⚡Maxim Blog: Electrical Insights, Tips & Industry News⚡
Welcome to the Maxim Electrical Contractors blog — your go-to source for expert advice, industry updates, and practical electrical tips. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to upgrade your lighting, a business exploring energy-efficient solutions, or someone curious about careers in the electrical trade, our blog covers it all. Stay informed with the latest on domestic and commercial electrical services, EV charger installations, rewiring guides, and more — all from trusted electricians serving Liverpool and the North West.
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Maxim Blog: Expert Tips, Industry News, and Career Guides
Liverpool Landlord Smoke Alarm Rules 2026: What the Law Actually Requires
TLDR Liverpool landlords must fit at least one smoke alarm on every storey of the property that is used as living accommodation, and test them on the first day of every tenancy. The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 added a new requirement: a carbon monoxide alarm must now be fitted in any room containing a gas appliance (not just solid fuel), this includes gas boilers and gas
Old Plastic Fuse Box? Why Every Liverpool Home Built Before 2000 Needs to Know This
TLDR A plastic consumer unit is not illegal to keep in place. The law only applies when the board is replaced, at that point, the new installation must use a metal enclosure under BS 7671 Regulation 421.1.201 (in force since January 2016). What matters more than the plastic casing is whether the board has adequate RCD protection, sufficient ways for modern circuits, and whether it can actually be certified on
RCBO vs RCD vs MCB: What’s Actually in Your Consumer Unit
TLDR An MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) protects the cable from overloads. An RCD (Residual Current Device) protects you from earth faults and electrocution. An RCBO (Residual Current Breaker with Overcurrent protection) does both in a single device. The 18th Edition of BS 7671 now requires new consumer unit installations to use individual RCBOs per circuit rather than one shared RCD for a group of circuits. This post explains what each
Tripping RCD Won’t Reset? 5 Checks Before You Call an Electrician in Liverpool
TLDR If your RCD (Residual Current Device) won’t reset or keeps tripping, the most likely cause is a faulty appliance on the affected circuit. Unplug everything, reset the RCD, then reconnect appliances one at a time until it trips again, that appliance is the fault. This post covers five checks you can safely carry out yourself, when to stop and call an emergency electrician in Liverpool, and what the 105
How Much Does an EICR Cost? UK 2026 Guide for Landlords
TLDR An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) on a UK rental property costs roughly £150 to £250 for a standard 2–3 bed house , £100 to £180 for a 1–2 bed flat, and £250 to £350 for a 4–5 bed. The inspection takes 2 to 3 hours and the coded report lands within a working day. Remedial works
Landlord EICR Liverpool 2026: Cost, Codes and Compliance
A landlord EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) for a typical Liverpool two or three bed costs £140 to £220 plus VAT and is valid for five years.