There may not be an electrical service bigger than an electrical remodel. While these services come in many different shapes and sizes and in many cases can be customized to meet your needs, there are a few things that are pretty commonly included in almost all remodel jobs.
If you find that your electrical system isn't adequate for your needs anymore, or you are tired of keeping an electrician on speed dial for all of the repairs you need, we encourage you to find out if a whole-home electrical remodel is right for you.
But what is included in a remodel? What services will be performed throughout this process? Here is a short list of some of the things that are possible during this service and an explanation of what they are and why you should consider having them done.
Rewiring
Your wiring carries energy to where it is needed and then completes a circuit by returning to the line. Electrical lines can be dangerous, as their corrosion and wear can cause resistance that can spark a fire or cause injury. At some point, you may have to replace your electrical lines with a whole-home rewiring service.
Generally, you won't have to replace wiring all that often. Many electrical systems that are installed using high-quality, safe materials can last 50 years or longer. However, homes with aluminum wiring, exposed or unshielded wiring, and other dangerous components may need to be completely rewired to improve safety and increase energy efficiency.
Panel Replacement or Rejuvenation
Your electrical panel is both the brain and the heart of your electrical system. Energy from the source enters through your panel and then exits to complete the electrical circuit. Your panel also contains circuit breakers, which are important safety devices that keep you safe when using electrical devices.
For this reason, you need a panel that's reliable and safe — but you also want one that will last, as replacing it is a huge job that you won't want to do often. However, an electrical remodel is a great reason to replace or rejuvenate your existing panel. Panel replacement involves installing a new panel from scratch, giving you the latest technology and modern, high-quality materials.
Panel rejuvenation is a cheaper alternative that simply involves replacing some of the most important components, including the ones that are particularly prone to wear and tear. While this isn't ideal in all situations, it can greatly help electrical safety and security for those on a tighter budget.
Ground Circuit Installation
Do you live in a historic home? What about a home that was built before the early 1960s? There's a chance your home may not have a grounding circuit installed. A grounding circuit is a sort of “pressure releaseandquot; valve for your electrical system, allowing excess current or voltage to be safely carried away and dissipated through a circuit that's connected to the ground.
These are crucial if you want to avoid overloading a circuit or your entire electrical system. There is an easy way to tell if you don't have a ground circuit installed if your outlets found throughout your home have only two slots on them, then your outlets are ungrounded.
If your outlets have a hole for a third prong, then the outlets are more than likely grounded. However, we recommend having your electrical system inspected by one of our technicians. Sometimes people may install a three-prong outlet without a ground wire, and these are no safer than simply having a two-prong outlet.
Circuit Reorganization
Have you ever tried to turn off the breaker in one room in your home, only to discover that the breaker for that room also turns off the lights in a completely different room? Sometimes our homes are not wired in particularly intuitive ways. When remodeling your electrical system, you may have the opportunity to fix this. Our technician may be able to help you modify and change your circuits so that your wiring makes more sense and improves safety and functionality as well.
Are you looking to remodel your electrical system? Call Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical and Solar at (408) 868-5500 now to discuss what you need, and let us help you get the safe, reliable electrical grid that you can depend on!