Earth Rod - Advice please!

[Kaydee]

Hi, I am not an electrician, but need some advice from one, if you wouldn't mind helping, please?
We've just paid £3,500.00 to have a 3-bed semi completely rewired and are told the job is now finished. (We paid half up front, they now want the other half).
Outside the front of the property, they've installed what they've told us is an 'earth rod'. There's a long piece of thick, black, plastic tubing, leading to a unit that is fixed to the ground.
It comes almost onto the driveway, right in front of an attractive bush to the side of the front door and looks really unsightly.
We questioned them about it and were told it was 'regulation' that it had to be installed that way, a metre from the house, in a straight line.
I haven't seen anything like this in front of any other property, including ones that have been recently rewired, but want to check my facts before challenging them on this.
Is this normal? Can it/should it be buried underground?

 

[telectrix]

if you have not got a supplier's earth facility, then the earth rod is correct. however it could be made less obtrusive by digging in an "earth pit" so that its flush with the ground.

earth pit - Google Search - https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=earth+pit&tbm=isch&imgil=thNQqWcW_ER86M%253A%253BxBmoQq2KAeLBMM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fadabelectrical.com%25252Fproduct_info.php%25253Fproducts_id%2525253D298&source=iu&pf=m&fir=thNQqWcW_ER86M%253A%252CxBmoQq2KAeLBMM%252C_&usg=__5bu-dNVdKWvCHPRjZD0KDcKF7DA%3D&biw=1920&bih=950&ved=0ahUKEwjNtda_r6nVAhXkIMAKHc1kBiYQyjcIQg&ei=H9B5WY2qIuTBgAbNyZmwAg#imgrc=thNQqWcW_ER86M:

and the plastic conduit can be buries also.

 

[Kaydee]

Thank you, telectrix, that's the sort of thing I HAVE seen outside other houses.
In your opinion, would the total cost we have been charged cover the cost of this? We've had new board put in, 4 spotlights in the kitchen and the rest is just basic rewiring with a couple of extra sockets.
I'm only asking because I want to be prepared if I challenge the electician and he says it'll cost extra.

 

[westward10]

Can you show a picture of you electric service head.

 

[Kaydee]

I'm afraid I have no idea what that is, westward10

 

[bigspark17]

Can you post a picture of the earth rod's current set up? Is your propery in a remote location or do you have other properties close by.? Hard to comment on the price without a full spec but it doesnt sound that unreasonable.

 

[Midwest]

There's going to be a lot of unhappy customers, when the 18th sets in!

 

[Kaydee]

I'm new to this and just trying to work out how I post a pic.
House is semi-detached in street near to city centre.

 

[telectrix]

seeing this from both sides, as it were,

1. there is payment outstanding, so from your point, you have a bargaining chip. you could insist that he alters it to get paid.

2. from his point of view, he's done what he quoted for, so is entitled to the outstanding payment.

playing devil's advocate, considering the above, I'd advise that you speak with him, explain your disappointment with how the earth rod has been installed, and come to a n agreement to alter it whereby you pay him a bit extra, albeit not as much as it would normally cost. the key word is negotiation. then you'll maintain a good relationship for any future works required.

 

[Midwest]

Below is there a box marked 'Upload s File'? It may be because your a new member, and have insufficient posts to upload pics?

 

[David M]

Without sounding out of turn, the electrician should have known that an earth rod needed installing upon surveying the property during quoting purposes. The method you described is quite common and tends to be the cheapest easiest solution. This said, personally I would have discussed this with the client prior to commencing work and made provisions in the quote to install the rod within the regs as per clients spec. As its a "basic" re-wire and we know nothing of your agreed contract with the electrician, its difficult to make comment about your situation.
My guess is he/she will advise that the alterations you require will be charged extra to the original quote if nothing was agreed prior.

 

[telectrix]

you post pics by using the "upload a file" next to the reply button, but i think you need a minimum number of posts to be able to do.

 

[telectrix]

I'd also like to see a pic. has he installed a decent rod, or just a 3ft. "twig". and is the Ra/Ze suitably low.

 

[westward10]

I'm afraid I have no idea what that is, westward10

It will be where the supply cable connects to, a black or grey box looking enclosure from here wires to your meter.

 

[telectrix]

service head or cut-out:

contains the supplier's fuse.

 

[telectrix]

going by the OP's location, shall we send pete999 round on his mobility scooter.

 

[Kaydee]

Without sounding out of turn, the electrician should have known that an earth rod needed installing upon surveying the property during quoting purposes. The method you described is quite common and tends to be the cheapest easiest solution. This said, personally I would have discussed this with the client prior to commencing work and made provisions in the quote to install the rod within the regs as per clients spec. As its a "basic" re-wire and we know nothing of your agreed contract with the electrician, its difficult to make comment about your situation.
My guess is he/she will advise that the alterations you require will be charged extra to the original quote if nothing was agreed prior.

I think you're probably right David, but as he knew we were preparing the house for marketing it, I would have hoped he would have discussed this sort of thing with us, which he didn't!

 

[Kaydee]

Without sounding out of turn, the electrician should have known that an earth rod needed installing upon surveying the property during quoting purposes. The method you described is quite common and tends to be the cheapest easiest solution. This said, personally I would have discussed this with the client prior to commencing work and made provisions in the quote to install the rod within the regs as per clients spec. As its a "basic" re-wire and we know nothing of your agreed contract with the electrician, its difficult to make comment about your situation.
My guess is he/she will advise that the alterations you require will be charged extra to the original quote if nothing was agreed prior.

I think you're probably right David, but as he knew we were preparing the house for marketing it, I would have hoped he would have discussed this sort of thing with us, which he didn't!

Can you post a picture of the earth rod's current set up? Is your propery in a remote location or do you have other properties close by.? Hard to comment on the price without a full spec but it doesnt sound that unreasonable.

I'd also like to see a pic. has he installed a decent rod, or just a 3ft. "twig". and is the Ra/Ze suitably low.

 

[Midwest]

Looks okay to me, guess until the bush is cut back!

PS seen worse, lot worse.

 

[Kaydee]

Looks okay to me, guess until the bush is cut back!

Is this normal then? It's just that I've never seen it like this before on other properties.
I'm mainly worried about buyers wondering what it is and what it's doing there.