How to Improve Electrical Wiring in Your Home and Save Money

Are you frustrated by overpaying on your electric bills? Are you concerned about the fire safety of your home, or find yourself continuously dealing with the stress caused by faulty electrical appliances? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to give serious thought to upgrading your home’s electrical wiring.

Heavy-duty appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators consume a lot of electricity. These appliances generate heat which can wear down your existing wiring if they are not of top-notch quality. As a result, you run a chance of electrical overload, higher electricity bills, and a lack of fire safety in your home. If your property is more than 40 years old, it is time to consider electrical rewiring. 

Your electrical wiring should be updated to power the latest electrical appliances. In order to sell your home, you need to have an excellent electrical inspection report to achieve the highest possible sale value. Poor wiring will more than likely cause you to fail the electrical inspection. Let’s take a look at a few of the best ways to improve the electrical wiring system in your home and save money at the same time.

Choosing the Right Wiring For Fire Safety

Electrical safety should be a top priority in any home. With so many cases of houses catching fire due to electrical overload, damaged insulation in wiring, or the wire itself catching fire due to overheating, it is clear that taking the necessary safety precautions should be a primary concern. Electrical fires can not only be fatal but also cost a lot of money. You can ensure the safety of you and your family and also save money by taking the necessary precautions to prevent fires from the start.

The first thing that you need to do is ensure that your home’s electrical wiring system is of the highest quality. Depending upon the number of appliances that you use, your electrician can guide you on the amperage required for your home. Taking amperage into account, you will need to select electrical wires of different amp ratings like 100-amp or 200-amp wiring. You should also avoid aluminum wiring and go for more expensive copper wiring instead, as copper wiring has a significantly reduced risk of overheating and causing an electrical fire. 

While copper wiring may cost you more up front, it will most assuredly save you money in the long run. When you are confident about the gauge and amperage of your electrical wiring, buy bulk wire to save on one-time costs. Depending upon the purpose of the wiring, you may have to go for different insulations, too, like indoor or outdoor wiring. 

Electrical Upgrades to Protect From the Risk of Electrocution

Do you feel a tingling sensation when using your laptop or a small electrical appliance? Do your new appliances get damaged quickly? If so, then chances are your home doesn’t have adequate electric grounding. A house that lacks electrical grounding can be fatal as well as expensive. To combat this, you should install three-pronged outlets for all your major appliances to ensure proper grounding. With sufficient grounding, any excess electricity will not get into the device but go into the ground, thus increasing the overall longevity of your appliance.

You can also install a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlet in areas that are vulnerable to moisture like kitchens, pools, or bathrooms. GFCIs are economical devices that protect you from electrocution in especially moist areas. If you want your house to pass an electrical inspection with flying colors, you should ensure that you have installed AFCIs (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) in your bedrooms. AFCIs work to break the circuit in the occurrence of electrical overarching, preventing electrical fires. Without AFCIs, your home will not get a favorable electrical inspection report and you will lose the sale value or rental value of your property.

Updated Panels and Smart Meters

Sometimes, you can have the right electrical wiring but still end up paying high electricity bills. If your wiring is correct and you want to save money on your electric bill, you should consider upgrading your main switch panel. 

Let’s say that your house is around a decade old. After an electrical inspection, you may find that your home has a supply of only 100 amps while you are running electrical appliances that demand somewhere around 200 amps. Instead of replacing the entire electrical wiring system, which would cost you well over $10,000, you can save money by installing a new electrical panel of 200 amps. 

If you are someone who frequently forgets to switch off electrical appliances after use, you should consider installing smart meters in your home. Smart meters can help you save on electricity bills. A smart meter observes your regular room-heating habits and other electrical uses and shuts them off when nobody’s using them. Smart meters can even switch on the heater when you are coming back home for a shower!

Wiring for Electronics

It is not just the electrical wiring that you should improve but also upgrade the audio, video and telephone wiring of your home. This is necessary in order to ensure the best digital and communications experience. To get the most out of modern electronic gadgets, you need a hardwired integrated network in your home. Experts recommend using category-5 twisted-pair wire cabling for data and voice communications. RG6 coaxial cables are recommended for high-speed video transmissions with enhanced clarity and less interference. An integrated home network negates the need for separate wiring for home phone, modem, television, or printers. It consolidates all electronics wiring in a single central hub, which saves space and reduces costs in redecorating the home later.

Call Right Electrical Services For Electrical Wiring Upgrades

In conclusion, if your home is between 10 and 20 years old, the first thing you should do is get an electrical inspection done by a licensed electrician. If you are facing issues like circuit breaks, tripping fuses, frequently malfunctioning appliances, flickering lights, old exposed wiring, or discolored two-pronged outlets, it is time to revamp the electrical wiring in your home. 

Always remember that quality electrical wiring can last a century if installed correctly. It is highly recommended to never take on electrical wiring installation yourself unless you have prior electrical service experience. Save money and ensure the electrical safety of your home by contacting Right Electrical Services today! We’ll be happy to assist you in upgrading your home’s electrical wiring.

This is a guest post contributed to Right Electrical Services by Jessica Smith. Jessica has been writing for a few years now. She loves cooking, traveling and dancing. She wants to be a successful writer as writing is her only passion.

Renee Rose

Renee is a freelance copywriter and blogger known for her expertise surrounding topics like marketing, freelancing, mental health, and more. She has written for hundreds of small business websites and is the Marketing Director here at Right Electrical Services, LLC. Renee believes that when a business prioritizes entertaining, engaging, and informational content for their readers, they can expect a loyal following that trusts their company.