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6 Simple Tips to Upgrade Your Home Electrical System
Stop blowing fuses (literally and figuratively) with these hands-off strategies
Get quotes from electricians near you
No obligation · 100% free
Get quotes from electricians near you
No obligation · 100% free
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Your home electrical system upgrade needs careful planning when you notice regularly blown fuses, dimming lights when appliances run, or hot light switches.
Expect to pay $500 to $1,000 to replace your electrical meter box, with labor costs around $125 per hour for accessibility challenges.
Your electrical panel should match or exceed your home's power needs, so adding circuit breakers or a subpanel helps distribute electricity more efficiently.
Hiring a local electrical panel upgrade professional keeps your home safe by handling dangerous wiring work and ensuring proper amperage matching for your needs.
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With the rise of at-home smart devices and high-powered appliances, many homeowners need more electrical power than their homes can currently handle— especially when spending weekends streaming shows while scrolling social media.
So, does your electrical system need updating to handle all that modern technology has to offer? Here are six hands-off tips to help you get started if so.
1. Understand the Risks of Electrical Work
Working with electrical panels and your home's electrical wiring can be very dangerous. We highly recommend hiring an electrician to make any upgrades. Use these tips as general advice to get a conversation started with a pro and always seek out professional assistance when necessary.
Seriously, calling in an experienced pro is worth the money to make sure the job is done right the first time and to avoid any injury. Faulty electrical wiring is also the second leading cause of house fires in America, according to the National Fire Protection Association, making hiring a pro that much more vital.
2. Know the Signs That You Need an Electrical Upgrade
Dim lights and regularly blown fuses aren't just a hindrance that can test your patience. They could be a sign that you need to upgrade your electrical system or potentially point to faulty or inefficient wiring you need to address ASAP.
Here are some signs your electrical system is ready for a boost:
Regularly blown fuses
Lights dim when you use appliances
Light switches feel hot to the touch
Broken outlets
Blown light bulbs
Extraordinarily high electrical bills for your home size
Heat warping on your electrical panel
If you find safety issues like these popping up with your current electrical system, you should contact a pro to replace it right away. An electrical professional can give you proper guidance on your situation and let you know if the signs you're noticing are just an irritant or if you need to address them now.
3. Find Out How Powerful Your Electrical Amp Is
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A one- or two-bedroom home typically comes with 100-amp service, which is now actually required by the National Electric Code (NEC). For larger homes or homes that run large appliances such as central air conditioning, 150- or 200-amp service is standard.
Do you know how much electricity your home is equipped to handle? If not, it's a good idea to find out.
This way, you can plan for future needs and around anticipated home improvement projects. For example, if you're working from home or thinking about installing central AC, you might opt for 200 amps over 150.
For what it's worth, well-maintained electrical panels typically last 25 to 40 years. So if yours is old, it may be time to replace it even if you decide not to upgrade the amperage.
4. Replace Your Existing Electrical Meter
Electrical meters measure how much energy your house consumes. If you're thinking about upgrading the amperage in your home, replacing your meter will save you on energy bills, as newer smart meters are more energy-efficient. The cost to replace an outside electrical meter box is between $500 and $1,000. This includes the cost of the new meter and installation by a professional.
Replacing an electrical meter box that's 10 feet up the side of your house could come with additional charges due to accessibility issues. Paying $125 an hour is a good estimate in most areas.
5. Add Extra Circuits
Your breaker panel is the main distribution point for electronics in your home. If these circuits are overloaded, you may experience power outages or inefficient lighting in your home when running appliances. Your amperage should match or exceed the home's needs. (For example, a 100-amp service shouldn't have 200 amps running on it.)
Adding a new circuit breaker or having a professional electrician install a subpanel can help distribute power more efficiently to your home. If you're doing a home renovation project and considering moving your fuse box, be sure it's out of the way of children.
You can get the most out of your electrical inspection by having a pro check your panel.
6. Ask About Structured Wiring
Today, structured wiring (also called future wiring) is an interesting proposition for those wanting to upgrade their home electrical system.
The rise in smart devices and Wi-Fi-enabled appliances makes it possible to wire one central device (usually a large television or entertainment system) as the central hub for all smart devices in the home. It can be a more efficient system for running electronic devices in your home, helping to reduce your electricity bills and reducing the amount of electrical power you need to run your devices.
Electrical services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.7★ avg. • 107 total reviews
- Jeff B.
Great company! Price was competitive, technician showed up on time and completed the job (exterior electric Radon fan replacement) quickly. Would hire them again.
MaGen Property Inspections and Radon Mitigation - Gina M.
Finished Basements Plus was wonderful from beginning to end! First, they came out quickly for an estimate. I had 4 estimates and theirs was by far the best. (2 of the estimates were more than $20K higher than for the exact same work). Beyond their fair pricing, the work was excellent. They...
Finished Basements Plus Inc. - Regina H.
I conferred with 2 other contractors before Armstrong Electric. Nick and his crew showed me that the project was not as convoluted as the other contractors made it appear to be. They completed the entire project on time. They were professional, friendly and cleaned up after at completion. I...
Armstrong Electric LLC - Jeffrey J.
The techs on my project, Shawn and Cliff, were great. They were prompt, courteous, and efficient. I am very happy with the results and would definitely contact Mr. Electric for any future electrical projects.
Mr. Electric of Columbus - William R.
Victor was wonderful. He was on time, professional, and explained everything he was doing. He was thorough and figured out that the problem was electrical instead of with my HVAC system. Very knowledgeable. I will be using this company in the future for any HVAC needs. Thanks!
Hubbs Heating & Air LLC - Jerald W.
They were excellent. They did a great job. I was totally satisfied. They put tremendous effort in making sure the work was completed. They were great. They provided immediate response to any inquires I made. I would hire them again. I would recommend them to anyone who needs electrical work....
Property-Tech Industries, LLC - Paul H.
Initially, the repairman could not find the problem. Apparently, there was some electrical shortage, but he could not find the definite problem. He left, but called back later to say he had a new idea. He returned and replaced the light switches on the doors. The refrigerator seemed to return...
Appliance Pro LLC - Sarah C.
The initial quoted price from a walk-through seemed high, but we discussed that the quote represented worst case scenario (re-wiring to two floors) and we were excited about the opportunity to have the work done in a timely manner with closing for fire safety reasons, etc. When the job was...
- Erin W.
I have to tell you I am all about customer service - I will go out of my way and even pay more for it if you give me great customer service. <br> <br>In a world where this is hard to find, these guys were awesome! I can not sing their praises enough. They were prompt, personable, funny, got...
Waibel Electric - Bradley H.
When I challenged the markup on the generator, Bruder Electric withdrew its bid. They only want naïve customers.
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