Modern lifestyles now include many new technologically advanced products that can challenge old electrical services.
When upgrading your electrical service and rewiring for a remodeled kitchen, a new spa, or other project, think beyond your immediate needs and consider 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.
Here are some possibilities to consider:
- Appliances
- With the wide variety of kitchen appliances such as food processors, blenders, coffee grinders, cappuccino makers and bread machines, there has to be plenty of electrical outlets in a modern kitchen.
- Cable/Satellite TV
- Where might you want to watch TV?
- Computers
- Which rooms might someone want to plug in a computer and modem? Don't forget the children's bedrooms.
- Ceiling fans
- Additional wiring will allow you to control the lights and fans separately from the wall switch to adjust the fan speed, and turn off the light while leaving the fan on.
- 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.
- Garage/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.
- Home entertainment centers
- Televisions, VCRs, stereos, CD and DVD players, surround sound. How about remote speakers to hear music throughout the house?
- Outdoors
- Adding a spa, automatic sprinklers, a misting system on the patio, or outdoor lighting for security or beauty will require more electricity.
- Security system
- Will you ever want to install an electronic security system to scare off intruders and alert the police and fire departments?
- 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.
- Surge protection
- A voltage surge (a momentary rise in voltage) can damage sensitive electronic equipment such as computers, home entertainment centers, treadmills, and otheroften expensiveequipment. 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.
-- Tips courtesy of Service Magic
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