nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

Child Item

New Metal Light Switches not Earthed!

cheif kaiser

I just had a new kitchen and bathroom installed just before Christmas and specified that I wanted metal sockets and switches installed. I have just discovered (by accident) that they basically used the old wiring in the house and none of the light switches are earthed :mad:

I brought this to the installers attention and insisted that the issue be fixed. He sent the electrician from the job down to have a look and his answer was... Well there is no way we can get an earth to it now so we will just pull all the switches and change them back to white plastic. I refused this as an option and he is now not answering any of my emails or texts.

Is there anything I can do about this and is there any alternative to ugly white switches when all my sockets are chrome?

Thanks.

Find more posts tagged with

Quick Links

Comments

2011

cheif kaiser wrote: »

I've just noticed that the back boxes are also metal so even if I replace the switches with plastic switches there is still a danger?

Theoretically, yes. In the even of the back box becoming live the exposed screws on the front of the light switch would also be live. Obviously it would be easy to make contact with these screws resulting in a shock. If the switch box was earthed the circuit should automatically disconnect if the box were to become live thus averting the shock risk.

[Deleted User]

cheif kaiser wrote: »

Ye they fitted a power shower, fitted new spots, none of these are earthed either but they seem to be just clip on metal parts, although 1 in the hall was fully metal and I replaced this myself with a double insulated. Most of the work they did in the kitchen was also new. The kitchen was ripped back to a shell and all new sockets added which they seem to have just attached onto the old circuit.

No cert was issued for any of the work.

Anything in the bathroom has to be done by a REC & certed. If they fitted a power shower without RCD protection it can be lethal & very illegal. Many just take a spur from a light or socket. This will power the shower no problem but you have no protection as you shower.
If it were me I would tell them that you will report them if the work isn't done correctly with a cert. If they don't fix it I would report them here http://www.safeelectric.ie/
To be honest you should just report them anyway. They could kill someone in the next house they work on. As a society we don't like to report anyone but lives are at risk here.
I don't believe they used electricians at all on your job. I'd like to think no electrician would do this quality work. Think about this, even a fully qualified electrician can't do any electrical work in a bathroom unless they are a REC.
I'm a plumber so maybe some of the electricians here can help you out more

cheif kaiser

Sleeper12 wrote: »

What other electrical works did they do? Did they issue a cert?

I ask this because if they did more than replace light switches, maybe an electric or power shower,or did any work on the fusebox then they should have issued you with a reci cert. RECI then make them come back to do it properly & safely for free

Ye they fitted a power shower, fitted new spots, none of these are earthed either but they seem to be just clip on metal parts, although 1 in the hall was fully metal and I replaced this myself with a double insulated. Most of the work they did in the kitchen was also new. The kitchen was ripped back to a shell and all new sockets added which they seem to have just attached onto the old circuit.

No cert was issued for any of the work.

[Deleted User]

What other electrical works did they do? Did they issue a cert?

I ask this because if they did more than replace light switches, maybe an electric or power shower,or did any work on the fusebox then they should have issued you with a reci cert. RECI then make them come back to do it properly & safely for free

cheif kaiser

I've just noticed that the back boxes are also metal so even if I replace the switches with plastic switches there is still a danger?

cheif kaiser

2011 wrote: »

In which case they should not have fitted the switches.

Yes, I completely agree but they don't seem to care.

2011 wrote: »

You could get an earth pulled to each switch. This may not be easy, but it is possible.

Have explored this option and no electrician seems to be interested in doing it. Too much hassle apparently.

2011

cheif kaiser wrote: »

Well there is no way we can get an earth to it now so we will just pull all the switches and change them back to white plastic.

In which case they should not have fitted the switches.

Is there anything I can do about this and is there any alternative to ugly white switches when all my sockets are chrome?

You could get an earth pulled to each switch. This may not be easy, but it is possible.

cheif kaiser

Pkiernan wrote: »

Would chrome look plastic ones work for you?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0158QELWS?psc=1

These unfortunately are just the surround that fits over a light switch but thanks for suggestion.

Pkiernan

cheif kaiser wrote: »

I just had a new kitchen and bathroom installed just before Christmas and specified that I wanted metal sockets and switches installed. I have just discovered (by accident) that they basically used the old wiring in the house and none of the light switches are earthed :mad:

I brought this to the installers attention and insisted that the issue be fixed. He sent the electrician from the job down to have a look and his answer was... Well there is no way we can get an earth to it now so we will just pull all the switches and change them back to white plastic. I refused this as an option and he is now not answering any of my emails or texts.

Is there anything I can do about this and is there any alternative to ugly white switches when all my sockets are chrome?

Thanks.

Would chrome look plastic ones work for you?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0158QELWS?psc=1