Dodgy earth

[Ionkontrol]

Hi,

My elderly father has just had a new boiler installed through Warmfront.

Generally all good.
He had to update his bonding, no problem, he did this to spec.
His old Wylex fuseboard and circuits were tested by the spark.
The spark said that his main earth was reading low to non existent.
.
He was told to ring his supplier to arrange a new metal rod earth.

Who should pay for the incoming supply to be properly earthed?
Surely, the supplier should make sure the supply is safe to the CU or am I wrong?

Thanks

 

[JohnD]

Wrong, sorry

Some old houses used to rely on a wire wrapped round the water main, which used to be OK until they were changed from lead to plastic, and some had their own earth spike.

The supplier is not obliged to provide an earth, and the supplier will nor prvide an earth rod..

However they often provide an earth connection on the incoming main, and if they provided one in the past, they have to keep it working. In some circumstances they can and will provide a new earth at a cost, perhaps a hundred pounds or two, which is actually better and cheaper than having to install your own earth rod at your own expense.

If you can provide some photos of the incoming service, showing the main, the company fuse, the meter and the consumer unit, and the wires around and between them, especially ant green-and-yellow ones, or any old bare wires, that will give us some clues.

Is the house in town, or country? How old is it? Does it have an underground supply, or an overhead one?

 

[Ionkontrol]

Thanks for replying John

House is 1900ish,London terrace, underground supply.
I will supply a photo of the incoming service head when I pop over at the weekend.

Pic to come....