5 Signs You Need An Exeter Commercial Electrical Rewire

Is your commercial property in Exeter due for a rewire? Your commercial property is more than just bricks and mortar – it’s the beating heart of your business operations. Whether you’re running a busy office in Exeter, managing a retail space, or a large industrial unit, your electrical system plays a vital role in keeping everything running smoothly and safely.
If you’re experiencing power issues, flickering lights, or a burning smell from outlets, you might be overdue for a commercial electrical rewire.

At Datel Electrical, we specialise in Exeter commercial electrical rewire services, helping local businesses stay compliant, efficient, and future-ready. With over 20 years of experience in the business and industrial electrical sector, our qualified team of commercial electricians understands the demands placed on modern businesses and the importance of maintaining a safe, regulation-compliant electrical infrastructure.

What Is A Commercial Electrical Rewire?

A commercial electrical rewire involves replacing outdated or faulty electrical wiring, circuits, and components within a commercial property. This process is essential in a wide range of facilities, including office buildings, retail spaces, schools, and healthcare environments, to ensure the electrical infrastructure remains safe, efficient, and compliant with current regulations.

Why Rewiring Is Crucial For Exeter Commercial Properties?

As your business grows, so does the demand on your electrical system. Unlike homes, commercial properties often operate high-powered equipment, multiple computer systems, emergency lighting, and security tech – all of which put a heavy strain on your wiring.
If your system isn’t built for today’s needs, you could be facing:

• Frequent power outages during crucial business hours
• Overloaded circuits that increase fire risk
• Rising energy bills due to inefficiencies
• Non-compliance with current safety regulations

When Should You Consider Rewiring Your Exeter Commercial Property?

Electrical issues are one of the leading causes of preventable damage to commercial buildings, and often, the warning signs are overlooked until it’s too late. Fortunately, most electrical fires, system failures, and safety risks can be avoided with early intervention and professional assessment.
If you own or manage a commercial property in Exeter, here are five signs that it may be time to consider a commercial electrical rewire:

1) Your property is over 25 – 30 years old

If your Exeter commercial building hasn’t had a full rewire in several decades, it’s likely that it could be hiding some dangerous surprises behind the walls. Wiring naturally deteriorates over time, and older systems simply weren’t designed to handle the volume of tech used in today’s workplaces. Some common issues in older properties include:

• Aluminium wiring was once common but can loosen and overheat due to expansion and contraction
• Brittle insulation around wires cracks with age, exposing live parts
• Incompatible circuits may struggle to support modern lighting, computer systems, or machinery

Pro tip: If your Exeter business premises were built before 1990 and haven’t had a recent inspection, now is the time to book a full electrical assessment.

2) Burning smells or discoloured outlets

Ever noticed a strange smell near a socket or scorch marks around an outlet? While it might seem harmless, these are often the first signs that something is dangerously overheating behind your walls. Whether it’s melted insulation or a wire arcing behind the socket, ignoring these signals could lead to serious electrical faults, fire risks, and costly downtime for your business.

What to do immediately?

• Unplug any connected devices
• Switch off the affected circuit at the breaker box
• Call in an experienced Exeter rewiring electrician

Pro Tip: Our emergency electricians are available 24/7 and are based locally in Devon. If you detect a burning smell or notice discolouration around your outlets, don’t wait – give us a call immediately.

3) Lights flickering or dimming under load

If your lights dim whenever someone turns on the kettle, copier, or server equipment, it’s a warning sign your wiring isn’t coping. Not only is this frustrating, but it can damage sensitive equipment and drain energy efficiency. Here’s why this happens:

• Loose or old wiring connections interrupt the flow of power
• Overloaded circuits can’t support multiple high-demand devices
• Inadequate system design leaves modern tech underpowered

Pro Tip: If you’ve recently added new devices or systems and notice lighting issues, let us take a look. We can reconfigure your circuits or recommend a partial or full rewire to keep things running smoothly.

4) Frequent Circuit breaker trips

Breakers tripping now and again? Normal. Breakers tripping every week or worse? That’s not normal! It means your system is being pushed too hard – and it’s only a matter of time before that stress causes real damage. Breakers protect you – but they shouldn’t trip often!

• Worn-out wiring may cause short circuits
• Old fuse boards aren’t equipped to handle today’s energy load
• Imbalanced loads across circuits make your system unstable

Pro Tip: If your property has a habit of tripping breakers, our Exeter electricians will trace the fault, check your board, and give honest advice on whether a rewire or a smaller fix is needed

5) Outlets spark or feel hot

Outlets are meant to be safe to the touch. If they spark, vibrate, or feel unusually warm, something is going seriously wrong behind the scenes. These symptoms often point to short circuits or overloaded connections, both of which are common causes of electrical fires in commercial settings.

Here are the signs to watch for:

• Sparks when plugging in: Even a brief flash could indicate serious underlying faults
• Warm outlets or plugs: This heat can lead to insulation melting or even small fires
• Buzzing or crackling sounds: Caused by poor contact or damaged wires

Pro Tip: If any of the above signs are happening in your Exeter business premises, stop using the outlet. Our team offers expert electrical fault finding and investigation services, quickly identifying the root cause of the problem and recommending the safest solution. 

The Importance Of Exeter Commercial Rewiring: More Than Just Safety

Outdated wiring isn’t just a safety risk – it can hold your business back. A professional rewire by our Devon electricians ensures your premises are not only safe but also ready for the future, compliant with current regulations, and more energy-efficient.

• Improved energy efficiency: Modern electrical systems reduce unnecessary energy loss, helping to cut down your bills and support sustainable business operations
• Ensuring legal compliance: Older wiring often fails EICR inspections. At Datel Electrical, we ensure your setup aligns with BS7671 standards, keeping your business fully compliant and protected
• Futureproofing your business: Rewiring prepares your premises for modern demands – whether that’s supporting advanced tech, electric vehicle charging, new office layouts, or flexible working setups

How Datel Electrical Supports Your Exeter Commercial Electrics?

If you’re a small, medium, or large business in Exeter in need of a reliable and fully compliant commercial rewire, look no further than Datel Electrical. With proven expertise across offices, retail spaces, and the hospitality sector, there’s nothing we can’t handle.
We provide full commercial rewiring alongside the installation and maintenance of essential electrical systems, including:

• Internal and external lighting upgrades
• Electric heating and air conditioning systems
• Fire alarms, emergency lighting, and security components
• Routine PAT testing to ensure all portable appliances are safe, compliant

All work is carried out to the highest standard – fully compliant with BS7671 regulations and comes with a six-year workmanship warranty for complete peace of mind. Read our article “5 reasons to hire a commercial maintenance electrician” for more information.

Book Your Exeter Local Electrical Rewiring Assessment Today

Whether you’re upgrading outdated wiring or planning new installations for a growing workspace, our experienced team is here to help.
Book your free, no-obligation commercial electrical assessment today. Call us on 01803 874074 or email info@datelelectrical.co.uk to get a quote – we’re always happy to talk through your needs.