Your home is perhaps your most important asset and while most people have the peace of mind of insurance, an electrical fire or other incident is the last thing anyone would want to have to deal with.
While accidents cannot be 100% avoided, there are ways to dramatically decrease the risk and stay on top of the electrical safety of your home.
One such example of this is by having an up-to-date EICR which gives you the peace of mind that the electrical installations in your home are in good working order. The importance of this simple test cannot be understated.
What Is An EICR?
An Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR for short, is a series of checks and assessments that test the condition and quality of the electrical installations within a building. These checks are carried out by a qualified electrician who will be able to identify any issues and recommend the correct remedial work if any is needed.
Do I Have To Have An EICR By Law As A Homeowner?
In the United Kingdom, it is not a legal requirement for homeowners to have an up to date EICR but it’s certainly something that all experts recommend.
Some people are under the impression that it is a legal requirement but I believe that notion comes from the fact that UK landlords are required by law to have an EICR carried out at least once every five years. These same laws do not apply to homeowners that reside in their own properties.
What’s The Point In An EICR And Why Is It So Important?
It can cost around £100 to £300 for a domestic EICR so it’s just a drop in the ocean compared to what you might pay for repairs and insurance excesses in the case of an electrical fire.
An EICR looks at the condition and quality of things like your consumer unit (fuse box), wiring and power outlets to ensure that they do not have any faults and are safe for continued use.
Without an EICR, you might never know that there’s a problem until it is too late. In the event of an electrical fire caused by a faulty installation, the risks involve injury, loss of property and, at worst, death. It simply isn’t worth foregoing the small fee involved to have this assessment done.
You wouldn’t continue to run your car without a valid MOT (although, unlike an EICR, an MOT is a legal requirement) so why would you continue to use your electrical installations without knowing that they are safe?
What’s more, when it comes to the time to sell your property, you’ll have a hard time finding a buyer if you cannot prove that the electrical installations within the property are in good working order. By having this inspection on a regular basis, you can feel confident that everything is safe and, in the event you wish to sell your home, you won’t be faced with any issues.
In addition to this, it’s worth taking a look at your home insurance policy because some providers will void your insurance if there is not a valid EICR in place. In the event that an EICR has been carried out but any immediate recommended remedial work was not done and this was proven to be the cause of an electrical fire, you may find that your insurance company won’t pay out.
How Often Should I Have An EICR On My Home And Can I Carry Out The Test Myself?
It is generally recommended that an EICR be carried out at least once every five years. However, some people choose to have the assessment done more frequently than this.
In order for the report to be valid and usable in things like the sale of a property, it must have been carried out by a qualified electrician.
Not only do trained professionals know exactly what to look for but they’re also able to work with electrical installations safely. If you aren’t sure what you’re doing when working with electrical equipment, the risk of accident, injury or even death is alarmingly high.
As I mentioned earlier, the average cost of an EICR is not high and doesn’t typically come to more than a few hundred pounds. Of course, the size of the property and the number of installations that need to be checked will impact the price. Still, it’s an investment that’s seriously worth it.
What Happens During An EICR?
Many people put off having an EICR because they’re under the impression that the work will be invasive or time-consuming. Naturally, the larger the property, the more time will be required to complete the checks but this still shouldn’t take longer than three to four hours for a large property.
During the inspection, your electrician will look at all aspects of your electrical installation to deem whether they are fit for purpose.
In some cases, there may be what is known as a code one problem. This is a fault or issue with the installation that is considered immediately dangerous. In these situations, your electrician may be able to fix the problem during the same visit but if not, they will arrange for the work to take place at the earliest possible date.
Other, more minor problems may be flagged that aren’t considered an immediate risk but may require attention in the near future. Of course, there will also be many instances of the installation passing the test and requiring no further work.
At the end of the inspection, your electrician will provide you with a full report. This is not a certificate of any sort but merely provides you with your electrician’s findings.
How Can I Get An EICR For My Property?
The best way to arrange an EICR is to contact an electrician. At MJP Electrical, we have been completing EICRs to a high standard for many years. With a team of fully trained electricians who are not only competent enough to carry out the test but also qualified to perform any remedial work, you can rely on us for your domestic EICR.
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