Your commercial building’s electrical system gets a lot of use, and its components need regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly. However, there comes the point where even maintenance cannot ensure that an old system continues to function properly. Experts often make recommended electrical upgrades to keep everything running smoothly, but budgets sometimes keep things from happening when they should. If you are a property manager and believe that it is time for an electrical upgrade or improvement in your building, consider these options.
- Have an energy audit performed: Though there are easy ways to save some energy, like switching to LED bulbs and automatic timers, these changes won’t do much if your old, worn-out wiring is causing issues. Getting an energy audit done will pinpoint the exact parts of the electrical system that have experienced the most wear and need replacing. You will be able to prevent future failures and safety hazards while maximizing your building’s energy savings.
- Update the control panel: The electrical panel is the hub of the entire system, and it is your biggest protector against surges and other electrical emergencies. If the panel is old or has faulty wiring, there is an increased chance that a breaker will not trip when it should, leading to a fire, electrical shock, or ruined electrical appliances. With a new panel, you can be sure that your system is protected.
- Add or upgrade your surge protectors: Whether you are a small business with just a few computers or a significant operation with multiple floors of appliances, a surge can be devastating if it ruins valuable electronics. A great way to protect your equipment and keep your business operating smoothly is to upgrade or install surge protectors. For small-scale protection, using a plug-in surge protector can work well. However, you can also have system-wide surge protection installed on the main electrical panel so that every part of the system is defended against the effects of a surge.
- Improve the wiring: Because rewiring is such a large-scale project, it is likely to be put off. While it is a significant endeavor, replacing old and damaged wires is one of the best things you can do for your building’s safety–particularly if it is an old building. Old wires get much hotter than new ones and can lead to fires, which are especially dangerous if they occur within the walls where they go undetected until they are already significant. Your employees or residents are more at risk for shock, leading to liability issues and lawsuits.
- Have dedicated circuits created: A large appliance with a high-energy demand will function best on a dedicated circuit, where all power is available and can run more efficiently. Dedicated circuits are also great for powering your most valuable electricity-dependent appliances, like computerized registers or devices that contain a lot of essential data. They help avoid accidentally losing this information during an event like a surge.
- Make sure your building is up to code: New technologies and discoveries are made every day in the electrical field, which sometimes results in changes made to the standards laid out in both national and local electric codes. During an upgrade, it is always a good idea to check and make sure that your building meets the requirements of an up-to-code structure.Electrical upgrades are necessary to keep commercial buildings running properly. As with any maintenance item, fixing minor issues before they become significant problems is the best way to protect your building and employees. For an inspection and more advice on electrical upgrades, call Promise Electric‘s team of master electricians today.
