Are you tired of constantly resetting tripped breakers? Do you rely on a web of extension cords because you don’t have enough outlets? These common annoyances are often symptoms of an outdated electrical system that’s struggling to keep up. When you decide to remodel, you have the perfect chance to solve these problems for good. Opening up walls for construction makes it the ideal time to implement essential electrical upgrades to home wiring, panels, and outlets. This isn’t just about fixing what’s broken; it’s about creating a more convenient, functional, and future-proof living space for you and your family.
Winston Salem, NC, and the surrounding areas are growing, with the most recent U.S. Census data revealing approximately 112,140 housing units in the city. If you’re thinking of remodeling your home, there are some crucial electrical upgrades and installations you can’t miss. Before you begin a major electrical remodel, the experts at QRC have some helpful tips to share.
Why Electrical Upgrades Matter
Part of every home renovation should include some electrical upgrades. Here are some reasons why making home electrical improvements is so important:
- Safety: Wiring upgrades and electrical panel updates help prevent serious electrical fires and a variety of other potentially dangerous electrical emergencies.
- Better energy efficiency: A home renovation electrical upgrade makes your appliances, HVAC system, and other systems more energy efficient, reducing energy bills.
- Improve resale value: Whether you’re renovating one room or doing a whole-house remodel of the electrical system, upgrades may help increase your home’s resale value and make it more appealing to potential buyers if you sell.
- Supports new technology: New electrical installations provide the right support for smart home appliances, electric vehicles, and other modern technology that may require more power.
- Fewer power surges: Upgrading the electrical panel for your home should result in fewer power surges and less need for electrical repairs.
Keeping Pace with Modern Power Demands
It’s no secret that our homes are packed with more gadgets and high-tech appliances than ever before. In fact, homes today use significantly more energy than they did just a few decades ago. This increased demand puts a major strain on older electrical systems that weren’t built to handle modern conveniences like smart home hubs, high-efficiency HVAC systems, or electric vehicle chargers. An outdated electrical panel often leads to frequently tripped breakers and flickering lights, but the issue is bigger than just a minor annoyance. An overloaded system creates a serious risk of electrical fires, making an upgrade a crucial step for your family’s safety and your home’s functionality.
Common Electrical Upgrades for Remodeling Projects
Every home is different, but there are some common electrical upgrades applied to most remodeling projects. Some of these upgrades include:
- Electrical panel: A kitchen remodel electrical upgrade likely requires a new panel because most modern appliances require more energy.
- More or new outlets: If your home is older, it may not have enough electrical outlets, or the existing outlets might not be up to code. Adding more outlets or upgrading the outlets in your home ensures safety and energy efficiency.
- GFCIs: Installing GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets for a kitchen or bathroom electrical remodel is crucial. These outlets help to prevent electrical shock by cutting off power as soon as the outlet comes into contact with water. They’re also recommended for a laundry room or basement electrical remodel.
- New fixtures and ceiling fans: Whether it’s one area or a home addition electrical remodel, installing new light fixtures and ceiling fans adds a fresh look to any space while saving you money thanks to more sustainable options.
Essential Safety Upgrades
Beyond the fresh paint and new floors, some of the most important parts of a remodel are the ones you can’t see. Updating your home’s electrical system isn’t just about convenience; it’s about keeping your family safe. Older wiring and outdated components can pose serious risks, from electrical shocks to house fires. Prioritizing a few key safety upgrades during your renovation provides peace of mind and protects your investment for years to come. These updates ensure your home can safely handle the demands of modern life while meeting current electrical codes, creating a secure foundation for all your other beautiful design choices.
AFCI and Grounded Outlets
If you live in an older home, take a look at your outlets. Do they have two prongs or three? Many homes built before the mid-20th century have ungrounded, two-prong outlets, which lack a critical safety feature that protects against electric shock. Replacing these with modern, three-prong grounded outlets is a must. In areas with water, like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, you’ll also need Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs). These smart outlets are designed to shut off power instantly if they detect an imbalance, preventing dangerous shocks. Similarly, Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) are crucial for preventing fires caused by damaged wiring within your walls.
Whole-House Surge Protection
You probably use power strips to protect your computer or TV, but what about the rest of your home? A power surge from a lightning strike or utility issue can damage or destroy any electronic device, including major appliances and your expensive HVAC system. A whole-house surge protector is installed directly at your electrical panel to defend every circuit in your home. It’s the most comprehensive way to safeguard all your electronics and systems from unexpected voltage spikes. Adding one during a panel upgrade or major renovation is a smart, proactive move that can save you thousands in replacement costs down the road.
Smart Smoke Alarms
Traditional smoke alarms are essential, but they have their limits. They beep loudly, but they can’t tell you what the problem is or where it’s located. Smart smoke alarms are a significant step up in home safety. These devices not only detect smoke and carbon monoxide but can also send an alert directly to your phone, no matter where you are. They can pinpoint the location of the danger and even tell you if it’s a fast-burning fire or just a smoldering issue. This level of detail gives you critical information when every second counts, offering a much more reliable way to protect your home and loved ones.
Convenient and Modern Upgrades
Once you’ve covered the essential safety updates, you can focus on upgrades that make your daily life easier and your home more functional. Modern electrical solutions are designed to keep up with our tech-heavy lifestyles, from charging our many devices to powering electric vehicles. Integrating these features during a remodel is the perfect time to do it, as wiring can be run easily while walls are open. These thoughtful additions not only add convenience but also increase your home’s appeal and resale value by showing it’s ready for the future.
Integrated USB and USB-C Outlets
Tired of searching for charging bricks? One of the simplest yet most satisfying upgrades is replacing standard outlets with ones that have built-in USB and USB-C ports. Installing these in key locations like the kitchen, home office, living room, and next to your bed eliminates the need for bulky adapters and frees up the main outlets for other appliances. It’s a small change that declutters your space and makes it incredibly easy for family and guests to keep their phones, tablets, and other gadgets charged and ready to go.
Home EV Charging Stations
Even if you don’t own an electric vehicle yet, chances are you will in the future. Preparing your home now is a forward-thinking move that adds significant value. A standard 120-volt wall outlet can take days to fully charge an EV, which isn’t practical for daily use. Installing a dedicated 240-volt Level 2 charging station in your garage or driveway allows you to charge a vehicle overnight. Having this infrastructure in place makes your home more attractive to future buyers and ensures you’re ready for the transition to electric transportation.
Smart Home Features
A renovation is the ideal time to lay the groundwork for a fully integrated smart home. This goes beyond just asking a smart speaker to play music. Think about smart thermostats that learn your schedule to save energy, automated lighting that adjusts to the time of day, and smart locks and security cameras that give you remote access and control. Wiring for these features while the walls are open results in a cleaner, more reliable setup than relying on batteries or retrofitted solutions. You can create a home that is not only more convenient but also more efficient and secure.
Strategic Lighting Solutions
Great lighting can completely transform the look and feel of a room. Instead of relying on a single overhead fixture, consider a layered lighting plan. In the kitchen, for example, combining recessed ceiling lights for general brightness with under-cabinet task lighting for food prep makes the space more functional and beautiful. Adding dimmer switches in living rooms and bedrooms allows you to adjust the mood from bright and energetic to soft and relaxing. Thoughtful lighting design enhances your home’s architecture, highlights your favorite features, and makes every room more inviting.
Planning Your Electrical Remodel
Here are some tips to make planning your electrical remodel easier:
- Hire the experienced team at QRC to perform a full electrical inspection of your home. Our fully licensed and insured electricians know what to look for to determine your needs, including new outlets, an upgraded electrical panel, updated wiring, and more.
- Consider your household’s future needs. For example, if you’re planning to buy an electric vehicle or upgrade to smart home appliances in the future, now is the time to get the electrical upgrades you’ll need later.
- Assess how much energy your home uses, then determine which upgrades will help you be more energy-efficient and save on energy costs.
- Ask your electrician to inspect your home’s wiring and other electrical components to determine which upgrades are needed. They’ll help you figure out if your existing electrical system can handle the renovations or if certain components should be replaced.
Budgeting for Electrical Work
Let’s talk about one of the most important parts of any remodeling plan: the budget. Electrical work is a critical component, but the costs can feel a bit mysterious if you’ve never managed a project like this before. Getting a handle on potential expenses ahead of time is the best way to plan effectively and avoid surprises down the road. Whether you’re planning minor updates or a major overhaul, knowing the typical price ranges and the factors that influence them will give you the confidence to move forward. This section will break down what you can expect, so you can build a realistic budget for your home’s electrical needs.
Understanding Average Costs
When you start mapping out your budget, it helps to have some ballpark figures in mind. For many homes, a key upgrade is the electrical panel, especially if you’re adding power-hungry appliances in a kitchen remodel. According to the experts at This Old House, you can generally expect to pay between $1,300 and $3,000 to upgrade a panel from 100 to 200 amperes. For more moderate projects, like rewiring a single room or installing new circuit breakers to support a home office, the cost typically falls in the $500 to $2,000 range. These figures provide a solid starting point for understanding where your investment will go.
Factors That Influence Price
Of course, no two projects are exactly alike, and several factors can cause costs to shift. The age and accessibility of your home’s current electrical system play a huge role. Older homes might require more extensive work to bring everything up to code. The overall complexity of your remodel also matters; a complete electrical panel overhaul, for instance, can range from $4,000 to $6,500 depending on the scope. This is why a thorough inspection is so valuable. Having a professional electrician from a team like QRC assess your specific situation will give you a precise quote and a clear roadmap for your project, ensuring there are no ambiguities.
Potential Additional Expenses
One of the best ways to keep your remodel on track is to plan for the unexpected. During demolition, it’s not uncommon to uncover issues that need addressing, which can add to your total cost. For example, an electrician might find outdated wiring that needs to be completely replaced for safety, or you may need to install GFCI outlets in all the required areas to meet modern electrical codes. As HomeAdvisor points out, these necessary safety upgrades can impact your budget. A good rule of thumb is to set aside a contingency fund—about 10-15% of your total electrical budget—to cover these potential add-ons without derailing your renovation.
Hiring a Qualified Electrician
It’s important to hire a qualified electrician to perform electrical upgrades for your North or South Carolina home. Licensed electricians have the training, hands-on experience, and tools to ensure every upgrade is performed safely and up to code. They’re also insured, meaning you’re covered if something goes wrong during the upgrade. You can install new appliances — like a range or refrigerator — yourself, but a qualified electrician can ensure your amperage connections are sufficient and the wiring connections are functioning correctly. They also know the common signs that your wiring or electrical panel needs replacing. For example, buzzing noises, visible corrosion, or circuit breakers tripping frequently likely mean it’s time to replace the panel. Flickering lights, burning smells from outlets, or breaker issues could mean the wiring needs upgrading.
DIY vs. Professional
It’s tempting to DIY electrical upgrades, but these jobs are best left to the professionals. Experienced electricians know how to minimize fire risks, electrical shock, and injury, and their training allows them to complete tasks quickly. Professional electrical upgrades also save you money in the long run because everything is installed correctly the first time, following the latest building and electrical codes. Doing electrical upgrades yourself may also void your homeowner’s insurance, costing you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong. Hiring electricians from QRC gives you peace of mind because we’re fully committed to your safety and satisfaction with every job we complete. We perform electrical work in a fraction of the time it might take you to do it yourself.
Contact QRC Today
With over 20 years of service to our customers in Winston-Salem and the surrounding areas, QRC is committed to providing exceptional service in everything we do. Our team has advanced skills in their respective trades to ensure peace of mind. We also offer financing options through our partners if you’re on a budget. If you plan to renovate your home and need help with electrical upgrades and installations, contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of lighting upgrades should I consider?
Upgrading your lighting adds a fresh aesthetic while saving you money thanks to new, more energy-efficient options. Some great upgrades to consider include switching to LED lighting, adding under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen, and installing recessed lighting.
How can I make my home more energy-efficient with electrical upgrades?
You can make your home more energy-efficient by installing a smart thermostat, upgrading to energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and installing a geothermal heat pump or solar panels.
Key Takeaways
- Address Safety Before Style: Use your remodel as the perfect chance to fix unseen electrical hazards. Prioritizing upgrades like a new electrical panel, grounded outlets, and AFCIs is crucial for preventing fires and ensuring your home is up to code.
- Future-Proof Your Home for Modern Life: Think about your long-term needs while the walls are open. Installing features like USB-C outlets, an EV charging station, or wiring for smart home technology now is a practical investment that adds lasting convenience and value.
- Rely on Professional Expertise for a Safe Outcome: Electrical work is complex and not the place for a DIY project. Hiring a licensed electrician guarantees that all installations are done correctly and safely, protecting your family and your home from dangerous and costly mistakes.