Electrical Upgrades
I live in a pre-war co-op with a very old electrical system. Fuses blow regularly, even when running light appliances such as a toaster or an iron. Several other shareholders I’ve talked to are experiencing the same problem. How does the board determine if the building as a whole needs to upgrade its electrical system or if the problem lies within the individual apartments? And who is responsible for the cost of the upgrade: the cooperative or the shareholders who are affected?
If you and other shareholders are constantly blowing fuses in an old building, chances are the problem is building-wide, especially if the original electrical system has not been replaced or upgraded in a long time (if ever). Upgrading the building’s electrical system will increase the overall electrical capacity.
This increased capacity will give shareholders the potential to use more electrical power, but only if the existing wiring in the individual units can handle it. So even after the main upgrade, shareholders may still need to address deficiencies in the electrical components in their individual apartments.
main service feeders enter a building within a property line or end box. This point is the beginning of a building’s internal electrical system. Main conductors extend from the end box via a conduit or wireways to service switches, which in turn provide power to various panel boards, equipment load centers, and/or meter banks.
Master Meter vs. Submeters
In some cases, a master meter is in place to measure the amount of electricity being used in the building as a whole. Residents pay that cost as part of their monthly maintenance bill, apportioned based on usage. In other cases, individual apartment meter banks are provided and residents pay for their own electrical consumption directly to Con Ed or to an alternate submetering firm.
Electrical Upgrades You Need in Your Home
You wouldn’t think of buying a home that lacked any electricity whatsoever — but millions of homeowners invest in properties that boast outdated or unsafe electrical components. It’s more than likely that some aspect of your electrical system needs attention, especially if your home is more than 15 years old and hasn’t seen a major renovation in recent years. Fortunately, most electrical upgrades are fast, easy and affordable, meaning you can make your electrical system run better sooner. Consider your need for the following electrical upgrades in your home
ENOUGH OUTLETS
There are more electrical devices in the modern home than there ever have been before. Not only do you need to plug in lights and major appliances, but you need outlets for televisions, speakers, computers and all manner of smart and mobile device. What’s more, it’s no longer necessary to keep outlets hidden; in fact, because you and house guests need access to outlets for chargers and other tech, it’s more convenient to have outlets out in the open. Thus, if you only have one or two full or inconvenient outlets in your rooms, you should consider upgrading your home with more.
SLIPPING PLUGS
Admittedly, this is more of a repair than it is an upgrade. Still, it’s important to note that over time, outlets begin to lose their functionality. The most obvious failure, aside from an outlet that no longer provides power, is an outlet that cannot keep hold of a plug. If your plugs continue to fall out of your outlets, you should replace your outlet, stat. Otherwise, you could experience more severe symptoms of your aging outlet, like arcing and sparking.
USB OUTLETS
While we are on the subject of outlets, you might as well invest in outlets that come with USB ports, especially in the most visible outlets in your home. Most charger cables have one side that plugs into a device and the other side as a USB, allowing it to slip into computers, external batteries, wall plugs or, if available, walls themselves. USB outlets are advanced features that make your home stand out, and it’s unlikely they’ll become obsolete any time soon.
GFCIS
Another outlet-related issue, ground-fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs, are special outlets that help avoid arcing and electrocution in areas more likely to experience these phenomena. In most areas, GFCIs are required in kitchens, bathrooms and home exteriors because these outlets are more subject to moisture, which can cause problems. However, homes built before GFCI codes are grandfathered in, meaning you don’t necessarily have to make these changes — you just should, for your safety and the safety of future homeowners.
ESSENTIAL FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING ELECTRICAL UPGRADES WITH YOUR ELECTRICIAN
built more than 40 years ago; hence they have electrical systems that may not handle today’s electrical needs. Therefore, an electric service upgrade is a safety necessity because an outdated electrical system trying to handle modern electricity is downright dangerous.
The average standard for household power used to be at 60 amps. Currently, homes need 200 amps to power air conditioners, flat-screen TVs, computer equipment, and many other modern household electrical gadgets. This has prompted most homeowners to opt for electrical upgrades on their properties to accommodate the gadgets’ energy requirements
Electrical upgrades provide solutions for tripping breakers or flickering lights due to few outlets for the many modern appliances and prevent fire accidents and electric shock originating from power hitches.
Knowledge of your home’s electrical grid
Before booking an electrician appointment, you should be well-versed in the functionality of your electrical system. You should know whether your electrical system works with breaker panels or fuse boxes and identify how the rooms and appliances in the house are wired
Also, you need to understand the full scope of your electrical needs by knowing the local codes and permits, thereby giving you basic knowledge of the appropriate type of wiring to be used and the number of outlets installed in each room. However, it’s advised to have a certified electrician conduct comprehensive inspections in larger residential houses.
Choose modern lighting options
When making electrical upgrades, it’s recommended to use low ceiling lighting to increase your home’s aesthetic appeal. You may also consider extrusion lighting, which provides a more sleek and commercial look. According to expert electricians, adding automated lighting solutions should be a priority to guarantee the utmost comfort.
AWESOME ELECTRICAL UPGRADES FOR KITCHENS
The kitchen is the heart of every home. As the place family members come together to eat and enjoy one another’s company, it’s no wonder kitchen renovations are one of the leading home upgrades done by homeowners today. Whether your renovation plans are intended to increase your home’s resale value, or simply to improve the ergonomics and appearance of your kitchen, don’t start your kitchen’s electrical renovation without considering these four incredible upgrades.
LIGHTING IS EVERYTHING
Even the largest kitchen space can seem dwarfed by a lack of lighting. If you’ve recently enlarged your kitchen, adding accent lighting in frequently used spaces such as over the stove, in major walkways, or over the kitchen table will bring a sense of warmth and openness to your home. Because of their high lumen output, affordability, and efficiency, recessed downlights are an excellent option for heavily travelled walkways and task-oriented areas such as the stove and countertops. Use 6” recessed down lights with reflectors for walkway areas, and 3-4” directional recessed down lights as an accent light over the stove and counter tops.
ADD DATA PORTS
On average, there are over 3 billion USB ports are shipped each year. In fact, it’s very likely that the device you are reading this on requires some sort of USB connection to charge. With USB cables becoming just as common as traditional electrical plugs, it’s no wonder USB data wiring has been suspected to become a staple of kitchen electrical systems over the next few years. Although it is unclear whether adding USB outlets to your kitchen’s electrical system will increase home value, the ability to plug in your phone, iPod, or other electrical device without an adapter will be extremely useful for many years to come.
DIMMERS
Although your kitchen’s lighting should be some of the brightest in your home, the ability to turn reduce light output can come in handy when you’ve had a long day, or are planning a romantic dinner for two. Wall dimmers can be paired with multiple bulb types, including LED and CFL; keep in mind, however, that a bulb must be dimmable in order to pair it with a dimmable wall switch.
GFCI OUTLETS
In 2014, the NEC declared that all residential outlets being replaced, installed, or renovated will be equipped with a GFCI outlet. GFCI outlets (officially known as ground fault circuit interrupters) are electrical safety devices used to prevent electrical fires from occurring due to tripping breakers or dysfunctional outlets.
Electrical Upgrades
Oftentimes, while these properties are charming and full of character, their electrical systems were not made to handle the needs of today’s technology-dependent families. The clash between older homes and today’s electrical needs can result in power outages and safety hazards, making electrical upgrades not only an important part of maintaining property value, but a key safety concern as well.
If you frequently struggle with flickering lights, tripping breakers, and outlets that are no match for your modern appliances, it’s probably time to call an experienced electrician. technicians provide professional electrical upgrades and other services. If you love your home and don’t want to put your family in danger, call today tor electricians that can get your house up to code and ready to handle all necessary technology.
COMPREHENSIVE ELECTRICAL UPGRADES
Did you know that electrical fires account for about half of all home fires in the United States every year? The total number is around 26,000 fires overall, the effects of which include $1 billion in property loss, as well as hundreds killed and thousands injured annually. Get the professional service you need to avoid these dangers
ELECTRICAL PANEL UPGRADES
When electrical panels overheat, they can be a major hazard, resulting in fires and causing other significant damage to your home. Although many Americans still don’t know this, thousands of Zinsco, Federal Pacific, I-T-E Pushmatic and GTE/Sylvania brand electrical panels were recalled years ago for safety defects. However, many houses built in the ‘60s, ‘70s, and even beyond still use these panels today. Bottom line, if your home is over 25 years old, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and call for electrical panel replacement today.
WIRING UPGRADES & HOUSE REWIRING
That flickering that happens whenever you turn on a major appliance is likely the result of loose or old wiring. In addition to being annoying, this problem can also be very dangerous, as faulty wiring is a main cause of electrical fires. If this is what’s going on in your home, you will want to call an electrician right away
CIRCUIT BREAKER & FUSE BOX UPGRADES
If your circuit breaker frequently gets overloaded, chances are it may blow a fuse, or “trip,” shutting off the electrical flow in your home. It does this to protect the circuit from overheating and causing fire and other damage to your system. While most circuit breakers trip occasionally, if this happens frequently, there’s a good chance this equipment is outdated to a dangerous degree, and needs to be upgraded.