We use electricity in our homes today now more than ever before, so electrical upgrades make sense. It’s no longer realistic to have just enough electricity to power lights and a few major appliances. Today’s family typically has multiple electronic devices, multiple TVs, electric cooktops, pool or spa pumps, central air conditioning…the list goes on!
If you live in an older home, there’s a good chance that your electrical system isn’t up to the job of powering your modern lifestyle safely and efficiently. What’s more, there will eventually come a time when you, or perhaps your children, will want to sell your home, and the more modern and “up-to-code” the electrical system, the better off you’ll be when that day arrives.
Here are 5 upgrades to consider that will not only bring your home into the 21st century and prepare it for a more efficient future:
1. Upgrade Your Electrical Meter to 200-Amp Service
As mentioned, most homes today use a number of power-hungry appliances and devices. A 100-amp service may have been fine a couple of decades ago, but that’s no longer the case. Upgrading to a 200-amp service for your electrical meter will go a long way toward serving your demands for power now and into the future.
2. Invest in Structured Wiring
A standard electrical upgrade maintains the value of your home, but adding structured wiring (heavy-duty data cables) which enables the latest features of TVs, stereo equipment, computers, security systems, etc., can actually increase the value of your home.
3. Add AFCI and GFCI Devices
Most building codes today require these electrical safety devices be installed in all new homes for good reason. Protecting your family against electrical fires with an ACFI (arc fault circuit interrupter) and against deadly electric shocks with GCFI (ground fault circuit interrupters), just makes sense. (If the technology exists to prevent an accident, why not use it?!)
4. USB Ports in Electrical Outlets
With so many electrical devices these days — smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. — the convenience of having multiple USB ports or a USB hub — is undeniable!
5. Bury the Power Lines
Not only do buried power lines eliminate the tangle of wires running from the street to your house, they also protect wires against damage from falling limbs during thunderstorms, wind gusts and winter snow or ice events.