When you outgrow your home – either in size or design – you have two choices. You can sell your home and find a new one, or you can consider home renovations to meet your evolving needs. If you’ve ever taken on a home remodeling project, you understand just how complex and frustrating the process can be. While changing your color scheme or switching out your furniture doesn’t require electrical assistance, many expansions and addition definitely do.
Taking down walls, installing new appliances or lighting fixtures and of course, anything electrical would typically require the help of a professional electrician. Electrical systems are complicated and can even be dangerous. You need to be sure that your new wiring is safe and installed properly, but also that the new project doesn’t place excessive stress on your existing electrical panel. Let’s review a few essential items to consider when making home renovations.
Electrical Panel Upgrades: When you install new appliances, light fixtures, or ceiling fans, your existing panel could become overloaded. You may experience flickering lights or tripped circuits, and both are bad for your overall electrical systems. If you notice any of the signs below in your home, you should include an upgrade to your service (electrical) panel as part of your overall project:
- Scorched or burned outlets
- Melted or warped outlet covers
- Smell of burning
- Buzzing sounds when devices are on
- Breakers that trip often
- Flickering lights, especially when you turn on a different device
If your home is more than 20 years old, you may need a new electrical panel regardless. These service panels were never designed to handle all of the devices that are in a modern home. Also, these panels are typically located in garages – or even outside, making them vulnerable to damage beyond normal wear and tear. Dirt and debris, insects, or weather can all harm the electronics of the panel. You should also ask your electrician if your new home renovations can be supported by the current panel, no matter its age.
Pay Attention to Outlets: If you find yourself too reliant on extension cords and power strips, you’ll want to include more outlets in your renovation plans. Evaluate your outlet layout if you are renovating a space, expanding a room or doing any electrical work. Most rooms would benefit from having more strategically placed outlets, and planning their placement prior to the work will allow you to create a productive layout. Common home renovations that could benefit from adding additional outlets include kitchens, bathrooms, home offices and theaters, workshops and outdoor living spaces.
Stay Up to Code:Homes with older electrical panels may not be up to current electrical codes, and you may learn that wiring needs to be upgraded or outlets aren’t properly grounded. Other major electrical issues may be evidenced by damaged wires, scorch marks, rust, and pest damage. Unexpected electrical code issues can cause delays in your project and incur additional costs. You may also have to make changes to your original blueprints and plans in order to adjust to the unexpected issues.
If you are planning a remodeling project and need assistance drawing up the electrical plans, contact Promise Electric. Our team can check out your electrical system, assess your plans, and help ensure that your electrical panel and system is appropriate for the new renovations. Our master electricians have the expertise and skill required to make sure your home renovations are safe – and will not hurt the systems in your home.
