In New Jersey, we have many beautifully remodeled older homes. If you’re thinking about remodeling an older home, it’s the perfect time to consider electrical remodeling to support your improvements with a safe, updated power system. You’ll need to ensure that the wiring, outlets, breaker panels, and other electrical system components will safely accommodate any new lighting packages, appliances, HVAC extensions, electronic entertainment equipment, and other facilities you may plan for the upgraded living spaces in your home.
Upgrading any feature of your home’s electrical system, whether it’s the wiring, outlets, lighting fixtures, or other components, adds greater safety, expanded functionality, more convenience, and increased resale value to a home. Here are some essential electrical upgrades for you to consider during your home renovation:
More Outlets: Naturally, if you’re adding more square footage to your home during a remodeling project, installing new kitchen appliances, and/or updating electronic entertainment facilities, you’ll need more electrical outlets. For any additional items that will draw from existing circuits, you will need to prevent the overuse of power strips and extension cords by adding more outlets (within the load limits of the individual circuits).
More GFCI Outlets: Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets are designed to help prevent incidents of potentially deadly electrocution. With a regular outlet, you do not have the same protection. With a GFCI outlet, if someone begins to be shocked, the GFCI mechanism senses it happening and stops the flow of electricity leaving the outlet before the person can be hurt. GFCIs are especially important where water may unintentionally come into direct or indirect contact with the outlet.
LED recessed lighting adds so much to the aesthetic appeal and functional versatility of almost any room in any home. It’s not surprising that recessed lighting is especially attractive to prospective home buyers. Even if you have previously wired light fixtures, installing recessed lights involves some unique challenges that you should consider leaving to licensed and certified Master Electricians. Other types of lighting upgrades that can update the look of your home and the safety of your electrical system include new ceiling fixtures (add luxurious dimmer switches), unique chandeliers, exterior ground lighting, stair-step night lighting, and more.
This is not a glamorous upgrade, but the breaker panel is the central hub of your home’s electrical system. Everything depends on its safe and smooth functioning. Updating your breaker panel should be at the top of your list for your remodeling project to handle today’s modern needs for so many more electronic devices and appliances. Overwhelmed or old electrical breaker panels are one of the most common electrical sources of house fires. Replacing an outdated or insufficient-sized panel can save your home and family from the risk of a catastrophic house fire. That’s certainly a benefit that makes the investment in this upgrade worth it.
Decades ago, homes were commonly wired with aluminum wiring and even earlier with Knob and Tube wiring. Since that time, faulty wiring of those types has caused many house fires throughout the country. The older the wiring is, the higher the risk that it may be the cause of a devastating fire. Today, many home insurance companies will not insure houses with outdated wiring types. If you remodel, you may be required in some areas to rewire your home in order to obtain building permits for your renovation project.
In New Jersey, severe storms and hurricanes can devastate and cause widespread, prolonged power outages. Families with a whole-home generator live with the benefits of much greater comfort, convenience, and security in their homes during these events and the days to weeks afterward. Hardwired standby generators become an asset to the value of the home. So, while you’re modernizing your home’s facilities, incorporating a generator is a key consideration for owners of northern coastal homes.
If you’re upgrading your home, it makes sense to remodel electrical components that will become outmoded by your upgrades and the modern ways your home’s occupants will use them. That’s the most practical way to obtain the overall best outcome possible for your remodeling investment. DK Electrical Solutions has built its reputation in New Jersey by providing the best electrical service solutions, materials, workmanship, and customer care in the northeast. We offer our customers: