Nottingham firm ‘sparks’ warning to homeowners over unnecessary fuseboard bills
Posted by: electime 29th August 2025
Nottingham based Aerocom UK is warning homeowners that they could be being conned into paying thousands for a new fuseboard when a simple, low-cost device could dramatically improve safety in minutes.
The company based in Chilwell, says it has seen a growing trend of customers being told to replace plastic consumer units (fuseboards) with metal ones, with many quoted four figures for the work.
This comes as more homeowners take to social media to complain about being told their perfectly serviceable units needed replacing for safety reasons.
While metal consumer units are often recommended as an upgrade, especially in older properties, plastic ones are not automatically unsafe or illegal unless damaged or faulty.
Tom Hughes, Managing Director at Aerocom UK, said: “We’ve seen cases, including one 83-year-old woman quoted £1,000 for a replacement, where the homeowner could have avoided that cost. In many situations, a simple upgrade can improve safety without a full replacement.”
The company which supplies fire suppression devices to the NHS and Network Rail is urging homeowners to seek an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) from a qualified electrician before agreeing to expensive work – and to consider preventative solutions like Aerocom’s MAUS Advanced Pro Stixx, the latest technology in fire safety.
The Advanced Pro Stixx is a compact, zero-pressure fire suppression device no bigger than a two-finger KitKat that sits inside the consumer unit, right where electrical fires often begin. If the temperature inside rises above 170°C, it automatically releases a harmless potassium-based smoke, extinguishing the fire in seconds.
The device can be installed quickly, costs a fraction of a replacement unit, and has been independently tested and CE marked for fire safety.
The device is now being used by the NHS at hospitals all over the UK, and could be a solution to the growing number of electrical fires being reported.
Tom added: “A proper Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) from a qualified electrician will tell you whether your consumer unit really needs replacing. If it doesn’t, this upgrade could give you the same peace of mind for a fraction of the price – often in under five minutes of fitting time.”
With online forums reporting an “average” £1,000 bill for replacements, Aerocom’s warning is reinforced by a widely shared eFIXX video showing just how quickly and easily the device can be fitted.
For more information and to watch the demonstration video, visit: www.aerocom.co.uk
