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—Checks and maintenance

Maintaining a distribution board

The board is where every circuit starts. Small problems there affect the whole house.

Distribution boards sit in cupboards that are often warm, dusty and used for storage. Over time, temperature changes can loosen terminals, dust can build up and labels fade. Board maintenance by a qualified person includes checking terminal tightness, looking for heat marks, cleaning, testing protective devices and updating labels.

Maintenance guides describe the checks that find problems while they are still small.

Owners can help by keeping the area around the board clear and ventilated, testing RCDs as advised, and reporting any warmth, noise or smell promptly. Boards with no spare capacity, missing protection or repeated faults may be better replaced than maintained.

01In short

The points that matter most

  • Terminals loosen

    Heat cycles can loosen connections.

  • Keep it clear

    Stored items trap heat and block access.

  • Labels matter

    Up-to-date labels save time.

  • Protection evolves

    Older boards may lack RCD protection on some circuits; maintenance visits are a chance to note it.

02Detail

Maintenance tasks

  • Terminal checks

    Tightening and inspection with the supply safely isolated.

  • Heat and damage

    Looking for discolouration or deformed devices.

  • Device testing

    Testing RCDs and checking breakers.

  • Labelling

    Updating the circuit schedule.

03Checklist

Owner checks

  • Clear access

    Nothing stored in front.

  • Ventilation

    Cupboard not sealed shut.

  • Report changes

    Warmth, noise or smell.

  • Keep the schedule visible

    A circuit list inside the cover helps anyone who needs to isolate a circuit.

04Questions

Questions people ask

Can I clean the board myself?
Only the outside; inside work needs a qualified person.
When should a board be replaced?
When it lacks capacity, protection or is damaged.
Why is the cupboard so hot?
Enclosed spaces and summer heat; ventilation helps.
Are old boards unsafe?
Not necessarily; condition and protection matter more than age.
What does thermal checking show?
A thermal camera can reveal hot terminals or devices under load without opening the board, guiding where to look.

05Related

Related guides

This guide sits under maintenance. All topics are on the guides page.

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Board due for attention?

Send a photo of the board and its surroundings. We will advise on maintenance.

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