Looking for an Electrician in Highnam?

1) Electrician in Highnam for Consumer Units, Faults and Home Upgrades

Last week I was called to a property in Williams Orchard where a kitchen strip light had stopped working. The customer had already tried the obvious things — checking the tube, starter and switch — but it still would not come on. After some fault finding, I found the problem was simply poor connections that needed tightening and making safe.

That is typical of the electrical work I carry out around Highnam. Sometimes a job needs a major upgrade, such as replacing a consumer unit before new circuits are added. Other times, careful testing finds a straightforward fault that can be put right without replacing equipment unnecessarily.

I’m Darren from DMC Electrical. I have more than 20 years’ electrical experience, I’m NICEIC registered and DMC Electrical is a Which? Trusted Trader. If you need an electrician in Highnam, I carry out the quotation and the electrical work myself, aim to respond on the same day and turn up when I say I will.

2) Electrical work around Highnam

Highnam has a mixture of property types that has developed over several decades.

There are older homes around the village and properties connected with the agricultural land surrounding Highnam, while areas such as Maidenhall and Oakridge contain housing built as the village expanded, including many homes dating from the 1970s onwards.

There are smaller starter homes and retirement bungalows as well as larger four and five-bedroom houses.

That means I come across electrical installations of very different ages and layouts.

My regular work locally includes:

• Consumer unit changes and upgrades
• Additional electrical protection for new circuits
• Extra sockets and circuit extensions
• Kitchen electrical alterations
• Cooker and appliance supplies
• Extractor fan installation
• Outside and security lighting
• Garden electrical supplies
• Fault finding
• Electrical alterations during home improvements

3) Consumer unit upgrades for modern homes

Consumer unit changes are one of the most requested services I carry out in Highnam.

Many of the original properties on the estates now have electrical requirements that were never considered when the houses were first built.

Modern households may want more sockets, garden lighting, outside sockets, hot tubs, new kitchen appliances and other equipment added to the installation.

An older consumer unit does not automatically need replacing simply because of its age. However, when new circuits are being installed, I need to consider whether the existing protective arrangements are suitable for the new work.

That can mean upgrading the consumer unit or adding appropriate additional protection so the new electrical work can be installed safely.

I assess what is already there rather than automatically quoting for a complete board replacement.

4) Moving a consumer unit when a property changes

Electrical equipment sometimes has to move because the house itself is changing.

I recently moved a small garage consumer unit in Gordon’s Close because the owner was having a new roller garage door installed.

The existing position would have been in the way of the new door arrangement, so the consumer unit needed to be relocated.

Jobs like this often involve more than simply unscrewing a board and fixing it somewhere else. I need to consider the existing cables, the proposed new position, accessibility and how the installation will work once the building alteration is finished.

It is much easier to deal with these issues before the new door, kitchen or extension is completed.

5) Kitchen alterations and extra sockets

I’ve also recently worked at a property in Farthing Croft that had just been purchased by new owners.

The customers wanted kitchen alterations and some socket positions moved to suit how they intended to use the room.

This is common when people move into a property.

The socket positions that suited the previous owners may not suit the new layout, particularly when new appliances, furniture or kitchen units are being installed.

I can assess the existing circuits and work out the most practical way to move or add electrical points before decorating and finishing work is completed.

6) Adding modern electrical equipment

Modern appliances can sometimes expose the limitations of an older electrical installation.

New cookers, extractor fans and other electrical goods may require different supplies or protective arrangements from the equipment they are replacing.

The same applies outside.

Customers increasingly want outside sockets, lighting and other garden electrical features.

Before extending an existing circuit or installing a new one, I consider the existing consumer unit, RCD protection and the condition of the circuit it will be connected to.

The aim is to make sure the new equipment is not simply connected because there happens to be a nearby cable.

6.1) Fault finding instead of guessing

Fault finding is another regular part of my work as an electrician in Highnam.

The Williams Orchard strip light is a good example.

The customer had already replaced or checked the parts that would normally be suspected, but the fitting still did not work.

By testing the circuit and inspecting the connections, I established that the fault was much simpler than replacing the whole fitting.

That is why I prefer to diagnose an electrical fault before changing equipment.

A tripping circuit, failed light or appliance supply might be caused by an accessory, wiring connection, circuit fault or the equipment itself.

Testing helps narrow that down.

7) Outside and security lighting

I also replace and upgrade older outside lighting around Highnam.

Older fittings can eventually become unreliable, particularly when exposed to the weather for many years.

Customers also sometimes want completely new lighting for driveways, entrances, garages or garden areas.

Where new circuits or additional supplies are needed, I check what electrical protection is already available and include any necessary upgrading as part of the proposed work.

8) What happens when you contact DMC Electrical?

When you call us, either Kate or I will take some initial information about what you need.

If the job needs looking at before it can be priced accurately, I arrange a suitable time to visit.

I carry out my quotations myself, and I also return to complete the electrical work. You are not passed from a salesperson to a different electrician.

My pricing for smaller electrical work starts from £95, with larger jobs such as consumer unit changes and new circuits quoted according to what is involved.

I aim to respond on the same day, turn up when agreed and keep your property clean and tidy while I’m working.

9) Why homeowners and landlords in Highnam use DMC Electrical

I’m NICEIC registered and DMC Electrical is a Which? Trusted Trader. We currently have 15 Google reviews, two Which? Trusted Trader reviews and further customer feedback on Facebook.

Customers also have the reassurance of the Which? Trusted Trader scheme alongside the guarantee I provide for my own workmanship.

For me, good service is also about the basics.

I quote the work myself, do the work myself, explain what I find and leave the property tidy.

Whether I’m diagnosing a light fault in Williams Orchard, moving a consumer unit in Gordon’s Close or altering kitchen sockets in Farthing Croft, you deal directly with me throughout.

If you need an electrician in Highnam, Maisemore, Hartpury or the Gloucester area, I’m happy to look at anything from a small fault through to a larger electrical upgrade.

10) FAQs

How much does an electrician in Highnam cost?

My pricing for smaller electrical jobs starts from £95. Larger jobs such as consumer unit changes, new circuits or significant alterations are quoted according to the work and materials involved.

Does an old consumer unit automatically need replacing?

No. I look at the condition of the existing board, the protection it provides and what new electrical work you want to add. An upgrade may be appropriate where additional circuits or modern equipment need protection that the existing arrangement cannot provide.

Can you add extra sockets?

Yes. I regularly add and move sockets when people renovate or rearrange their homes. I recently altered socket positions in a kitchen at Farthing Croft for new owners who wanted the room set out differently.

Can you move a consumer unit?

Yes, where the existing cables and installation allow it. I recently moved a garage consumer unit in Gordon’s Close so the owner could have a new roller garage door installed.

Do you carry out electrical fault finding?

Yes. I diagnose problems before recommending replacement equipment. A recent kitchen-light fault in Williams Orchard turned out to be poor electrical connections rather than a failed tube, starter or switch.

Can you install outside sockets and garden lighting?

Yes. I install and upgrade outside lighting and electrical supplies. Where a new circuit or additional protection is required, I’ll assess the existing installation and include that in the quotation.

How quickly do you respond?

I aim to respond to enquiries on the same day. If I need to visit before giving you an accurate price, I’ll arrange a suitable time and turn up when agreed.

If you need an electrician in Highnam for a consumer unit upgrade, extra sockets, a new circuit, kitchen alterations, outside lighting or an electrical fault that needs diagnosing, give us a call. Kate or I can take the initial details and I’ll advise on the next step, with a clear quotation and no obligation to proceed.