When is the Right Time to Get a Service Upgrade?

Wilf Potter

November 15, 2022
3:15 pm

Knowing When You Should Upgrade Your Services

Depending on when your home was built, it may be time for you to look into getting a service upgrade done. In older homes, the standard household power was around 60 amps. In today’s world, with all the electronics we use on a daily basis, this has increased in newer homes to up to 200 amps. This amount of power is enough to run all of your household electrical needs – air conditioners, dishwashers, computers, TVs, and any other electronics you use in your home. If you have an older home equipped with fewer amps, it may be time for you to get a service upgrade to accommodate all the electricity your home uses.

WHEN TO CONSIDER GETTING A SERVICE UPGRADE:

Adding on a home addition: An addition to your home means the need for more power – more outlets and more light switches are now to be considered in your demand for power. With a service upgrade, you can make sure that your service panel has enough amps for this addition.
Adding any machines or appliances that require a lot of electricity: If your home did not previously have an appliance such as a dryer or a dishwasher – both of which use about 20 to 30 amps of power – adding one will also add to the demand for power in your home. Similarly to a dishwasher, machines such as air conditioners require a great deal of electricity. If you are adding one of these machines you might want to consider a service upgrade so that your home can properly handle this amount of electricity demand.

OTHER SIGNS YOU NEED A SERVICE UPGRADE:

Are your appliances not working properly as they should? If they are shutting off in the middle of a cycle or in the middle of use, this could be the sign of a problem with the electric in your home.
If you have an old-fashioned fuse box instead of an upgraded panel box.
If your lights are flickering throughout your home. This means that your home is unable to handle the amount of electrical demand.
If your outlet covers are cracked allowing for dust to possibly damage the electrical system.
If your circuit breakers trip repeatedly meaning your circuit could be overloaded with too many power heavy devices or appliances.
Outlets are getting hot or sparking which causes an extreme hire hazard. This is very dangerous and requires updating to these outlets immediately.

An electrical service upgrade requires a lot of people – a licensed electrician, your utility company, and a building inspector to ensure that everything is being done safely and up to code. While your utility company shuts down the electric, the electrician will then switch the wiring from the current circuits to the new box while also adding new circuits to accommodate the power demand for your home. While although this seems like a daunting task, it really is a safety precaution to make sure your home is properly and safely wired to endure the amount of electricity that will be used.

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home inspector with checklist and measuring tape.

Since 1967, Popkin Electric has been servicing Nassau homeowners. We address every job, no matter the size, with integrity, professionalism and the understanding that your home is your castle.