Most people do not see the need to upgrade their home’s electrical system when everything seems in perfect condition. It is essential to note that a poor electrical system can function as if it is in good shape. However, the system will break down when you do not even expect it. It is hazardous to have a substandard electrical system, warns RentSmartUSA.com, because it can lead to terrible incidents such as electrocutions, house fires, or even death.
Since the electrical system is hidden behind the walls and ceiling, most people tend to forget it until there is a sudden breakdown. It will be best not to wait for your electrical system to fail before updating it. Several undesirable things may occur before the system fails.
7 reasons you need to upgrade your home’s electrical system
1) Reduce electrical bills
An outdated electrical system may manifest as high energy bills and lower energy efficiency. That happens because old electrical wires have poor insulation and lose electricity through heat. As a result, the system will use up more energy. Upgrading your electrical system will help you lower your energy bills.
2) Enhance the home’s safety
Most of the house fires that happen every year in the United States are due to electrical faults that an update can prevent. Also, electrocutions are more common in homes with old electrical systems. That is because the cables undergo wear and tear. As a result, they lose their insulating abilities. However, you can prevent these hazards by updating your home’s electrical system.
3) Increase the lifespan of your electrical appliances
Outdated electrical cables fail to deliver the appropriate power supply to appliances. That is because they have poor insulation and lose energy to the surroundings. Devices receiving energy from such electrical systems will experience stress and perform below optimal levels. As a result, their lifespan will decrease. It would be best to upgrade your electrical system to maintain your appliances’ lifespan.
4) Take advantage of home renovation
We advise homeowners to perform an electrical upgrade during home renovation for several reasons. It is easier to perform updates during this time because the walls are torn down. The electrical upgrade will not be expensive during this time because the electrician is not the one taking the walls apart. Also, adding an extra room or footage will require electrification. All these make it beneficial to perform an electrical system update during renovation.
5) Bring the home’s electrical system up to code
Building codes undergo regular updates. With the implementation of new safety standards, building codes may vary in an area over time. Your home may need an electrical upgrade to bring it up to code with the current building regulations. Although these updates do not happen every year, significant changes to building codes will occur once every ten years.
Updating your electrical system to the current building code will prevent you from code violations if you are a landlord. It is also essential to upgrade the electrical system if you want to sell the property soon. An infringement of the building code can obstruct the sale process.
6) Add new outlets for convenience
Your home’s electrical layout affects how you arrange the furniture and electronic devices. Homes with fewer electrical outlets limit how you can organize them. You may want to put your television on a wall, but there is no outlet to supply it.
Also, the designer may have implemented a specific layout you do not like. You can solve this issue by adding new outlets. Doing so will make it more convenient to rearrange your interior according to your taste. It is advisable to upgrade your electrical system to add circuits and outlets for convenience.
7) Meet the demands of new appliances
Older homes built before the 2000s did not have consideration for modern needs. With the sharp increase in electronic devices in homes, the power demand is also rising. According to data by the US Energy Information Administration, an average household consumes 10,399 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually or 867kWh monthly.
Having an old electrical system in your home will not meet this demand. Instead, the system will experience stress or will overload. This will cause electrical fires or circuit breakers to trip off frequently. It is advisable to upgrade your home’s electrical system to avoid this overload.
How to upgrade your home’s electrical system
If you are considering an electrical system upgrade, here are things to do.
- Upgrade the electrical pane
Since the power requirements for modern homes are surging, you need to bring more power from the utility into your house. You can achieve this by replacing old or obsolete electrical panels, circuit breakers, and meters.
- Install additional circuits
Extra circuits will help distribute more power to your appliances.
- Replace old electrical fixtures
You will also need to replace your old electrical receptacles, wires, and outlets.
The bottom line
Unless you are an electrician, it is not advisable to tamper with your home’s electrical system. Electrical upgrades are not DIY projects. We recommend hiring experts who will access the property and make professional inputs.
