A wide range of electrical upgrades can improve your home’s functionality, convenience, and energy efficiency. If you’re interested, Fuller Electric recommends scheduling an electrical inspection. During an inspection, you can learn about bringing your home up to the current code for safety and efficiency. Homeowners can discuss maintenance and proactive repairs that can save them money. You can also explore the wide range of electrical upgrades that can improve your home.
1. Electrical Panel
Many older homes lack amp capacity because home power demands have increased dramatically. The National Electrical Code only requires a 100-amp panel, which many older homes have. Despite that, electricians consider 150 amps the bare minimum for the modern home, and many large homes need 250 amps or more. Replacing your panel is also an opportunity to add more circuits. Additional circuits allow for more lighting, ceiling fans, switches, outlets, etc. It’s also an opportunity to add ground-fault and arc-fault circuit interrupters. The NEC requires GFCIs wherever there’s water. It requires AFCIs and GFCI-AFCI combination systems in many rooms, including:
- Kitchens
- Sunrooms
- Bedrooms
- Living rooms
- Dining rooms
- Laundry rooms
2. Whole-House Surge Protection
The NEC requires whole-house surge protection as of the 2020 update. Many homes built before that time don’t have it. Installing a new panel requires adhering to code. You must install a Type 2 surge protection device (T2 SPD). We install T2 SPDs on the load side of the electrical panel. Doing so protects against indirect lighting strikes, which cause billions in damages each year. It also protects against internal surges, such as from a generator or air conditioner. While not required, you also have the option of adding a T1 SPD. We install T1 SPDs on the service side of the panel. This protects against direct lightning strikes and other external surges, such as bad power from a blown transformer.
3. More Outlets
A typical homeowner complaint is that there are never enough outlets in the most used rooms. Many homeowners resort to using power strips and surge protectors. The problem is that those devices don’t overcome circuit limitations. Overloading circuits can damage devices, outlets, wires, and other electrical components. With our electrician, you can plan all the outlets you need and where you want them. Our electrician can then add circuits to facilitate the desired outlet capacity.
Outlet Features to Consider
You also have a wide range of options when it comes to the style of your outlets. There are basic outlets and advanced outlets with many additional features. Power drain by devices in standby mode costs the average American hundreds a year. Smart outlets or even smart plugs can help prevent that. They also let you turn any connected device into a smart device that supports scheduling and voice control. Many homeowners opt for integrated USB ports, Ethernet, and other connections. There are even outlets with integrated T3 SPDs. These eliminate the need to connect a surge protector strip to the outlet.
4. Smoke Detectors
The National Fire Protection Association established and updated the NEC and is also responsible for setting smoke detector standards, which we can help you adhere to. The NFPA encourages all homeowners to upgrade to hardwired detectors in the electrical system. An advantage of this approach is that activating one alarm triggers them all. You can use smart smoke detectors that you can monitor through your phone. There are also detectors for special purposes, such as vibrating and strobing systems for the hard of hearing.
5. Backup Generator
Extended power outages can cause homeowners hundreds and even thousands of dollars in damages due to lost food. A backup generator connects to your electrical system through a transfer switch. It will cycle on automatically as soon as the grid fails. Small generators provide what the industry calls essential coverage. This includes enough power for refrigerators, freezers, HVAC equipment, and lighting. Larger generators provide managed coverage. This gives you the power to keep the internet on and use your stove to cook. You can also selectively turn on other systems, including computers, televisions, and small kitchen appliances. The largest generators allow for whole-house coverage. This lets you use everything in the home as if the grid wasn’t down.
6. EV Charging Station
An EV charger is an excellent investment if you have an electric vehicle or soon will, or to future-proof your home. It makes life more convenient and can reduce your power costs over the vehicle’s life. There are Level 1 and Level 2 chargers. Level 1 chargers are all right for many PHEVs but often too slow for modern EVs. Experts recommend a Level 2 charger for most homeowners, and in that class, you’ll find a range of charging outputs. You can opt for either a hardwired or mobile charger. Hardwired systems offer faster and more consistent charging. Mobile chargers can be preferable for drivers who travel a lot or may relocate sooner rather than later.
7. Smart Home Solutions
It’s also an excellent time to transform your home into a smart home. A smart hub, which provides a central user interface for controlling all your smart devices, is a great way to start.
Smart Switches
Smart switches give you great control over your indoor lighting. You can turn them on and off remotely and set schedules and timers. If the lighting supports it, you can adjust brightness, set the color, and change the mood.
Smart Thermostats
Every home should have a smart thermostat. These thermostats can lower heating and cooling costs by 10% annually through scheduling alone. Some models offer geofencing, which eliminates the need to set schedules. Energy monitoring thermostats can track energy usage and provide insights.
There are many other features as well:
- Zone control
- Vacation mode
- Adaptive learning
- Peak rate awareness
- Remote access and control
Ring Cameras
Many homeowners are upgrading to doorbell cameras and Ring cameras in particular. They provide excellent security. You can see and talk to guests without opening the door. These cameras deter would-be package thieves. They also record videos when there’s activity outside your home. Better yet, these systems can upload those videos to the cloud.
Local Expertise for the Greater Puget Sound Area
Since 1990, Fuller Electric has served Federal Way, WA, and the Greater Puget Sound area. Our company offers a full range of residential electrical services, including for manufactured homes. We offer a membership plan to save money on maintenance, diagnostics, and repairs. Our electricians are available for all electrical repairs, including panel repair. Our team performs electrical inspections and whole-house rewiring. We replace electric panels and install surge protection. You can also count on us for outlets, smoke detectors, ceiling fans, backup generators, EV charging stations, and hot tubs. We’re a commercial electrical contractor, too. For our business clients, we also offer lighting retrofits, temporary power, and industrial services. If you’d like to schedule an appointment, call us today or contact us online.
