5 Electrical Upgrades You’ll Want For Your Home
Updating your home can be fun, but you’ll also want to consider some electrical upgrades. Whether it’s the kitchen, bathroom, or basement you are planning to remodel, consider every electrical component of the house first. Do you need more outlets? Are the light switches and fixtures modern? Do you need a ceiling fan installed? Is it time to upgrade the breaker box panel?
Many homeowners don’t think about the electrical system until it doesn’t perform like it should. As they tackle remodeling, they find out later that they needed some electrical upgrades that they still want but didn’t consider. So before you make the first step in a home makeover, consider the electrical system first and plan for it in the budget. Here are some electrical upgrades you might be interested in.
Smart Home Features
If you would like to make your home life easier, installing different smart systems throughout the house is a great project. You can have everything automated and controlled remotely if you so prefer. Here are a few smart electrical upgrades you’ll want to consider:
- Remote controlled sprinkler system
- Remote controlled heating & cooling
- Remote security & video surveillance system
- Smart thermostats
- Smart alarms, sensors, and sirens
- Remote controlled lights
- Smart Hubs
- Smart smoke alarms
- Grocery ordering refrigerators
- Remote controlled drapes or blinds
Panel Upgrades
Today’s modern technology requires much more power than the older models. Although many manufacturers boast of energy efficiency, by comparison, they still utilize more energy. This is because of larger and more feature-packed washers and dryers, refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, and media-driven electronics and gadgets. Overall, the average household is using 30%-50% more energy than ever before. When remodeling any room in your home, consider how much energy it will utilize and whether or not your electrical system can handle it in a manner that is safe and efficient.
Outlet and Receptacle Considerations
Receptacles and are like any other part of your electrical system. When installed, they must be safe and efficient. You may love the way a certain receptacle looks on your wall. The real question, however, is will it perform the way it’s supposed to. You’ve noticed that high-energy appliances use different receptacles, such as a specialized model for your washer or dryer. The reason for this is that these appliances require large amounts of power and need a certain type of receptacle that can accommodate it. When remodeling, get advice from a professional electrician in order to get the right outlets and light switches for the electronics and appliances in your room. There are several options and many of them come with great decorative features that put the finishing touches on your room.
Modern Light Switch Features
When it comes to creating the right room atmosphere, lighting is everything. The right light can create energy or give you a soothing environment. Although the right type of light is important, light switches control them. So be sure you install a modern switch that makes controlling the lights easy. For instance, dimmer switches are very popular they allow just the right amount of light. There are many other options including 3-way, 4-way, sliders, different size switches, multi-locations, dimmers, and even remote control lighting. With all the options available, you never have to settle for boring light switches again!
Rewiring & Rerouting
Most room renovations include moving things around. For instance, you may re-conceptualize your entire kitchen and want the counter transferred to the other side of the room. While this may be a more aesthetically pleasing approach, your current electrical system may not be in a position to accommodate the move. Before you know it, you have to pull the counters back off the wall and make the adjustment. So make sure that there are actually wires behind the wall before you move your kitchen components, appliances, or electronics.