Electrical Upgrades for your Home Renovation in 2020

Many systems in the home run quietly in the background and are often taken for granted. However, when those hidden systems do not operate as intended, they can wreak havoc on your daily routine and create a very hazardous living environment.

Your domicile’s electrical system is an example of this. While an electrical system can be expensive as well as rumpled, you must protect the value, convenience, and safety of your dwelling. Here, we will discuss some of the electrical upgrades to include in your home renovation in 2020.

Why Electrical Upgrades are Necessary

If you live in an older home that has seen better days, you may need to renovate it to bring it up to modern standards. Due to local bylaws, you may need to upgrade the lighting in your home as well as the electrical wiring. This ensures your home adheres to current building protocols or standards by upgrading your electrical fixtures. It will also help modernize your home, which will enhance the real estate value of the property.

Electrical upgrades will also protect your home from power surges and reduce the risk of fire, overloading, and improve safety.

Electrical Upgrades for Modern Renovations

1. Adding modern outlets

Adding modern outlets that include USB will allow you to charge more gadgets and charge them more conveniently. You can also prevent a myriad of safety hazards by upgrading any antiquated two-pronged outlets while you are remodeling your domicile.

There are many electrical outlet types to choose from, including standard (120v), which tend to be the cheapest ($1-$5), as well as the duplex and heavy-duty outlets (220-250v). Grounded outlets are yet another option, and tend to range from $10-$20, as are rotating and smart outlets, which tend to be the most expensive, ranging in price from $25 to $50.

2. Adding GFCIs

GFCIs are yet another popular type of upgrade for modern renovations and increase the safety of the wiring in their home. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) will accurately monitor your electricity power levels.

If the device detects a sudden electrical loss or surge, they will immediately shut off the power. This helps protect your loved ones from harmful electrical shocks and electrical fires that can ravage your home — and protect your expensive gadgets from an unexpected power surge.

3. Upgrading your wiring

Updating outdated wiring is also of the utmost importance. The gadgets and appliances that we use daily need a reliable amount of power to operate as intended.

If your property has used an outdated electrical panel for years — or decades — or has had the same service panel for quite some time, you may need to employ electrical services in Toronto to determine if it is safe and what your alternatives are.

Upgraded wiring will also enhance your life in other ways, as it will allow your home to accommodate a far greater number of security systems and electronics. It will also allow you to automate your home via smart technology if needed.

4. Installing energy-efficient appliances

Energy savers are yet another option for those who are environmentally conscious, or for those who simply need to cut costs wherever possible. For instance, investing in some energy-efficient kitchen or bathroom appliances will help reduce your energy bill at the end of every month — for years to come.

Upgrading your obsolete electrical system with the most advanced gadgets on the market will also help you save energy. You will need to upgrade your wiring to use any smart-enabled device or appliance, so you can take care of two issues at once by upgrading your electrical system.

5. Upgrading the power panel

Panel upgrades are yet another factor to consider strongly. Most old panels will have significant constraints in regards to the available space required to add the desired number of circuits.

Some will also have fuses, which may cause logistical and power issues. Outdated panels will eventually stop working, so they need to be replaced quickly; panels that are of subpar quality will need to be replaced as soon as possible. Fortunately, many of the electrical panels that are sold today can be retrofitted with the latest technologies on the market, such as EV charging stations.

6. Integrating solar-power

There are also many solar-power lighting and other solar energy solutions. You may want to consider different energy renewal systems to include as part of your electrical upgrade. You can drastically lower your energy bills in the long term by opting for a solar lighting and energy solution for your home.

Plan Your Electrical Upgrades

We recommend that you plan and be observant of any power requirements that you will likely need as part of your upgrade. You should also be proactive and invest in wiring that is structured in nature. This means it should include cutting-edge cables that accommodate the latest features of television sets, video game consoles, phones, computers, stereo devices, and home security systems as well.

You should also invest in smart home technology that allows you to control the heating and lighting in your home, anywhere, anytime, from your mobile device.

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. While standard electrical upgrades are cheaper and will help preserve the value of your property, adding structured wiring to the mix will extend your home value.

Author Bio:

Monica Benoit is the Community Manager at Hi-Lite Electric Inc. She loves to write about home improvement and electrical services. She leverages her knowledge to educate people about keeping their homes safe and the latest electrical services industry trends.