that you carry out an EICR prior to ownership as this allows you to have a full picture of any potentially dangerous issues and set aside a budget for the potential remedial work required.
What kind of issues or faults can an EICR uncover?
Due to the thorough testing and inspections that an EICR consists of, it can feel overwhelming getting the report back - the checks cover all bases, from the wiring in the home, to the sockets and switches and the fuseboard. We recently completed an EICR at a customer's home in Homecroft Gardens, Loughton, this was a 1960’s 3 bed semi-detached property. The EICR helped us discover a few faults, the first one being a burning shower switch. As pull-cord shower switches are designed as isolators, not daily operational switches, repeatedly pulling the cord under load wears down the mechanical spring action, and loosens the internal contact pressure over time. This is a really common fault that we come across.
When we checked over the fusebox in the customers home, we discovered that the MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) was actually undersized, meaning that if an overload or a short circuit occurred, the electricity wouldn’t have cut out. This is a really big deal and extremely dangerous as this is what is preventing an electrical fire from breaking out if overheating occurs, we are so glad we carried the EICR out for this customer and stopped a potentially awful situation. The customer would never have known these issues were right under their nose without the inspection being carried out.
Am I legally required to have an EICR every 10 years?
Whilst an EICR isn’t a legal requirement for homeowners (just landlords), we would absolutely advise any homeowners to follow the recommended advice and contact a local electrician to carry out an EICR in your Loughton home. An EICR every 5-10 years allows you to check that as your home modernises and electrical loads grow, everything is as it should be and fit for purpose - people often are keen to install an EV Charger, plan an extension or renovation without considering whether their current set up is suitable. Take it from a local electrician with 12+ years experience, electrical faults tend to go hidden and undetected until it’s too late and they suddenly manifest in the form of a fire or shock. An EICR is an investment into your families safety, it’s great having a home that looks beautiful but safety is important too and should come first. Remember, just because it looks safe, it doesn’t mean that it is.
Tack Electrical Solutions - your reputable electrician for an EICR in Loughton
Here at Tack Electrical Solutions, safety is at the heart of everything we do. In a world where trust is depleted by rogue traders, people who overprice and under-deliver or just point-blank don’t show up - we are here to restore the trust of the people of Loughton. We are thorough, use plain-english to explain our findings and offer fair and transparent pricing.
If you find yourself searching ‘EICR Loughton’ unsure who to trust into your home, look no further. We are keen to help protect the safety of your home. Fill in our contact form for a FREE no obligation quote!
Tack Electrical Solutions - Bringing a little trust back to the trade
Thank you for helping us make YOU electrically safer.
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