What is a Partial Rewire?

So, what exactly is a partial rewire? And when might you need one at your Huddersfield home? JP Electrical are your local, qualified electrician in Huddersfield and we are here to tell you more about partial rewires.

Partial rewire during renovations 

A partial rewire will often be recommended if you are carrying out renovations in one area of your Huddersfield home, most commonly when having a new kitchen fitted. It is far easier, and less disruptive in the long run, to replace the electrics in an area such as a kitchen whilst walls are exposed and work unfinished. Once tiling and cupboards have been installed the only way to access wiring, should a problem occur, is to remove and risk possible damage to the fittings. A partial rewire will only be recommended if your electrics are generally in good condition and unlikely to need replacing in the near future, otherwise a full rewire would be the most sensible option.

Partial Rewire due to damaged electrics

Another common reason why a partial rewire may be recommended is if the electrics in one area of your Huddersfield home have been damaged.  If the rest of your electrical installation is relatively new and in good condition, then a partial rewire may be the best option. This will usually be determined by your electrician after they have performed an electrical inspection of your property, known as an EICR.  This is a thorough inspection of your electrics and gives you a full report on the condition of your entire fixed electrical installation. If your electrician determines that the rest of your electrics are safe, and are likely to remain so for a lengthy period, they will recommend a partial rewire is carried out. This saves you the expense and disruption a full rewire can cause. 

Some common causes of damage leading to a partial rewire include:

• Flood or water leak – If your Huddersfield home has suffered a flood or water leak, your electrics will likely be damaged and will need to be replaced. Water and electricity are a notoriously poor mix and following a flood they will need to be looked at by an electrician.  If the damage is confined to one area of your home, such as a bathroom, a partial rewire may be an option.
• Overload – When an overload occurs your electrical wiring can become hot. This can cause the PVC coating to become brittle and increases the risk of fire. Overload can be caused by the high-power demands of modern homes on older electrical wiring or can happen after an amateur attempt to install inappropriate hardware on a circuit. 
• Loose or faulty connections – Loose connections leave you at risk of electrical shock and fire. They often occur when part of a home has been rewired by an amateur, often during upgrades to kitchens or bathrooms.  A partial rewire may be the best course of action if just one room is affected.
• Age of your wiring – In many Huddersfield homes there will be areas that were wired at different times. For instance, if a loft extension was added. This means some of your electrics will be safe and up to date and others may not. To ensure all areas meet safety standards a partial rewire may be necessary.
• Fire damage – A fire in your home is a terrible thing to deal with. If the fire was restricted to just one room, often a kitchen, the wiring there will need to be replaced.
• Animal damage – Rodents can cause damage to your electrical wiring. This is most commonly seen in lofts and cellars. Once the infestation has been cleared, a partial rewire will be advised to replace the damaged circuits.

If you are based in Huddersfield and have concerns about your wiring, JP Electrical will be happy to inspect your home. Our experienced electricians will advise you whether a full or partial rewire is recommended for your property. Our fully qualified, NICEIC registered electricians are friendly, reliable and highly recommended. Contact us today.