Five Benefits of Wiring Upgrades
Upgrading your wiring reduces the risk of electric shock, tripped breakers, and residential fires. It also improves your home's functionality, reliability, and ability to keep up with current power demands.
A common upgrade is replacing your fuse box with a breaker box that has more circuits. This allows you to create separate circuits for appliances such as your deep freezer or security alarm system.
1. Safety
Electrical systems that don’t meet today’s building standards are a fire hazard. Whether it’s frayed wires or a lack of ground fault circuit interrupters, fire is one of the biggest threats to your home and family. Upgrading the wiring in your home can minimize these risks and increase safety.
Among the most common reasons to upgrade your home’s electrical system is a lack of capacity. Most homes built before the 1990s have a fuse panel that’s unable to handle the power demands of modern appliances. This can cause the system to trip breaker constantly or under-power appliances, which can shorten their lifespan and even cause them to break down.
Upgrading your home’s wiring can also reduce the risk of overheating. If a wire is too small for the current load, it can overheat and melt, which can lead to a house fire. Upgrading to a modern electrical panel with 200 amps will enable your appliances and devices to run at full capacity and reduce the risk of overheating.
Faulty wiring is a fire hazard, and many insurance companies won’t provide homeowners insurance for homes with outdated electrical systems. Upgrading the wiring in your home ensures that it meets modern building standards and can help lower your energy bills by enabling you to run more efficient appliances and electronics.
Lastly, upgrading your home’s wiring can increase your home value. People are looking for convenience in their new homes, and having an up-to-date electrical system is a selling point that will attract buyers. It’s important to get an electrical inspection before you decide to remodel your home, so the electrician knows that everything is up to code and safe for you to proceed with your renovations.
2. Efficiency
When rewiring your home, you can take advantage of the opportunity to add new outlets and circuits. This can increase your home's electrical capacity, allowing you to use more appliances without risking overloading your panel and causing a fire.
Upgrading your electrical wiring to include GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets is another safety measure that helps prevent electrocution from faulty appliances or extension cords. These outlets have three prongs, and they stop the flow of electricity if they sense an imbalance of power. These types of outlets are especially important in areas near water, such as your kitchen or bathroom.
If you need more outlets, an electrician can install them during the rewiring process. Older homes may have outlets with only two prongs, which can be dangerous for modern electronics and appliances. Using too many plugs in a single outlet can also cause the fuse to blow, so adding more outlets and rewiring your home with modern wiring will help prevent this issue.
Another benefit of rewiring is increased energy efficiency. Older wiring is less efficient than the copper wires used in today's houses, and this can affect your energy bills. Upgrading to newer wiring with higher capacities can resolve this issue, and you'll save money on your monthly utility bills.
If you're thinking of selling your house in the future, a rewiring job can make it more appealing to potential buyers. Many home insurance providers require homeowners to meet certain building codes, and upgrading your home's wiring will ensure that your property meets these requirements. It will also protect the lives of any future owners of your home by reducing the risk of electrical fires.
3. Convenience
Whether you are remodeling your home or adding on, upgrading your electrical wiring is essential. Modern appliances require a significant amount of power, and older homes were not designed with the demands of today’s technology in mind. A major benefit of an electrical system upgrade is increased convenience. You will be able to operate your new appliances without having to worry about overloading or tripping circuit breakers.
Another benefit of an upgraded electrical system is additional outlets in your home. Most older homes only have two prong outlets, while many modern devices and electronics require three prongs. Having additional outlets in your home is convenient, and it also prevents overusing any one outlet by spreading out the power use.
In addition, an updated electrical system can handle the current demand of modern appliances, and it will ensure that your home is safe for future updates or expansions. For example, if you are considering adding an electric car charging station in your garage, you will need a 240V electrical service. A 240V circuit is necessary for these energy-intensive appliances, and an upgraded electrical system will be able to handle the power demands of such an appliance.
Upgrading your electrical system is a large project, and it’s important to work with qualified professionals to make sure that it is done correctly. The team at Nashville Electrician has the experience and expertise needed to upgrade your home’s electrical wiring safely, efficiently, and in compliance with electrical safety standards. We can also help you schedule regular inspections to ensure that your system is working properly and to detect potential problems before they turn into dangerous issues.
4. Increased Home Value
A rewired house is often a selling point for many homeowners. It shows that the current homeowners have made a smart investment, and it will allow future home buyers to enjoy the same benefits. The rewiring will make it possible for home owners to install smart devices such as thermostats, light fixtures, and security cameras. It will also ensure that they can connect with their smart devices using a reliable home network.
An old breaker panel and fuse box is a fire hazard, but an upgrade to a newer, more efficient electrical system can help you save money on your energy bills and keep your family safe. Plus, it will ensure compliance with current building codes, and may help you get insurance at a lower rate.
Updating your wiring is also a great way to add more outlets throughout the house. This can be very convenient, especially if you have children or a lot of electronics that require power. In addition, it is important to have enough outlets in order to reduce the number of extension cords used in the house. Extension cords can be a huge safety hazard and cause shocks and even electrical fires.
A rewired house will also be able to handle more powerful appliances, such as a new air conditioning unit or a tankless water heater. These units have huge power demands that older systems simply cannot sustain. In some cases, an older home might not be able to power any appliances at all. During an upgrade, a qualified electrician can add the additional capacity your home needs to run all of your modern gadgets. It will also allow you to install more energy-efficient lighting and other features that will help save you money on your electricity bills.
5. Longevity
It’s important to upgrade your wiring with newer, thicker wire that will help reduce resistance. This will provide your electronics with a steady flow of electricity, extending their lifespan and reducing the risk of failure. Adding a fuse holder and wire loom will also protect your upgraded wires from abrasion and heat damage.
An electrical surge can cause your appliances to burn out or even start a fire. Upgrading your wiring with a whole-house surge protection system and teaching household members to use safe appliances can reduce these hazards.
Old wiring becomes frayed and corrodes over time, creating an electrical hazard in your home. Having your home rewired by a qualified electrician can eliminate these dangers and improve the longevity of your appliances, as well as increase its resale value.
When to Upgrade Your Wiring
If your house is more than 40 years old, it’s a good idea to consider electrical rewiring. Older homes have knob-and-tube wiring that can wear out over time, leading to annoying electrical breakers and posing a fire hazard. Upgrading to modern wiring can prevent overheating, lower your energy bills, and make it easier for your electrical system to handle heavy-duty appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators.
You should also consider a Big 3 wiring upgrade with a high-output alternator if you plan on installing car audio, adding lights or another electrical accessory in your vehicle. Without this upgrade, you could risk damaging your vehicle’s electrical system or experience a loss in sound quality from excessive strain on the battery and charging circuit. The Big 3 wiring upgrade will allow your amplifier to perform at its best while providing a safer and more reliable source of power for your electronics.
Upgrading your wiring reduces the risk of electric shock, tripped breakers, and residential fires. It also improves your home's functionality, reliability, and ability to keep up with current power demands. A common upgrade is replacing your fuse box with a breaker box that has more circuits. This allows you to create separate circuits for appliances…