Claire Bennett
Claire writes for Top Rated Electricians, with a focus on helping homeowners compare quotes and ask the right questions. Away from the desk, she is learning Welsh one lesson at a time.
Articles by Claire Bennett
Old and New UK Wiring Colours and What They Tell You
Brown and blue replaced red and black in UK fixed wiring in the mid 2000s. Learn what each colour means, what old colours say about your home, why mixed colours matter and when to call an electrician.
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Electrical Safety Checks for Elderly Parents Living at Home
A few simple checks and one proper inspection can make an older relative's home safer. Learn the warning signs, which jobs need a registered electrician and what help the energy supplier may offer.
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Planning the Electrics for an Extension or Loft Conversion
Plan the electrics before the plasterers arrive. See what first and second fix mean, whether your consumer unit can cope, the loft smoke alarm rules and what paperwork to expect.
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NICEIC or NAPIT and How to Check an Electrician Is Registered
Learn what NICEIC and NAPIT registration means, how to check an electrician on the official register in a few minutes, what to do if you cannot find them and why a logo alone proves nothing.
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Surge Protection Devices and Why Electricians Now Fit Them
A surge protection device guards your wiring and electronics against sudden voltage spikes. See why it is now part of most consumer unit upgrades, what it costs and what to ask on your quote.
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Checkatrade for Electricians and What Each Lead Site Charges
What Checkatrade, Rated People, MyBuilder, Bark and TrustATrader charge an electrical business as published on 8 November 2026, the renewal and refund terms behind the prices, and how a free listing built on Google reviews works.
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Damaged Electric Meter Box and Who Is Responsible for Fixing It
Who owns a meter box, who repairs it, when the network operator steps in, when to call your supplier instead, and what to do (and not do) if the cover is broken or wires are showing.
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Home Battery Storage Cost and Whether It Is Worth Adding
What a home battery typically costs in 2026 by size, what it might save, how long it lasts, what has to be notified to the network operator, and when the sums do and do not add up.
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Socket and Light Switch Heights in UK Homes Explained
The socket and switch heights used in new UK homes, whether the rules apply when you renovate or rewire, kitchen and bathroom points to watch and what it costs to move or add a socket.
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Replacing Old Storage Heaters and What It Costs
When it is worth replacing old storage heaters, what modern high heat retention models cost to buy and fit in 2026, the tariff and meter checks to make and the asbestos risk in very old units.
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Interlinked and Mains Wired Smoke Alarms Explained
The difference between interlinked, mains wired and sealed battery smoke alarms, the rules in Scotland, England and Wales, and what an electrician charges to fit them.
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