Older upgrades to your fuse box: Things you should be aware of

You think that it's secure. The lights are still working, and the fuses are still working, too. Even if you don't have wire fuses, the boxes take on the electrical load within our homes. The more you demand them to perform, the more likely they will be to fail. A fuse box that is not working can be fatal due to electrocution or result in a fire in your home. Do you want to put yourself in danger?

The importance of fuse boxes

This isn't just the strain on our Internet that has increased in the past, but so does the strain we place on our electrical systems. We also add new appliances, more powerful heaters or air conditioners for our comfort, and a spa or pool to unwind in, or perhaps we put an automation system for our homes. All of it adds up. On top of that, the regulation of wiring and standards increased, and it's not uncommon to see a fuse box being outdated and sweaty under the collar, which could be risky.

The dangers of a faulty fuse box can be frightening: The old circuit breakers and fuses can cause a lot of household electrical fires, and you might not have the safety switches to shield your family members from electric shocks.

The reasons why you might require a new fuse box

Renovations

This is the most frequent reason that we hear about when we receive upgrade requests, but it's not the sole reason.

Perhaps you're adding an extra room, building an added storey, renovating your bathroom, or renovating your kitchen. Everything changes how the wiring in your house was planned and the box that was originally designed to handle it.

The added load, without changing your fuse box, could cause circuits to overheat and trip, causing lights to dim and, most dangerously, sparks of fire.

New appliances

The next frequent reason for people to request an upgrade. Maybe you've needed to replace an older hot water system, oven, or even air conditioning. In particular, if you decide to upgrade to a bigger appliance or switch to a new style (like Induction cooking cookers), you may be required to make an upgrade.

It's not only used for appliances. Perhaps you've altered the lighting in your room or even added fans. All of this adds up to the load your fuse box is required to handle.

Other indicators that you should upgrade

In addition to the major reasons why homeowners are required to replace their existing circuit breaker, here are a couple of evident reasons that we encounter:

• The process of welcoming pets or babies to an existing home
• A home purchase without an alarm
• Your home isn't equipped with an emergency switch.
• Your home still has fuse wires.
• Lightings that dim
• Certain appliances constantly trip the power
• Making a house BnB or a rental.

Cost to replace your older fuse box

An upgrade of a standard model will cost anywhere from $600-$1500.

If the mains at your house require updating, the cable needs to be installed, and the fuse box has to be moved. It will cost $3000-$7000.

This means that there are several things electricians must take into consideration when comparing prices if upgrading:

• Do you need to relocate it?
• Does the power supply to the house require upgraded (i.e., to three-phase)?
• Does the fuse box you have contain asbestos?
• Can the upgrade be made within the existing cabinet, or is a brand-new cabinet needed?
• Are new circuits required and wired in? Or do all circuits require replacing?
• Is the safety switch in need of replacement because it's outdated or too small?