A home’s electrical system must be able to handle all the electricity that it needs to run modern appliances. If your house’s electrical system can’t do this, then it’s time for an upgrade.

Electrical upgrades are also important for safety reasons. Faulty wiring can spark fires and cause injuries if not dealt with properly. 

Rewiring

Electrical wiring is essential in delivering electricity to lights, appliances, and other devices throughout your home. However, outdated wires can pose serious risks such as fire hazards, and may not be able to support modern electronics. Performing an electrical rewiring upgrade during home renovation is one way to address these issues and keep your family safe.

While a full electrical rewiring is a big project that can cost up to $10 per square foot (including labor and materials), it’s worth the investment for safety reasons. Upgrading to newer wires reduces the risk of fires and can provide better energy efficiency, especially when combined with upgrading the service panel.

A full rewiring will include the fitting of new back boxes to existing sockets and switches, removing old surface-mounted wires, and installing new cabling that can meet today’s power and lighting requirements. It’s also a great opportunity to add extra sockets, switches, and other items like smoke detectors, alarms, and doorbells that may not have been possible before.

An electrician can advise on whether you need to rewire your entire house or just parts of it. Rental properties may need to be rewired more frequently as a result of tenant turnover and wear and tear on equipment. Owner-occupied homes with an office or workshop may need to be rewired sooner than other types of properties due to higher electrical demand.

Adding additional outlets to your home can make it more convenient for your family to plug in their devices and can help avoid the use of extension cords, which can pose safety hazards. However, the number of outlets you need will depend on how many devices and appliances your family owns. If your outlets are constantly overloaded, they could start to overheat and blow.

Extending an existing circuit is the most straightforward way to add more outlets, but this is a DIY job that should only be undertaken by a qualified electrician. It’s important to ensure that any extensions are made on an isolated circuit and do not cause overloading. In addition, any alterations or upgrades to your electrical system must be completed by an electrician who is registered with one of the Government-approved Part P schemes.

Service Panel Upgrade

Your electrical panel is a critical part of your home’s power supply, connecting public utility lines to the rest of your house and distributing the electricity you use. If your old residential electrical panel is not up to today’s standards, it could fail at peak times causing dangerous overloading, arcing, and even fire. Upgrading your residential electrical panel is the best way to avoid such issues and ensure your family and belongings are safe from the risks of an unsafe power source.

A service panel upgrade involves replacing your existing panel and meter socket, installing a new 200-amp electrical panel with a breaker box, and disconnecting and reconnecting the power supply to your property. This is a big job that requires the skills of an experienced electrician to complete safely. It’s also a good idea to have your panel upgraded if you are considering any renovations that will increase your energy usage, such as installing a pool or hot tub or a new electric car charging station.

Upgrading your breaker panel to 200 amps is a great safety measure for homes built before the 1970’s. It isn’t just inconvenient to have flickering lights or breakers that constantly flip, it can be downright dangerous for your family and pets. Upgrading to a new breaker panel is the only way to ensure your home’s electrical system can handle the demands of modern appliances and devices.

A breaker panel upgrade can come with cool add-ons like surge protectors, power monitors, and AFI circuit breakers to make your home safer, smarter, and more efficient. It’s a great investment that will keep your family and belongings safe and add value to your home. When you’re ready to sell, having a new electrical panel will make your home more appealing to potential buyers. A breaker panel upgrade will also allow you to consider other future energy-related upgrades, such as solar panels or a battery backup for your electric vehicle. If you are planning on purchasing a new electric vehicle, it is a good idea to look at future-proofing your home with a breaker panel upgrade and a 200-amp service upgrade before you make the purchase.

Add Outlets

While it may seem like a minor electrical upgrade, installing new outlets is an important way to improve your home’s functionality. If you’re always tripping the circuit breakers, fighting over available outlets with your family members, or simply have too few outlets for the appliances in your home, it might be time to install more. There are many different types of electrical outlets on the market today, and they can make your home more convenient, safer, and more energy efficient.

One type of outlet upgrade is a GFCI, or ground fault circuit interrupter, outlet. These outlets can detect any problems with the wiring and shut off power to prevent serious issues. They are usually installed in areas that are frequently used with water, like kitchens or bathrooms. Other types of electrical outlet upgrades include 240-volt outlets, which are typically used for high-powered appliances like stoves and washers, and USB outlets, which can charge multiple devices at once.

Some older homes have aluminum wiring, and that can cause fires if the connections are not made properly. An electrical service upgrade is an excellent way to remove the aluminum wiring and replace it with copper, which will keep your house safe and provide better performance for appliances.

If your outlets are over 40 years old, they should be replaced, especially if they are brown or burnt, as this is a sign that the insulation has deteriorated. It’s also a good idea to replace outlets in your home that are displaying signs of wear and tear, including worn or broken plugs.

Adding outlets to your home is often a relatively simple process that doesn’t require opening up walls. However, if you’re upgrading or replacing an entire room’s worth of outlets, you will probably need to have your electrical panel upgraded as well.

A full electric panel upgrade is a great investment in your home, as it will increase the amount of power that your home can handle and will help you save money on your energy bills. It’s also a great way to protect your home from the dangers of an outdated or overloaded electrical panel, which can be a major fire hazard. Additionally, if you’re looking to sell your home shortly, an upgraded electrical system will be a big selling point and can help you get top dollar for your home.

LED Lighting

Changing your lighting to LEDs is a very simple upgrade that makes a big difference. LED lights are more efficient than fluorescent, halogen, or incandescent bulbs and use less power without sacrificing illumination quality. LEDs also have a much longer lifespan, making them a more economical choice for your home. We are committed to providing our customers with cost-effective solutions and we work with local utilities to offer energy rebates for LED lighting upgrades. On average, our customers see their electricity bill drop enough to pay for the initial investment in new LEDs within 6 to 36 months!

Aside from reducing your electrical costs, replacing your lights with LEDs will significantly lower your maintenance costs. Because LED lights have such a long operating life, they require far less frequent replacement, saving money on lamp and fixture purchases and labor. Additionally, LEDs are more durable than standard incandescent bulbs and operate at lower temperatures, meaning they can reduce fire risks.

Upgrading to LED lighting is a great way to promote sustainability in your workplace and make a positive environmental impact. Our team of electricians can install LED bulbs or fixtures that fit your existing sockets with a variety of pin bases, including GU10 (two-pin), BR30 (3-pin) and mogul (E39, large screw). LEDs are also low voltage and do not generate heat, so they are safer in areas that might be prone to flooding.

LED lighting has become a leading solution for commercial properties looking to save on their electric bills and create a more comfortable workplace environment for employees and visitors alike. LED lighting can help you lower your energy consumption by up to 80%. This can save your business significant dollars and can even be repaid through utility rebates. Our team can provide you with an energy audit to identify the best opportunities for savings and rebates. We can then work with your local utility to apply for and acquire the rebate check on your behalf. We’ve helped many companies save on their utility bills and light up their workspaces with new LEDs!

Doris Brock