If your property still has an older fuse board, it may be worth thinking about an upgrade. It’s not something most people look at day to day, but your consumer unit is the heart of your electrical system—and over time, standards and safety features have moved on quite a bit.
Older boards typically rely on rewireable fuses or early circuit breakers, which don’t always offer the level of protection we’d expect today. Modern consumer units, on the other hand, are fitted with RCDs (Residual Current Devices) and often RCBOs, which are designed to cut the power quickly if a fault is detected. That added layer of protection can make a real difference in preventing electric shocks and reducing the risk of fire.
Upgrading your fuse board also puts your installation more in line with current regulations. This can be especially important if you’re planning building work, adding new circuits, or even just thinking ahead—some insurers and surveyors do take note of older electrical setups.
There’s also the practical side. New boards are generally more reliable, easier to reset if something trips, and better suited to the demands of modern homes and businesses, where we’re all using more electrical equipment than ever before.
At Field View Electrical Ltd, we’ve been carrying out consumer unit upgrades across Cumbria for many years. We’ll always take the time to check your existing installation properly and talk you through your options in plain terms—no pressure, just honest advice so you can make the right decision for your property.