Your fuse board (also called a consumer unit) controls and protects every circuit in your home. It's easy to forget about — until something goes wrong. Older boards can lack the protection that modern electrics need, putting your family and property at risk. Here are five signs it may be time for an upgrade, and what a new unit gives you.
What does a consumer unit do?
The consumer unit is where your mains supply is split into the individual circuits that run your lights, sockets, cooker, shower and more. It houses the main switch, the protective devices for each circuit, and — on a modern board — the RCD or RCBO protection that guards against electric shock and fire.
1. It still uses rewireable fuses
If your board has old ceramic fuse holders with fuse wire rather than switches (circuit breakers), it's likely decades old. Rewireable fuses don't offer the fast, reliable protection of a modern unit, and finding the fault after a blow can be a real hassle.
2. There's no RCD protection
A Residual Current Device (RCD) instantly cuts the power if it detects current leaking to earth — the kind of fault that causes electric shocks and fires. Modern units use RCDs and RCBOs to protect circuits individually. If your board has none, that's a serious safety gap. Electrical Safety First explains why RCD protection matters.
3. Breakers trip frequently
Occasional trips happen, but constant tripping points to overloaded circuits, a faulty appliance or an underlying wiring fault that should be investigated by an electrician rather than simply reset again and again.
4. Signs of overheating or damage
Scorch marks, a faint burning smell, buzzing, or a board that feels warm are all red flags. Switch off and call a professional straight away — this is exactly the kind of issue our 24/7 emergency call-out covers.
5. You're renovating or adding load
Extensions, new kitchens, electric showers, hot tubs and EV chargers all add demand. Before adding new circuits it's worth checking your board can handle it safely and to current regulations. An upgrade is often the perfect first step in a bigger project.
RCD vs RCBO — what's the difference?
An RCD protects a group of circuits, so a fault trips them all together. An RCBO combines RCD and circuit-breaker protection on a single circuit, so only the affected circuit trips. RCBO boards are more convenient and are increasingly the standard for new installations.
A modern consumer unit is one of the best safety upgrades you can make to your home. We supply and fit them across Knebworth, Stevenage and Hertfordshire, with full certification. Get a free quote.
What does an upgrade involve?
We assess your existing installation, recommend the right board, and fit it safely — usually in a day for a typical home. Because a new board must meet current standards, we'll also check the connected circuits and let you know if anything needs attention first. You'll receive an Electrical Installation Certificate for the work.
Keep your home protected
Not sure how old your electrics are? Our homeowner's guide to EICRs explains how a full inspection works, and you can see all of our electrical services or view recent projects.
