Channel 4's Help My House is Falling Down Electrical Advice

[KoBe]

Hello all,

I was just wondering if anyone saw the Channel 4 programme with Sarah Beeney, help my house is falling down.

I was a little disturbed by the advice she gave to the homeowners about carrying out the installation of the new cabling for the re-wire and then get a Qualified Electrician to carry out the final connections and testing. In my opinion I don't think this is safe advice as how can an unqualified person know where the safe wiring zones are, how to carry out cable calculations to ensure the correct size of cable is being used etc etc. It seems to me to make a bit of a joke of all the time spent as an apprentice, numerous college courses and all the BS7671 updates.

I would be interested to know anyone else's thoughts on this matter to see if this is normal or whether i'm going to start getting calls to say that the customer will install the cables can we do the rest! I personally don't see how you can sign the work off if you cannot guarantee where and how the cables have been installed and whether the cable is to an approved standard.

Look forward to any replies.

Regards,

KoBe

 

[monkster]

Part pee springs to mind or the lack of it who will be signing installation off,is it any wonder the trades goin down quicker than a lead balloon

 

[Octopus]

Sarah Beeny needs to understand the rules of the Part P and sign off if she is going to make such misleading statements.

Sure there's a saving for a homeowner for them to cut out for new back boxes etc but who's going to check where they run, whether the load is right, holes drilled in joists in the correct places etc, etc,

I looked on the "Help My House is Falling Down" website earlier and strangely I couldn't find a contact us email - wonder why!

 

[SimpleSimon]

What poor poor advice. Now a load of us are going to get calls over the next few weeks with customers along the lines of
"I saw it on the TV!! they said it was ok to put it in myself, so why won't you sign it off!!"
More agro for us.

 

[robskiing]

I seen it myself as well she went on the lines of we can save money by doing some of the electrical donkey work ourselves but you need to call in a professional to rebuild the retaining wall talk about undermining our profession further still especially when times are tough out there its probably more important getting the 1st fix right .

 

[Spoon]

I also watched it. It had me shouting at the telly, especially when the buy who was helping said that it was easy. Now I dont do house re-wires, but I know that its going to be hard to find someone to sign off on some work that someone has done.

 

[Adam W]

We had a discussion on this fairly recently - everyone on here said they wouldn't go in and certify a DIYer's work.
I can imagine this programme will prompt a load of people to have a go themselves and get advice from here. We used to get loads of them - "my electrician has agreed to sign off the work but he's gone on holiday so I need professional advice on what I should be doing".

 

[drew35]

I already had an answer phone message this week, someone saying they've run all the cable in a new barn conversion, and can they connect all the accessories themselves before I come and just make the connections into the consumer unit. I left him a message telling him to make the connections into the consumer unit himself as I wouldn't be touching it.

 

[robskiing]

We all now need to make a strong stance on this and just say no to all diy installations regarding signing off.All my experience ive gained over many years means nothing if these chancers are prepared to risk themselves and their families just to save money

 

[monkster]

The only thing to be gained from all of this is that if electricians take a firm stance about signing anything off that there may be a chance of work ? when it goes bang because no one has tested the installation then the phone starts to ring,imo sara beehny needs a kick up the harriss for undermining every spark thats out there !

 

[Octopus]

I think that Sarah Beeny needs to be contacted by all us sparks pointing out the "error" in her communication last night.

 

[richy3333]

Best contact I could find is Contact Us - Channel 4 - 4viewers

I've filled in the form to let them know what I think

 

[robskiing]

On that programme seems to be a lot of misleading regarding clients budgets she had virtually a new house and garden for a miserly budget of 23K when told the rewire would cost 5k i thought she was going to pass out to be honest i would want a lot more to work in that damp and mouse ridden hovel.

 

[robskiing]

Ive also sent a reply to channel 4 venting my anger had to get that one off my chest i can breathe easily thanks for the link richy 3333

 

[bristollspark]

I am glad i am not the only spark out there that was mad at what sarah said.
such bad and misleading advice to the homeowner.
program started off good i thought in respect to us sparks,then it all went pete tong.
i would say a email to ch4 about this from us all,and we may get a sorry from them,yea right!.
I expect the homeowners son thinks he is a spark now,and a painter and decorator.

 

[Octopus]

I've used the link above and sent a suitably nicely worded communication to them. Had the automated response already so it'll be interesting to see what happens next.

Wonder what Elecsa, Napit and NICEIC would say about it?

 

[Sparky Ninja]

Clearly some kind of monitoring is not in place with these programs and advice. I remember mentioning the home channels DIY advice about changing sockets, we ended up getting it removed from the site.

How To Wire A Plug Socket - Channel4 - 4Homes

This isn't much better. Check out what it says under skill.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

From watching the program, there's nothing actually wrong with what she suggests. If anything, she's incorrect to suggest that only a qualified electrician can make the final connections.
In the program, when connections were made, the cable routes were accessible and easily identified. Obviously it would have been different if the walls had been finished and the flooring had been fixed down.
I doubt very much that anything will come of any complaints.

 

[myelectricaljob]

The industry needs to be regulated far more closely. As a recruiter in this industey (ex electrical engineer) I see far too many men with vans running off to take a part p and 17th edition. Thiese guys are then rewiring peoples houses!

The gas industry is regulated much better and they say gas is the silent killer. So what is electricity?

 

[se7aq]

Morning all..!

Just made a complaint to Channel FOur about this asking where do they get their advice. I also posted the intial concern with a link to the website page.

Totally agree about taking a firm stance...messing around with electricity is not a game, if it is, then why have they got all of the regulations...?!

 

[KoBe]

I'm glad to see so many of you are feeling quite strongly about this matter.

I thought the electrical industry had hit rock bottom but it seems it may now get worse.

It makes you wonder why we all pay for accreditations, insurances and keeping up with the wiring regulations, I guess it's just lucky that I and so many of you are so set in our ways for doing things properly and to the book.

I just wish there was a way of taking this further than just leaving a comment on the Channel 4 website that they will obviously just ignore!

 

[MarkieSparkie]

They could always call in 'Billy Bungle' from DIY SOS to sign the job off, after all it's probably better than his usual standard.

 

[Mark.W]

Why don't we all chip in and get an ad out on the tele explaining the dangers of DIY electrics! Lol that would be a laugh! Or maybe even a documentary!! 

 

[robsparky1975]

Think its time for a change of career,maybe i can retrain as a diy tv presenter.

 

[Mark.W]

Auditions will take place shortly! No experience needed!

 

[gutterball]

a few observations on their website instructions

"Unscrew the face plate and make a note of the wire connections to the earth, neutral and live terminals" we've all seen this before, the live was in the left on the old socket so it must be on the left in the new one.

"If you have plasterboard walls, you can use a plasterboard saw to enlarge the hole. Check the back box fits into the hole" no mention of a faster-fix box, they will struggle to fit that box to a stud wall.

"Fold the bare wire back on itself and pinch together with pliers. Twist together all the wires for a particular terminal" they will struggle to twist them together together if the wires have been folded over.

 

[KoBe]

Think its time for a change of career,maybe i can retrain as a diy tv presenter.

You could always study mouse poo! I bet the world and his wife don't want to do a short course and be one of those!

 

[Londonsparky]

I don't see a problem with clients chasing Walls ready for wires etc but leave the electrical work to the professionals

 

[robskiing]

Thats fair enough chasing in and knocking boxes out but the point is if you seen the programme is the pulling in of cables ie safe zones drilling of joists cable design etc they were doing all that apart from connecting up. They could have contributed some labour towards the retaining wall or just general dogsbody work .

 

[drew35]

Hopefully just the fact that she is a woman means nobody is really paying any attention!

Remember, behind every woman talking knowledgeably about building there is a man feeding her the lines!

Sorry the missus had Loose women on this morning and one brief glimpse is enough to make my blood boil. Always talking about equality when the only reason they have a program is for all the women sitting on their ever increasing ---'s watching TV, sucking down chocolate, and not going out to work!!!

Rant over.

 

[One_of_them]

I agree with what you all say however as you all know the only thing people care about is saving money. Therefore you could go out to quote and if they mention running in cables themselves, take another hr or so explaining exactly where you want stuff, that you want to see ALL cables runs so no plastering or refitting floors until all has been checked. Budget this extra time and inconvenience into your quote anyway. And then firmly explain that if they do not follow your exact instructions you will not continue the work and nor will probably anybody else?

 

[robskiing]

Just when you thought it was safe to turn the tele on out pops the NICEICs very own man Tony Cable . He made an appearance in tonights show i know it was probably recorded a few months ago but what a complete contrast from last week coincidence maybe make your own mind up but channel 4 has a more professional approach to when electrics need a proper look from a qualified electrician .

 

[SW1970]

This TV programme is awful. What's most interesting though is the amount of NICEIC coverage on this page...

Does Your House Need Rewiring? - Channel4 - 4Homes

Why has the NICEIC sold out like this? Surely any professional organisation would be standing up for a high ground position; not selling out to the efforts of DIYers. Oh yes, there it is, the public has to use an NICEIC registered electrician. Ah that old chestnut. Channel 4 is a commercial organisation - how much did the NICEIC pay? Hmmm. I bet we don't see too many changes to that web page as a result of comments from interested electricians; it's become an advertorial for the NICEIC. Next they'll be sponsoring multifunction testers being available from the Hire Shop. Thank goodness I can say with confidence that the body I belong to doesn't devalue it's own worth like this. BTW NICEIC, you get credibility in business from your peers, not from your customers. They just pay the bills.

 

[Octopus]

I looked at the above link and on the second page I found this quote "If you have used an NICEIC contractor you will also receive a six year insurance backed warrantee."

Surely this insurance is something that the customer has an "option" to buy into, I thought to be able to sell insurance you had to be registered!!

 

[SW1970]

Now there's a funny thing; my comment (and probably of others too) has been included on their webpage! It was about the competent persons website. Not even a teeny weeny drop of other change though, and certainly no mention of the other scheme providers.