Worried About Old Wiring?

The general guidance is that wiring over 25–30 years old should be inspected with an EICR, but the real risk depends on what materials were used. Rubber-insulated cables from before the 1960s are the most dangerous – the rubber perishes and crumbles, leaving live copper conductors exposed inside your walls. We've lifted floorboards in 1930s Devon cottages and found cables where the insulation literally falls apart when touched.

Early PVC cables (1960s–70s) are better but still concerning. The plasticiser leaches out over decades, making the insulation brittle and prone to cracking – especially around heat sources like downlights or where cables cross hot water pipes. An insulation resistance test tells us objectively how the cables are performing: healthy cables should read well above 1MΩ; anything significantly below suggests breakdown that will only worsen.

The other critical issue with old wiring is earthing. Many pre-1960s installations relied on the lead water main for their earth connection. When water companies replaced lead pipes with plastic, the earth was lost – and many homeowners were never told. Without a proper earth, metal appliances and fittings become shock hazards if a fault develops. We check earthing on every EICR and can install a modern earth rod system if yours is missing or inadequate.