26 Jan 2026
Does My House Need Rewiring? 7 Warning Signs and What an EICR Really Tells You
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If you are seeing any of these, do not ignore it: frequent tripping, buzzing sockets, hot or discoloured outlets, burning smells or flickering lights that keep returning.
For most homeowners, the smartest first step is not guessing. It is getting a qualified electrician to carry out an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) so you know what is safe, what needs attention, and what can wait. NICEIC explains an EICR is designed to identify signs of age, wear and damage in your fixed electrical installation.
As a general guide, Electrical Safety First recommends owner occupiers have their electrics checked around every 10 years, or sooner if there are concerns.
Why this question matters more than people think
Wiring is one of those things you never see, until something goes wrong. The tricky part is that early warning signs can look small, but they can point to faults that increase the risk of electric shock or fire.
HSE’s electrical safety guidance is blunt for a reason. Even basic mistakes can be dangerous and electricity related incidents can lead to serious injury or fires.
So if you have a feeling something is not right, you are asking the right question.
The 7 warning signs your house may need rewiring (or at least a proper test)
1) Your electrics are old and you cannot confirm the last rewire
If your home is older and there is no clear record of rewiring or testing, that alone is a reason to get an EICR booked. The report gives you a baseline so you are not guessing.
2) The consumer unit is outdated or you have no RCD protection
Modern consumer units typically include RCD protection. If you have an older style board, it does not automatically mean “rewire now”, but it is a strong signal to get the installation assessed.
3) Circuits trip often, especially when you use normal appliances
Occasional trips can happen, repeated trips usually mean something is wrong. It could be overload, a faulty appliance, or a wiring fault. An EICR and fault finding help pin down the cause rather than swapping parts at random.
4) Buzzing, crackling, or arcing from sockets or switches
This is one of those signs that people try to ignore. Do not. Buzzing can indicate loose connections or overheating risk and it should be checked promptly.
5) Sockets or faceplates are warm, discoloured, or smell “burny”
Heat and discolouration can be signs of overheating. Treat it as urgent and get it checked.
6) You have a lot of extension leads and adaptors doing the heavy lifting
If you are relying on extension leads to run a modern home, it often points to not enough circuits or sockets for your needs. That can lead to overloaded points and messy DIY fixes over time. Better to plan proper upgrades than keep stacking adaptors.
7) Previous DIY electrics, mystery cables, or “it works but it looks odd”
This is the big one in older homes. If you have found junction boxes buried under floors, strange spurs, mixed cable types, or unlabelled circuits, you need a professional inspection.
Also, remember that domestic electrical work is covered by Part P of the Building Regulations. Electrical Safety First highlights that homeowners and landlords must be able to prove electrical installation work meets Part P, and local authorities can require non-compliant work to be altered or removed.
What is an EICR, and what does it actually tell you?
Think of an EICR as a health check of the fixed electrics in your home, including things like the consumer unit, circuits, earthing, bonding, and the condition of the installation. NICEIC describes it as a way to identify signs of age, wear and damage and reduce risk of fire or electric shock.
You will receive a report with observations and a clear outcome (satisfactory or unsatisfactory).
The codes explained in plain English
If faults are found, they are given classification codes. NICEIC explains the common codes like this:
C1: danger present, immediate action required
C2: potentially dangerous, urgent remedial work needed
C3: improvement recommended (not dangerous, but should be improved)
FI: further investigation required
Government guidance for electrical safety standards also uses these codes and notes that C1 hazards may be made safe before the inspector leaves, and that C3 items do not need remedial work for the report to be satisfactory.
Practical takeaway:
If you see C1, C2, or FI, treat it seriously and do not leave it hanging.
Rewire, partial upgrade, or consumer unit replacement?
This is where most online articles are unhelpful because they jump straight to “rewire everything”.
In real homes, the right answer depends on what the EICR finds.
Full rewire is more likely when wiring types are outdated, insulation has deteriorated, circuits are unsafe, or there are widespread issues.
Partial rewire or targeted repairs can make sense when the overall installation is sound but specific circuits or areas are not.
Consumer unit upgrade is common when protection is outdated, but the rest of the wiring is acceptable.
The point is you should not be pressured into the biggest job if the evidence does not support it.
What to do right now if something feels unsafe
If you have any of the urgent signs (burning smell, hot sockets, buzzing, repeated tripping, visible damage), play it safe:
Stop using the affected socket or circuit
If needed, switch off the circuit at the consumer unit
Call a qualified electrician
HSE guidance is clear that electricity can cause severe injury and that mistakes can lead to serious outcomes, so it is not the place for “quick fixes”.
How Barry Turner and Son can help
If you want a clean, sensible plan (not guesswork), we can help with rewiring, testing, EICRs, consumer unit upgrades, and fault finding.
Electrical Rewiring and Testing for Homes
If electrical work is part of a wider renovation, we can also help you put things back together properly afterwards so you are not living with half-finished walls.