When I carried out an EICR at a property on Oxford Street, Burnham-on-Sea, I found a number of issues that needed attention.
Rather than just highlighting the problems, the customer asked me to return and carry out all of the recommended remedial work, along with installing a new outdoor socket for a hot tub at the very end of the garden.
It's always satisfying going back to complete the repairs and leave an installation both safe and fully tested.
What problems did the EICR identify?
The Electrical Installation Condition Report highlighted several defects that required attention before the installation could be considered fully satisfactory.
One of the main concerns was that two socket outlets had stopped working completely. The property is currently experiencing a damp issue, which the customer is already having addressed, so the fault initially appeared as though it might be more complicated.
After carrying out fault-finding, I traced the problem back to the socket circuit itself. Rather than disturbing large sections of the house, I was able to reconfigure that part of the installation by rewiring the affected section and supplying the two socket outlets from their own dedicated 16A MCB.
This restored power safely while keeping disruption to a minimum.
Installing a new outdoor socket for a hot tub
The second part of the job was providing power for a new hot tub.
The customer wanted a weatherproof socket right at the end of the garden, much further away from the house than a standard outdoor installation. This meant carefully planning the cable route, protecting the cable externally and ensuring the new socket was suitable for outdoor use.
Once installed, the circuit was fully tested to verify:
- Correct polarity
- Earth continuity
- Insulation resistance
- Earth fault loop impedance
- RCD protection
- Safe operation under load
Only after every result complied with BS 7671 was the work certified. Sometimes the little moments make the day
Not every memorable part of a job is electrical.
While routing the cable through the garden, I came across a small frog hiding amongst the plants. It certainly wasn't listed on the job sheet, but it made for a nice reminder that every property has its own surprises.
It's one of those little moments that comes with working outdoors across Burnham-on Sea.
Why an EICR is worth having
This job is a good example of why I always recommend an EICR when customers have concerns about their electrics.
Without a proper inspection, faults such as dead sockets, ageing wiring or hidden defects can easily go unnoticed until they become a bigger problem.
An EICR provides a clear picture of the condition of an installation and allows any remedial work to be carried out in a planned, safe manner rather than waiting for something to fail unexpectedly.
Another safe installation completed in Burnham-on-Sea
By the end of the day the customer had:
- The remedial work from the EICR completed.
- Two previously dead socket outlets safely restored.
- A new weatherproof outdoor socket installed for their hot tub.
- Every circuit fully tested and certified.
- Peace of mind knowing the electrical installation is now significantly safer than when I first inspected it.
As a NAPIT Electrician, I always test every circuit after carrying out repairs or alterations. Whether it's fault finding, remedial work after an EICR, or installing new outdoor power, I believe the job isn't finished until I've proved it's safe - get in touch today to book our services!
