When should a consumer unit be serviced?
Mehmet · 13 July 2026
Why regular checks of panels in homes, shops and apartment buildings matter, and what a check covers.
With its cover closed, a consumer unit is easy to forget. Yet heat and vibration can loosen the connections inside it over time.
How often?
Every few years for homes; more often for shops, offices and the shared panels of apartment buildings. For busy workplaces, a yearly check is a good habit.
What a check covers
- Tightness of terminal screws and any signs of heat,
- Whether breakers and the RCD work,
- Whether circuits are labelled,
- Dust, damp and the condition of the cover.
What you can do
Don't open the panel or work inside it. But you can keep the space in front of it clear, make sure the cover is intact, and press the RCD test button now and then.
If you notice heat marks on the cover, a burning smell or a crackling sound, have it checked without delay.