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 Our modern lifestyles now include many
new technologically advanced products that challenge old electrical
services.
If you're remodeling an older home,
odds are your local building department will require you to upgrade your
electrical service to 100 amps. Why? It's to ensure that there's enough power
in the home for all the modern electrical needs without causing a fire. Older
homes didn't need to support so many appliances.
When upgrading your electrical
service and rewiring for a remodeled kitchen, a new spa, or other home
improvement project, you should think beyond your immediate needs and
anticipate other features that you or a future owner may want. Spending a
little more now to expand your electrical capabilities may save a lot of time
and money in the long run.
Most standard home electrical
circuits are on a 120-volt line. To run major appliances and heavy electrical
equipment, you need 220-volt current in the house. And unless your clothes
dryer runs on gas, it will require a 220-volt outlet to operate, so it's
necessary to upgrade to 220 to handle this kind of appliance.
Here are some other things
to consider:
1. Appliances: With
the wide variety of kitchen appliances such as food processors, blenders,
coffee grinders, cappuccino makers and bread machines, there needs to be plenty
of electrical outlets in a modern kitchen.
2. Cable/Satellite TV:
Where might you want to watch TV? Consider adding cable to an upstairs
bedroom or guest room or perhaps downstairs for a family recreation room.
3. Computers: Which
rooms might someone want to plug in a computer and modem? A guest room could
double as a home office. Consider adding additional electrical outlets or a
phone or modem line.
4. Ceiling fans:
Additional wiring will allow you to control the lights and fans
separately from the wall switch, to adjust the fan speed, and to turn off the
light while leaving the fan on.
5. Central control
stations: A variety of new devices allow you to operate many different
lights and equipment circuits from a single location. Multiple-station controls
can be preset for entertaining so that, with a single touch, they provide
candle-like atmosphere in the dining room, tranquil lighting in the living room
and activity lighting in the kitchen.
6. Garage or Workshop:
Can you use a power tool without unplugging the freezer? If not,
upgrade the electrical service in your workshop to reduce the chances of
overloading your circuits.
7. Home entertainment
centers: Televisions, VCRs, stereos, CD and DVD players, surround
sound. How about remote speakers to better utilize those purchases by allowing
music to play throughout the house?
8. Outdoors: Adding
a spa, automatic sprinklers, a misting system on the patio, or outdoor lighting
for security or beauty will all require more electricity.
9. Home security
system: Will you ever want to install an electronic security system to
scare off intruders and alert the police and fire departments?
10. Specialty
lighting: Gone are the days when lamps and single overhead light
fixtures were our only options for lighting our homes. Now we can hire lighting
designers to incorporate special "task lighting" and "accent lighting" to
create a pleasing ambiance.
Don't forget about surge protection!
A voltage surge (a momentary rise in voltage) can damage sensitive electronic
equipment such as computers, home entertainment centers, treadmills, and other
expensive equipment. Surge protection strips protect against small, daily
surges to help your equipment last longer and work better.
For large surges, you'll need to
install a whole house surge arrestor at the electrical panel to protect
switches/outlets, appliance motors, the circuit breaker box, as well as, all
the wiring in the home.
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