How dangerous is this?

[OldKettle]

Hi,
I've recently bought a house that has very questionable placements of the water pipes and electrics in the garage. As you can see from the photos, some of the pipes run above the consumer unit and some above the "meter board" (not sure what the correct term is). I also haven't seen any earthing of the pipework.

Is this as dangerous as I think it is? (extremely)

What is the best way to get this resolved? Should I be looking to get the electrics moved, or just the pipes? If the "meter board" needs moving, is that a job for the supplier, rather than a domestic installer?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I've recently bought a house that has very questionable placements of the water pipes and electrics in the garage.

Ooh - a heated garage. Get you.

As you can see from the photos, some of the pipes run above the consumer unit and some above the "meter board" (not sure what the correct term is).

"Meter board" is good.

I also haven't seen any earthing of the pipework.

May not need it. Are any of them the incoming water supply?

Is this as dangerous as I think it is? (extremely)

No, it's not as dangerous as you think it is.

What is the best way to get this resolved?

I see no pressing need to resolve anything.

Should I be looking to get the electrics moved, or just the pipes?

Neither would be cheap. The CU could not be moved, it would need replacing with a new metal one, with at least 2 RCDs (or all RCBO)

If the "meter board" needs moving, is that a job for the supplier

Oh yes, absolutely. And that would cost an eye-watering amount.


Unless you have good reason to expect the pipes to burst, I'd leave it alone.

It all looks pretty neat - what's the rest of the house like - any evidence of the electrics having been fiddled with?

After you've lived there for a while you might find that you need other work to be done, so you could always investigate moving the CU at that time, but unless I've not spotted something, or not thought of something (if I have someone will let you know), you can leave it as it is.

 

[JohnW2]

.... I also haven't seen any earthing of the pipework. ....

Is that cable to it's left not connected to ('earthing') that pipe?....

Presumably that is not your incoming water supply. If not, do you know where it enters the house and whether there are any wires/cables in its vicinity (photo might help)?

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Is that cable to it's left not connected to ('earthing') that pipe?....

Goes through the wall.

There are 2 outgoing cables from the 'MET', looks like they both go into the trunking running to the CU, maybe one is a main bond.

 

[flameport]

I also haven't seen any earthing of the pipework.

Directly above the consumer unit, and to the right of the brown door just above the shelf.

 

[OwainDIYer]

I don't think you're supposed to have an open gulley inside a building, even if it is trapped.

I wish the plumbing and wiring in my kitchen was as neat as your garage ...

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Directly above the consumer unit,

Can't see that.

and to the right of the brown door just above the shelf.

Can see some tags, but no cables.


But neither of those locations are where any main bonding should be attached.

 

[JohnW2]

I don't think you're supposed to have an open gulley inside a building, even if it is trapped.

That's quite probably the case, but I've often seen things like that when a garage has been added onto the side/back of a pre-existing house. I presume that it would not be allowed in a 'habitable room', probably not any 'room' in teh normal sense, but I don't know about garages.

I wish the plumbing and wiring in my kitchen was as neat as your garage ...

Quite so!

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I wish my kitchen was as neat as his garage...

 

[OldKettle]

Ooh - a heated garage. Get you.

Yeah, sorry, forgot to mention that I'm super posh.

No, it's not as dangerous as you think it is.

I see no pressing need to resolve anything.

Thanks, that's very good to know.

It all looks pretty neat - what's the rest of the house like - any evidence of the electrics having been fiddled with?

Everything looks OK to my untrained eye. There is a mixture of chased and trunked sockets, and I believe the last full rewire was early 90s.

Presumably that is not your incoming water supply. If not, do you know where it enters the house and whether there are any wires/cables in its vicinity (photo might help)?
Kind Regards, John

Thanks. Finally found it. Earthed right next to the water meter.

That's quite probably the case, but I've often seen things like that when a garage has been added onto the side/back of a pre-existing house. I presume that it would not be allowed in a 'habitable room', probably not any 'room' in teh normal sense, but I don't know about garages.

I believe that the garage is not original, so that ties in. We will probably be converting at least part of the garage (including the section with the open gully), so will just get it sorted then.

Thanks to everyone for their input. Much appreciated!

 

[JohnW2]

Thanks. Finally found it. Earthed right next to the water meter.

Great. That's how it should be. As a matter of interest (in view of some of the technical discussions we have here!) which side of the meter is the bonding (that's the technical term, not 'earthing') wire onnected - the supplier's side or 'your' side?

I believe that the garage is not original, so that ties in. We will probably be converting at least part of the garage (including the section with the open gully), so will just get it sorted then.

Fair enough. As I said, I've seen that fairly often in garages - and sometimes elsewhere. In fact, in my last house (30+ years ago), the garage had been extended (before our time) into a 'double length' one, taking in such an 'open gully' (and, indeed, even a 'manhole cover' over an inspection chamber!), and the back part of that extended garage had subsequently (again, before our time) been converted into a utility room (hence still with the open gully and inspection chamber) - and we lived with that for about 10 years before leaving it for the next owner to sort out

As has been said, on the basis of what we've seen it would appear that both the electrics and plumbing in your garage are pretty impressive, so I don't think that any of your concerns were justified!

Enjoy the house!

Kind Regards, John