Remodeling and upgrading your home isn’t just about how things look. It’s about updating the functionality and the user-friendliness of your home. Many people forget that also means your electronics and home features around electronics.
This can mean wiring, smart home systems, panel upgrades, lights, and more.
Sometimes it’s about modernizing electronics so they’re up to code or up to date, sometimes it’s about ensuring the energy usage is where it should be, sometimes it’s about making things look as good as they can to match your home. But no matter what, there’s a ton that can be done to electrically upgrade your home during a remodel or upgrade.
Below are five of the best electrical upgrades you can give to your home during a remodel.
Modernize Your Light Switches
Sometimes updating the abilities, you have with your lighting is about updating the features on the light switch itself. Perhaps you want dimmers, settings, different sized switches, or sliders. Maybe you even want remote control lighting to be able to control your lights from anywhere in the room. There’s plenty of ways you can modernize your light switches to meet your needs.
Panel Upgrades
A panel designed to dole out energy and power to technology od a decade ago is not going to be powerful enough for your present-day needs. You’ve got more features on your appliances, they take more power to perform. On average homes are using 30% more energy than previous decades. Your panel needs to be able to keep up with the electrical needs or you risk some real issues.
Rewiring
This is a part of the remodel you don’t see but you’ll notice when it’s done right. The way wiring is done can make or break the electronics and appliances of your home and remodeling is the perfect time to have your wiring inspected and updated as needed. It might just be modernizing the routing of currents or maybe you want to completely reconceptualize the way the electronics in a room works. It all starts with the wiring in your home.
Making Your Home Smart
Perhaps part of your upgrade is giving yourself a smart home. That requires not only inspections on current wiring and installations but your appliances that aren’t so smart right now need to be hooked into the smart system for it to be working at all (for example a smart thermostat is no good if it can’t talk to your older, non-smart HVAC system). This can be an important part of electrical upgrades.
More Outlets
Sometimes it’s just simple. Not only do your outlets have to meet current code requirements, but you also may want them to be in more convenient locations than they are now. A remodel is the perfect time to do that, especially if you’re already looking at rewiring and rerouting jobs as part of the remodel.
Related Questions
What are GFCIs?
GFCI style outlets are ground fault circuit interrupters and they’re an essential part of kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor areas of the home. They provide safety by switching off an outlet rather than tripping a breaker if it comes into contact with a hazard such as water or fire.
What parts of my home’s electronics can be made smart?
Virtually anything that gets plugged in can become part of a smart network in a home. The most common smart devices are TVs, locks, lights, thermostats, and appliances. Talk to an electrical contractor today about your electrical upgrades and options when it comes to a remodel or new build.
If you are in need of electrical services for your home or business Bratcher Electric in Wayne is a #1 choice. For more than 60 years we have been committed to providing the highest quality workmanship and electrical services to Michigan homes and businesses. We offer new home wiring, code and service upgrades, backup power systems, 24-hour emergency services and so much more. Questions? Call and speak to an electrician today!