Is it really necessary to upgrade your electrical system? If it involves electricity, you should know that it is worth investing in. There are so many things that can go wrong if you have a faulty electrical system. You want to make sure that you and your family remain safe from accidents like electrical fires or electrocution. When it comes to these cases, prevention is the best strategy to protect your family. It is better to be overly cautious if it means it will keep your loved ones from getting hurt.
Ask yourself, when was the last time that inspected the electrical system in your home? This system, no matter how careful you are, will go through natural wear and tear. If you cannot remember when you had your system checked, then it might be time for you to have an upgrade.
When should you upgrade your electrical system
There are certain signs that you can look for to determine if you need to schedule an upgrade in the near future (or immediately). The older the house you are living in, the more frequently it should be inspected.
To start with, you need to check your outlets. If you have mostly two-prong ungrounded outlets, you should probably upgrade that already. You need to have a couple of three-pronged outlets in your home as well. You also need GFCI or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets especially for rooms constantly exposed to moisture like the kitchen or the bathroom.
You should probably check if you have enough outlets in the rooms. If not, you might want to add more. We have more electrical appliances and devices right now. You do not want to overload your outlets because that can lead to a lot of electrical problems. Even if the outlets are new, if you have a need to plug a lot of devices, you should add more. While there are extension cords that are very reliable, there are appliances that need to be plugged directly.
Other signs that you need to look into includes the following:
- Outlets are sparking, feels warm, or is discolored.
- Lights are dimming or flickering when some appliances are turned on.
- Fuses are blowing every now and then.
- Electric appliances give you a minor shock when you touch it.
- Breakers are tripping frequently.
If you smell a persistent burning odor coming from an appliance or a room, you need to inspect that immediately. It might be the start of an electrical fire.
How to upgrade your electrical system
If you find signs that your electrical system is in need of an immediate, here are the steps that you need to follow.
- Upgrade your electrical panel. This will allow you to bring more power into your home from the utility area without compromising the wiring inside. As mentioned, we have more electrical appliances and devices now. It is necessary for you to accommodate these. Replace the circuit breakers and meter so it can handle more power. Or if you find that both are already outdated or obsolete, it needs to be replaced immediately.
- Add circuits in important rooms inside the house. You can also add circuits near big electrical appliances too. This will help distribute power more efficiently and safely within the whole house. It will make sure that the rooms and appliances that need enough power will have it delivered.
- Add outlets in areas where it is needed. You might want to upgrade the outlets too so it allows three-pronged plugs. This is also a great time to replace old cable wires, receptacles, and other used cables.
Why upgrading your electrical system is necessary
The main reason why you should upgrade your electrical system is to avoid overloading. Older houses were not built to accommodate the electrical appliances and devices that we have right now. If your breaker keeps on tripping, that can be a real inconvenience. Not only that, if your breaker fails to trip when there is an overload, your electrical wires might heat up. When it overheats, there is a high chance that it can start an electrical fire.
Sometimes, overloading is not the problem. Your electrical system will go through natural wear and tear. Once that happens, it will not function as effectively and efficiently as it used to.
Bad wiring is one of the common causes of fire and it can put your family in danger. But that is not all. It can cause also damage your electrical appliances and devices. It can shorten the lifespan of your appliances – especially those that you use regularly. It will cost you a lot of money in terms of repairs and replacements.
As you can see, it is not just your safety that will be compromised. Even your finances will also be affected. It might be better to just spend on the upgrade once as long as it will keep you from spending on the different electrical appliances and devices that you have at home.
