The electrical system plays a key role in your home’s function and safety. You should keep it in good condition to prevent risks like fires and tripped breakers. Consider these practical tips to safely upgrade the electrical wiring in your home in Springfield, OR.
Assess Your System
Before you decide what upgrades to make, first assess your electrical system. Identify any potential hazards with it. Also, look for outdated or damaged components that need replacing. A licensed electrician can inspect your electrical wiring, recommend how to upgrade it and safely make the updates for you.
Decide on New Additions
Before hiring an electrician, decide what additions you want to make to the existing system. You may need to add a few more outlets, for example. You may also want to replace outdated breakers or install new light switches.
Choose High-Quality Materials
To ensure the upgrade is worth your time and money, choose high-quality materials for it. Invest in top-quality fixtures like switches, outlets and fittings. A professional electrician also has access to materials that will last for years and be worth your investment in them.
Turn Off the Power
Before starting any work on your electrical system, turn off the power to it. Turning off the power mitigates the risk of electrocution and severe injury or worse. You can find the switch to turn off the home’s power in your electrical panel.
Have Protective Gear Available
You also need to have protective gear on hand. This gear can include gloves that protect the wearer from electrical shocks. It can also include goggles to protect the wearer’s eyes from sparks and particles.
Extend Existing Circuits
Upgrading your electrical wiring can also include extending the existing circuits. Extending these circuits provides your home with more electrical power. This tip can come in useful if you have new lights or appliances installed in your home.
Replace the Electrical Panel
An upgrade to your wiring can additionally include replacing your electrical panel. Consider installing a new and modern circuit breaker panel if your current one is several decades old. You can also upgrade this panel if you need more outlets to accommodate additional appliances or lights.
Add New Circuits
When you do not have enough outlets for your new appliances or light fixtures, you need to add more circuits to your wiring. An electrician can install new circuits so you can plug in and use these new additions.
Install a Subpanel
Consider adding a subpanel to your home’s wiring. A subpanel efficiently manages high-usage areas. They also free up space. A subpanel can provide you with an ideal way to add more circuits when the breaker slots in the main panel cannot accept any more circuits.
Label the Circuits
Once you upgrade your electrical panel or install a subpanel, you should label the circuits in them. Labeling helps you identify what each circuit is for. It also mitigates the risk of turning off or restarting the wrong circuit.
Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
You can add ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs, to your existing electrical wiring. They come in handy in areas prone to moisture, such as your kitchen or bathroom. They provide personal protection against lethal electrocution.
Install Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters
Install arc fault circuit interrupters, or AFCIs, in your electrical system. An AFCI prevents the risk of fire from arcing faults. It detects and interrupts dangerous arcs that occur because of loose, frayed or damaged wiring.
Replace Old Wiring
During your electrical wire upgrades, replace old wiring. Old wiring can include knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring. You can upgrade it to electrical wires made from a more resilient and safer material, such as copper. An electrician can reliably identify old wiring and replace it for you.
Upgrade Outlets and Switches
Depending on their age, you may want to upgrade the outlets and switches in your home. If these fixtures are several decades old, chances are they are less safe to use than their newer counterparts.
Install Tamper-Resistant Outlets
You should also upgrade your outlets if you have small children in your home. To avoid the risk of children bothering these fixtures, you can install tamper-resistant outlets. These outlets look like regular outlets. However, they have internal shutters to block the two slots unless you insert two plug prongs simultaneously.
Use Conduit for Exposed Wiring
A conduit provides you with an effective way to protect exposed wiring. It can include a pipe, tube or tile. A conduit protects the wiring from damage and keeps children and pets away from it.
Test the Smoke and CO Detectors
Your upgrade should include testing the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home. If they do not work reliably, you should replace them with new ones. You should also replace them if they are more than 10 years old.
Install Surge Protectors
Surge protectors can ensure the safety and function of your home’s wiring. During your upgrade, you might find it useful to install them. They protect your electronics and appliances from damaging power surges and minimize the risk of an electrical fire.
Upgrade to LED Lighting
An upgrade to this system can also include making the switch to LED lighting. This type of lighting is more energy efficient and lasts longer than translucent lightbulbs. It also does not get as hot and is more environmentally friendly.
Install Smart Home Devices
You can also install smart home devices when you upgrade your electrical wiring. These devices allow you to remotely turn lights and appliances on and off. They can reduce your home’s energy use and provide you with a convenient way to control your electrical system.
Avoid Circuit Overloading
During your upgrades, ensure you do not overload the new and existing circuits. Overloading the circuits can damage the appliances or devices you have plugged into them. It can also result in short-circuiting and electrical sparks that can start a fire.
Follow Local Codes and Regulations
As you upgrade your electrical wiring, know what the local codes and regulations in Springfield, OR are. Follow them to ensure any upgrades can pass an inspection. Following these codes also makes your upgrades more insurable and prevents you from wasting money on projects that you must redo.
Do a Post-Upgrade Inspection
After you finish the upgrades, do a post-project inspection. Ensure everything looks and functions properly. This inspection can prevent minor issues from becoming larger and costlier damages later.
Hire an Electrician
As complex as these upgrades can become, you should hire an experienced electrician to handle them for you. An electrician has the training and equipment to work on electrical wires safely. This professional can also install new lights, outlets and other fixtures for you. You can uphold any warranties on your new electrical fixtures. You can also provide your homeowners insurer with documented proof that a licensed electrician completed the electrical wiring upgrades.
Learn More About Our Electrical Wiring Upgrade Services
At Jco Heating A/C Electrical, we have more than 20 years of experience providing electrical wiring upgrades for our customers in the Springfield, OR area. Our experienced team also works on cooling and heating systems. We additionally offer indoor air quality services and perform HVAC inspections.
We provide services and products from leading brands like American Standard, Mitsubishi Electric, Diamond and Daikin. Our locally operated business has many positive reviews on websites like Angi’s List. We also belong to the Energy Trust of Oregon. Contact our team at Jco Heating A/C Electrical to learn more about our electrical wiring and electrical panel upgrade options today.