Why Residential Electrical Upgrades Are Necessary
If your home’s wiring hasn’t been updated in years, it may be at a higher risk for electrical shock and fire. Residential electrical upgrades help to keep your family safe by increasing your home’s energy capacity and ensuring that all outlets and light switches have ground fault circuit interrupters.
If you have a house with old aluminum wiring or your electrical panel hasn’t been replaced you need an upgrade.
Upgrade the Service Panel
The electrical panel of your home is where the power first comes into the house, it also houses all the fuses that control the flow of energy from one circuit to another. The most common upgrade to the residential electrical system is a service panel upgrade which will add more amperage capacity for your household appliances and devices. An electrician will determine the best amperage for your new electrical panel, based on the size of your family and how many electronics you plan to use at any given time.
Older homes with fuses may be able to handle the load, but with today's high-tech gadgets and video technologies a home's electrical consumption has increased dramatically and often exceeds the available amperage of the existing electrical panel. When this happens a major electrical panel upgrade, known in the industry as a "heavy up," is required to safely accommodate the added demand.
Signs of a faulty electrical panel include sparks or burning smells coming from the fuse box, melting plastic on the breakers, or arcing between the wires and contacts within the fuse box. These are dangerous situations that could result in an electrical fire or injury to family members and can be caused by overloading, faulty wiring, or simply age of the panel. Upgrading the panel will add modern safety features and ensure there is enough capacity for current demands.
Other signs that an electrical panel upgrade is necessary include the need to add more outlets throughout your home, adding new appliances, or converting from fuses to circuit breakers. Fuses can be a risky alternative to circuit breakers, as they can overheat or short out at peak times, leading to a dangerous situation that needs immediate attention. Upgrading to a 200 amp panel will provide more safety and flexibility for your home's power needs.
When upgrading the electrical panel can be a DIY project, but it is best left to an experienced electrician like Ampi Electric Inc. This is not a simple task and it is important to make sure that the panel is properly installed and that you follow all proper safety procedures, such as shutting off the power before removing or connecting anything. An electrician from Ampi Electric Inc. will also be able to handle all the paperwork with the utility company, which includes requesting a change to the service and installing a Meter Lock Ring.
Rewire the Home
Rewiring a home isn’t cheap, but it’s an investment in your home and your family’s safety. It’s also a necessity to accommodate the many electrical devices that are now part of modern life, including kitchen gadgets, home entertainment systems, computers, video game consoles and more. Older wiring may not have enough capacity to run these items properly, leading to tripped breakers and poor performance. Rewiring will upgrade your existing electrical system to handle the load and keep your home safe.
A licensed electrician from Ampi Electric Inc. will remove all the old wires, install new wiring and a new circuit breaker panel and ensure that building codes are met. Depending on your home’s age, it might be necessary to relocate the electric meter and/or electric panel to accommodate the new wiring. You can Call Us Today for more information about our services specially rewiring your home.
You may also want to consider rewiring your house if you plan to add more appliances or electronics in the future. Upgrading the receptacle outlets and lighting in your home is also a good idea, as well as adding ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in your bathrooms and kitchen.
It’s important to hire Ampi Electric Inc. for this type of project because it requires cutting into walls and ceilings in order to access the wiring. You’ll also need a drywaller and painter to patch up the holes once the project is completed. You’ll likely have to stay out of your house for a few days while this work is being done, so make arrangements to stay with family or friends or at a hotel if possible.
Rewiring your home can be expensive, but it’s an investment in your family’s safety and the value of your property. You may also be able to save money on energy costs and reduce the risk of fire by upgrading your outdated wiring. It’s worth it in the long run, especially if you have older homes with aluminum or knob-and-tube wiring, which pose a higher risk of fire and aren’t covered by insurance. You may also be able to qualify for an insurance discount after having your home rewired.
Install GFCI Breakers
Old homes often run on 100-amp circuit breakers, which can't handle today's electricity demands. This can lead to flickering lights, too few outlets for modern appliances and tripping breakers. It's not only annoying, but it's also dangerous. An electrical service upgrade brings your home up to current standards, which will increase resale value and make your house safer.
A complete upgrade of your home's wiring and breaker panel can be expensive, but it will ensure your house has the power needed for all of today's appliances and technology. Depending on the age and condition of your current panel, this project could cost anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000.
An upgrade will typically involve replacing the entire electrical meter base, line side service entrance cable, weather head, load side service entrance cables and the electric panel itself. It's important to work with Ampi Electric Inc. to ensure the job is done correctly and safely.
Many older homes don't have GFCIs, which prevent electrocution in bathrooms and kitchens. GFCIs trip when they sense even a slight imbalance between the black and white wires in a receptacle. A residential electrical upgrade is the best time to add these safety devices, which are now required in most new construction homes.
Installing a GFCI is actually quite simple. After switching off the breaker in the area where you'll be installing a receptacle, you'll need to disconnect the wires from the back of the old receptacle. Next, you'll connect the coiled white wire from the GFCI breaker to the neutral bus bar in your home's electrical panel. You'll then connect the breaker's black wire to the new receptacle, and you'll finish up by connecting the test button on the front of the receptacle to see if it works.
If you're adding outlets in a room like the kitchen or bathroom, it's worth the money to invest in GFCI receptacles instead of plugging everything into a power strip or surge protector. This not only increases your home's value, but it also makes it much easier to use the outlets and protects your appliances from spikes and surges that damage them.
Add Outdoor Lighting
Professional electricity upgrades like outdoor lighting make your home more welcoming at night and help you see better when you’re working in the yard. They also increase the value of your home and are a great safety feature that helps prevent you from tripping and falling in the dark.
Your electrical panel provides the power for each space in your house, and a malfunctioning one can lead to dangerous situations like fire. A residential electrical service upgrade replaces your old system with new equipment that can cope with modern life, eliminating potential problems and preventing fires. This upgrade also includes adding GFCI outlets that protect your family from common electrical dangers and help you avoid overworking your home’s wiring.
A rotting or rusty panel, constant flipping of breakers, and an unpleasant burning smell all indicate that it’s time for a replacement. Your electrician can install a more robust panel with more space for your appliances to help prevent overwork, and the new system will provide you with a steady flow of energy, keeping everything safe and functioning properly.
Having enough power for your appliances and devices is vital, so upgrading to 200 amps will give you more flexibility when it comes to using them all at the same time. This is especially important if your existing 60-amp service is struggling to cope with the demands of your modern home, or if you’ve recently added a new appliance that has increased your power consumption.
The first step in installing an exterior light fixture is turning off the correct circuit in your home’s breaker box. Once that’s done, use a screwdriver to remove the cover and expose the wires. Carefully pull out the black and white wires, then carefully remove the fixture itself. Next, cut away any excess cable and connect the new wires to the junction box with a soldering gun. Once you’re happy with the connections, test your fixture to ensure it works correctly.
A well-lit yard can make your home look brighter and safer at night, while highlighting any decorative features you’ve planted. It can also add to your curb appeal, which may draw in buyers when it’s time to sell your home.
If your home’s wiring hasn’t been updated in years, it may be at a higher risk for electrical shock and fire. Residential electrical upgrades help to keep your family safe by increasing your home’s energy capacity and ensuring that all outlets and light switches have ground fault circuit interrupters. If you have a house with…