Everyone understands that electricians do essential work. They install the wiring, outlets, and circuit breakers that make all of our modern conveniences possible. Typically, when homeowners hire contractors to build or renovate a room, electricians are simply an addition to that project. Are you installing a new air conditioner for the newly finished second floor? Better hire a subcontractor to connect the system to your panel box. While these additional tasks are a perfect application for an electrical license, there are many reasons why you might hire electricians simply to update your home’s electrical setup.

From fuses to circuit breakers

Many people still use the term “fuse box” to describe the circuit breaker panel hidden in a wall somewhere in your home. While this term is incorrect for almost all modern homes, it describes a problem that many older homeowners have without realizing it. Before the advent of circuit breakers, all lights, appliances, and plugs went into the same panel, which had a series of fuses inside. The fuses worked in the same way as traditional light bulbs; they worked until the inner filament burned out, at which point they need to be replaced.

Today, replacing a fuse is a hassle compared to the convenience of flipping a circuit breaker. If your home still has a fuse box, an electrical contractor can install a circuit breaker panel relatively easily. This upgrade will not only add modern convenience, but also reduce the electrical load on each main fuse, allowing major appliances to have their own dedicated circuit breaker. This means you can have more appliances that require a higher amount of power without risking a power surge.

rewired

When viewed as an isolated project, rewiring your entire home is simply not worth it. However, the biggest expense of rewiring comes from knocking down sections of the wall to access the wires. If you’ve already ripped the wall open for a remodeling project, rewiring has minimal cost and significant benefits. Most older houses had all the wiring ready when they were built. The original wiring work is unlikely to meet today’s rigorous code standards. Electrical contractors simply have better methods and techniques now than they did 30 years ago. Rewiring will not only make your system more secure, it can also increase the resale value of your home. As with anything else, cables eventually need to be replaced to avoid the risk of fire. If you ever decide to move, being able to tell a potential buyer that much of the wiring is new will make them feel much more comfortable about buying your home.

While these are just two simple upgrades, there are a multitude of projects electricians can do to improve the effectiveness of your home’s electrical system. Do your home and family a favor, as well as the next family in your home, and get a consultation from an electrical contractor today. Ask them to give you a rundown of all the potential upgrades they can make, and decide for yourself what to tackle first.