Upgrade Your Consumer Unit for Modern Circuit and RCD Protection in Coventry
We assess your wiring, confirm the full upgrade scope on site and fit and test a modern consumer unit.
Booking fee plus hourly labour — the price is confirmed before any work starts.
What this costs
| Booked 14+ days ahead | £25 booking fee £85 per hour |
|---|---|
| Booked within 48 hours | £100 booking fee £65 per hour |
| Same-day call-out | £220 booking fee £45 per hour |
The booking fee secures the visit. Labour is then charged by the hour, so you only pay for the time the job actually takes.
Booking fee £25–£220
£25 + £85/hr booked 14+ days ahead, £100 + £65/hr inside 48 hours, £220 + £45/hr same day. Agreed before we arrive.
Covered under Fuse Box
Electrical › Fuse Box — one of 19 documented jobs in this section.
Same-day consumer unit upgrade
Urgent jobs can often be booked for today. Ask when you book and we will confirm the slot before you pay anything.
15 service areas
Birmingham, Coventry, Dorridge and 12 more across the West Midlands.
What an upgrade changes
An upgrade replaces the existing fuse board with a modern enclosure and protective devices suited to the agreed circuit arrangement. Circuit breakers switch off individual circuits when current is too high because of an overload or short circuit. RCDs detect certain current leakage to earth and disconnect the protected circuits. The layout may differ between homes, and simply fitting a newer-looking box does not correct faults in old wiring. The electrician checks the condition and explains what the proposed unit can and cannot do.
Signs to consider an upgrade
A consumer unit may be worth reviewing if it is damaged, unreliable, has limited protective arrangements, or needs to support planned electrical work. Frequent tripping should be diagnosed first rather than treated as an automatic reason to upgrade; the fault might be an appliance or cable that a new unit will not cure. An electrician can also explain whether your existing circuits and wiring are suitable for the change and whether any repair is needed before connection.
Scope and quote agreed before work
At the on-site assessment, the engineer identifies the circuits, checks access and looks for visible issues with the existing unit and installation. They confirm which unit and protective devices are proposed, what circuit changes or remedial work are needed, and how the supply isolation will affect the household. You receive the complete scope and quote before work begins. If testing during the job uncovers a further issue, the engineer discusses the options and price with you before proceeding.
The changeover process
On the agreed day, power is isolated while the old unit is removed and the replacement is installed. The engineer reconnects and labels the circuits, then carries out the tests needed to check the installation and protective devices before restoring supply. A straightforward upgrade is often completed in a day or so; extra repairs or unexpected wiring conditions can change the duration. Keep access clear to the existing unit and ask about any preparation needed before arrival.
After the upgrade
The electrician explains the controls and how to identify a breaker or RCD that has operated. If a switch trips, leave it off if it will not reset or trips again, and note what was running. The new unit improves the protection arrangement, but it cannot prevent every electrical fault or replace safe use of appliances. Keep the unit accessible for operation and future checks, and report any heat, odour, noise or recurring trips promptly.
What the visit involves
The engineer first examines the existing unit and circuits, then confirms the proposed consumer unit, associated work and complete price on site. No upgrade work starts until you approve that scope. During the changeover, power is isolated, the unit is replaced and the circuits are tested before being restored. A straightforward job usually takes a day or so, with any extra work discussed if the checks reveal it.
Aftercare and safety
RCD protection and circuit breakers reduce certain electrical risks, but the installation still relies on sound wiring and working appliances. Keep the unit accessible, use its labels and do not reset a switch repeatedly if it trips. Contact an electrician if the upgraded unit shows heat, damage or persistent trips.
Book your electrical visit
Arrange an on-site assessment to discuss a consumer-unit upgrade. The engineer will confirm the full scope and price before work starts.
Further details for your electrician
An upgrade is also a chance to review circuit identification and the condition of the installation, but it does not automatically include rewiring the property. The engineer explains any limitations in the existing circuits and which improvements are part of the agreed work. Ask them to show how the labels correspond to rooms and fixed equipment at handover. Clear labelling makes it easier to isolate the right circuit if a future fault occurs.
How the price works
We charge a booking fee to hold your slot, then an hourly rate for the work itself. The fee changes with how soon you need us; the hourly rate changes with the slot you choose. You approve the price before we start, so there is no surprise on the invoice.
Booked 14+ days ahead
£25 booking fee
then £85 per hour of labour
Best value. Book the slot now, pay the smallest booking fee.
Booked within 48 hours
£100 booking fee
then £65 per hour of labour
For jobs that can wait a day or two but not a fortnight.
Same-day call-out
£220 booking fee
then £45 per hour of labour
Urgent problems: standing water, no heat, no power, leaks.
Book the slot
Choose the window that suits you and pay the booking fee. That holds your place in the diary.
We diagnose on site
The engineer confirms the cause and tells you what the job involves and how long it should take.
You approve, we work
Nothing goes ahead until you agree the price. Labour is then charged per hour at your slot rate.
A consumer-unit upgrade can provide circuit breakers and RCD protection in place of an older arrangement. We inspect your installation, confirm the complete scope on site before work starts, and carry out the changeover and testing, usually in a day or so depending on the work involved.
What our customers say about our electrical service
4.6 out of 5 from 11 reviews
Does what it says on the tin
No complaints about the work itself — clear explanation, sensible advice, fair price. Booking online was easy enough once I found the right job page.
Job: Smoke Alarm Replacement
Fixed it, but took longer than expected
Work itself was fine and tidy. Communication beforehand was patchy — I did not get the confirmation message and had to ring to check the slot. Would still use again.
Job: Flickering Outdoor Lights
Turned up when they said
Third time we have used Maintenance Men, and the same experience each time: agreed price, proper explanation, job done in one visit. The hourly rate is fair for the standard of work.
Job: Appliance Causing Power Trip
Book Consumer Unit Upgrade
Tell us what is happening and choose a slot. If you are not sure this is the right job, use the diagnosis panel — it narrows the problem down before you book.
- Booking fee confirmed up front
- Hourly labour, agreed before work starts
- Same-day slots for urgent problems
Questions people ask about consumer unit upgrade
Straight answers to the things customers ask most often before booking.
Can I upgrade the consumer unit myself?
No. The unit connects and protects multiple circuits, and the installation requires proper isolation and testing. Use an electrician to assess and carry out the work.
How will the electrician diagnose the problem?
The engineer checks the existing unit, circuit arrangement, access and visible condition of the wiring. The complete work scope and quote are confirmed with you on site before installation starts.
What do RCDs and circuit breakers do?
Circuit breakers disconnect circuits during overloads or short circuits. RCDs detect certain current leakages to earth and disconnect the circuits they protect; their arrangement depends on the unit and installation.
How long does a consumer-unit upgrade take?
A straightforward upgrade is usually completed in a day or so, including changeover and testing. The engineer confirms timing after assessing the job, and repairs can add time.
How is the work priced?
You pay a booking fee when you book, and labour is charged hourly at a rate that depends on how quickly you need us. The full cost of the work is quoted before we start, so you approve it before any tools come out.
Need consumer unit upgrade sorted in Coventry?
Book a slot in the diary and pay only the booking fee up front. We confirm the rest before we start.