I have always been happy with the quality of work delivered by Oval Electrical over the last few years.
The short answer is yes. An EICR inspection is one of the best ways to find out whether the electrics in a property are actually safe before you move in.
During a viewing, you can only judge what you can see and electrics have a habit of hiding their problems. An electrical installation condition report (EICR) checks the condition of the fixed wiring, identifies any damage, wear or unsafe installations and highlights anything that could put your family at risk. It gives you peace of mind; helps you plan for any repairs and can even save you from unexpected costs after you’ve picked up the keys.
Why do we recommend an EICR before settling in?
Buying a home comes with a never ending list of jobs, so it's understandable that the electrics don’t always make it to the top of the list, especially if you haven’t noticed anything.
An EICR Brighton is a thorough inspection of your property’s fixed electrical installation. We check the wiring, consumer unit, sockets, switches, earthing and bonding, along with the overall condition of the installation. If we find anything that needs attention, we’ll explain it clearly and let you know how urgent it is. Sometimes it’s simply a case of making a few improvements, with other homes needing significant work.
EICR Brighton Case Study - A home that looked absolutely fine
Not long ago, we carried out an EICR in Brighton at a large bay fronted Victorian terrace on Tivoli Crescent. The family had bought the house less than a year earlier and were excited to make it their forever home with their teenager and 2 primary school aged children.
From the outside, there wasn’t anything to raise concern. The previous owner had fitted modern switches and attractive new light fittings so naturally the electrics looked as though they had been updated too.
The family got in touch because they started to notice a few little issues. The lights flickered every now and then, and a few sockets had felt a little warm at times. Nothing dramatic or urgent but enough to make them wonder if they should get everything checked properly.
It turned out they were right to trust their instincts.
When we inspected the installation, we found loose connections inside the consumer unit which had already caused thermal damage. Some of the lighting circuits had been installed using electrical tape to hold wiring together instead of proper connectors, as well as the earthing arrangement not looking adequate either. Together those issues increase the risk of electric shock or fire for a family who had no idea anything was wrong.
Why an EICR is so important even if you think everything is fine?
The Tivoli Crescent property is a great example of why electrical appearances can be deceiving. We see it more often than people realise. Cosmetic improvements can make an electrical installation look modern, but you can’t see what is behind them.
That’s why an EICR Brighton is so valuable. It isn’t there to find faults for the sake of it, it’s there to give you an honest picture of the condition of the electrics so you know your home is safe. If everything passes, that’s fantastic. However, if we find something that needs attention, we have the opportunity to deal with it before it has the chance to cause a much bigger problem.
Looking for an EICR Brighton?
At Oval Electrical, we believe good advice should be honest and easy to understand. We won't confuse you with technical jargon or recommend unnecessary work.
If you are buying a property, have recently moved into one or you’d simply like reassurance that everything is safe, an EICR Brighton is one of the best ways to protect your home and the people living it.
Contact Oval Electrical today to book your EICR Brighton by phone 01273 282173 or via our contact form