Electrical Repairs & Fault Finding
Fuse Replacement in Surrey & London
Fuse replacement means replacing a blown fuse or a faulty breaker and, more importantly, finding out why it went. A simple swap can take minutes, but tracing the cause often takes an hour or two. A like-for-like repair does not usually need a certificate, while a new circuit or consumer unit is notifiable and certified.
A fuse that keeps blowing or a breaker that keeps tripping is protecting you from something. Replacing the fuse is the easy part. The job is finding out why it went, whether that is an overloaded circuit, a faulty appliance or damaged wiring, and putting it right.
Older properties in Surrey and London often still have rewirable fuse boards. If yours does, Joe can advise on whether a modern consumer unit with RCD protection would be worthwhile, without any pressure to upgrade if the existing board is safe.
Typical work
- Replacing a blown fuse and tracing the appliance or circuit that caused it
- Repeated tripping on one circuit, found and fixed
- Advice on older rewirable fuse boards and consumer unit upgrades
- Replacing a damaged fuse carrier or breaker
What the job involves
There are three kinds of fuse people usually mean. Plug fuses sit inside a three-pin plug. Rewirable or cartridge fuses sit in older fuse boards. Circuit breakers and RCDs do the same job in modern consumer units and are reset rather than replaced.
Before anything is switched back on, the circuit is checked. Appliances are disconnected one at a time, the wiring is tested for insulation faults, and the fuse or breaker is matched to the cable it protects. Fitting a bigger fuse to stop it blowing is never the answer, because the fuse is there to protect the cable.
Signs you need this
- A circuit has gone dead and the board shows a blown fuse or a tripped breaker
- The same fuse or breaker goes again soon after it is reset or replaced
- A fuse carrier is cracked, scorched or loose in its holder
- Fuse wire has been replaced with the wrong size of wire or something else entirely
- You have a rewirable fuse board with no RCD protection
If a breaker trips again straight away, leave it off. Our guide on why a fuse or breaker keeps tripping explains what is safe to check yourself and when to stop.
Old fuse boards and upgrades
Rewirable fuse boards are not automatically unsafe, but they give no RCD protection against electric shock, and fuse wire is easy to replace with the wrong size. A modern consumer unit adds RCD protection and breakers that can simply be reset.
If the board shows signs of heat damage, has no RCD, or is being asked to take new circuits, an upgrade is worth considering. See signs your consumer unit needs upgrading and our consumer unit upgrades page, and an electrical inspection gives a clear picture of the whole installation.
What affects the cost
The cost depends mainly on how long it takes to find the cause. A blown fuse with an obvious culprit, such as a failed kettle, is quick. An intermittent fault that only appears when certain appliances run, or damage hidden in a wall or under a floor, takes longer to trace. Parts for older boards can also be harder to source, which affects whether a repair or an upgrade makes more sense.
Where we do this work
Fuse Replacement from our base in Redhill, anywhere in Surrey including Redhill, Reigate, Merstham, Nutfield, Bletchingley and the surrounding towns, plus London and nearby counties. Larger commercial jobs further afield are welcome by enquiry. See all areas covered.
Common questions
Why does my fuse keep blowing?
Usually an overloaded circuit, a faulty appliance or a wiring fault such as damaged insulation. A fuse that blows more than once is warning you of a problem, so the cause needs finding rather than another fuse fitting.
Should I replace my fuse box with a consumer unit?
Not always. A board in good condition can be safe to keep, but it will not have RCD protection unless one has been added separately. An upgrade is worth considering if the board is damaged, has no RCD, or needs to take new circuits such as an EV charger.
Can I fit a bigger fuse so it stops blowing?
No. The fuse is sized to protect the cable on that circuit, and a larger one can let the cable overheat without the fuse ever going. The safe fix is to find out what is drawing too much current or leaking to earth.
Is it safe to reset a tripped breaker myself?
Resetting a breaker or RCD once is fine, as long as there is no burning smell, scorching or visible damage. If it trips again straight away, leave it off and have the circuit checked, because something on it is faulty.
Do I need a certificate after a fuse is replaced?
A like-for-like replacement of a fuse or breaker does not usually need a certificate. If the work involves a new circuit or a new consumer unit, it must be certified, and in England a consumer unit replacement is notifiable to building control.
How long does a fuse replacement take?
Swapping a fuse or breaker takes minutes. Most of the time goes on finding why it went, which is quick when one appliance is to blame and longer when the fault is in the wiring.
Ready to talk about your electrical work?
Tell Joe what you need and where you are, and he will come back to you with a clear quote. Call, send a WhatsApp message, or use the quote form.