A residential electrical contractor can modernize your home's electrical system so it can handle all the power demands you place on it with new appliances and a house full of electronics. Whether you're just upgrading your electrical system or renovating your entire home, an electrician can help with planning your new electrical system as well as install it. Here are some things you might want to think about when it comes to upgrading your home's electrical system.
Plan For Future Needs
The electrical needs for a new home built now are much higher than a new home built twenty or thirty years ago. The same might be true for a home built ten or twenty years from now.
If you'll be getting a new electrical panel, you may want the electrician to make sure there are plenty of spots for new circuits in case you want to add more dedicated outlets to your home. By installing a panel that's easy to upgrade, you'll avoid the need to put in another panel or sub-panel and make significant upgrades in the future.
Increase The Power
The electrical contractor can perform a load test and figure out how much power your home currently needs. This lets the contractor know whether a small, medium, or large panel is right for your home currently and how many amps the panel needs to supply to keep your circuits from tripping.
The contractor then has to consider the anticipated needs of a residential electrical system in the coming years so you have enough 240-volt outlets and dedicated circuits for all the kitchen appliances, home office equipment, and electronics you or a growing family might need.
Plan Where To Put Outlets
Current electrical codes regulate where outlets should be placed and the minimum number you need. Your electrician refers to the codes when planning where to put outlets in your kitchen, near sinks, on an island, and in all other rooms in your home. The electrician also has to match the wiring to the power of the new electrical panel so you can operate appliances safely.
When you get a new electrical panel, you'll probably need all new wiring too, and your electrician has to plan a way to run the wiring while disrupting your walls and home as little as possible.
It's often worth it to upgrade old residential electrical systems for convenience and safety reasons. You don't want to live in a home with overloaded circuits, so if you're dealing with breakers that trip often, or if you use a lot of power strips and extension cords, talk to an electrician about the best way to modernize your system so your family and home are protected against shock and electrical fire.