A Guide to Electrical Circuit Upgrades

As Sacramento continues spearheading the path to eco-friendly living, overloaded electrical circuits can interrupt this progress for homes.  

Upgrading your electrical circuits is vital in ensuring safety, efficiency, and compliance with modern electrical demands. Whether you’re renovating your home, adding new appliances, or simply looking to enhance your electrical system, start by looking at your circuits. Let’s explore everything you need to know about electrical circuit upgrades.

Why Upgrade Your Electrical Circuits?

Electrical circuits are at the heart of any home or business, steadily distributing power where needed. However, over time, outdated wiring and insufficient electrical capacity can lead to frequent power outages, flickering lights, and fire hazards. These problems often point to a need for new, upgraded circuits and the benefits they provide, including:

• Safety Improvements: Older wiring systems may not meet current safety standards, increasing the risk of electrical fires. Naturally, these fires are an especially prominent concern here in California. 
• Increased Electrical Capacity: Modern homes require more power to support appliances, smart devices, EV chargers, and entertainment systems. Before making any major energy changes in your home, it is essential to ensure your electrical system is ready. 
• Energy Efficiency: Upgraded circuits can reduce energy waste and lower electricity bills.
• Compliance with Regulations: Electrical codes evolve over time, and upgrading ensures your system meets the latest standards. This consideration helps you stay safe and keep your home protected. 
• Home Value Enhancement: A modern electrical system can increase the resale value of your property by supporting value-adds (like EV charging stations), helping you pass your home inspection, and limiting your selling concessions. 

Steps to Upgrade Your Electrical Circuits

Upgrading your electrical circuits requires careful planning and execution. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process:

1. Hire a Licensed Electrician

While some minor home tweaks can be done DIY, upgrading circuits requires professional expertise. A licensed electrician can safely handle this process, protecting your home and your safety. Hiring a professional also ensures compliance with local codes and safety regulations.

2. Assess Your Current Electrical Setup

A professional will evaluate your existing wiring, outlets, and breaker panel. They identify areas where electrical demand exceeds capacity and find outdated or dangerous components. Your electrician will ultimately determine what it will take to ensure your system meets your needs and the current safety standards.

3. Determine Your Electrical Needs

Is your electrical panel struggling to keep up with your home’s payload? Your electrician will discuss your appliances, your home’s energy usage, and any improvements you might be planning. For example, if you’re adding an EV charger or new high-power appliances (like air conditioners or electric ovens), you may need additional dedicated circuits to meet this demand. 

4. Upgrade the Electrical Panel

If your home has an outdated or limited electrical panel, you will first need a new breaker box. This upgrade can improve efficiency and safety. A higher-capacity panel also supports additional circuits and prevents electrical overload.

5. Install New Wiring and Outlets

Your electrician may replace faulty wiring and outlets with modern, high-quality materials. Not only are these upgrades essential in supporting additional circuits, but adding new outlets can also reduce reliance on extension cords and improve your home’s convenience.

6. Ensure Proper Grounding

Grounding is a protective measure that provides a safe diversion for excess electrical energy, such as from lightning strikes, power surges, or a fault in the system. Without it, this extra energy can surge through your electrical system, causing shocks, damage, and fires. Before finishing your electrical upgrade, an expert will verify that all the new electrical circuits are properly grounded.

7. Inspect and Test the System

Once the circuit upgrade is complete, your electrician will conduct thorough testing to ensure everything functions correctly and meets the latest safety standards. They may also provide recommendations for keeping your home safe and protected. 

Signs That Your Electrical System Needs an Upgrade

Don’t wait to upgrade your panel until it is too late. It’s essential to recognize the warning signs that your circuits are outdated or overloaded, including:

• Frequent Circuit Breaker Trips: Tripping breakers should be the exception, not the rule. If your breakers trip often, they are likely struggling to keep up with excessive electrical demand. This is a clear sign that your home needs new circuits. 
• Flickering or Dimming Lights: When your home’s energy system is stretched too thin, it can falter in ways that are hard to miss. When you rule out bulb issues for those flickering lights, these issues indicate loose wiring or an overloaded circuit.
• Burning Smell or Scorch Marks: Overheated wiring can lead to dangerous electrical fires. Contact a professional immediately if you smell or see any signs of electrical overheating. 
• Limited Outlets: If you rely heavily on extension cords, this may be a subtle sign your home needs additional outlets and, by default, upgraded circuits.
• Old Fuse Box Instead of a Breaker Panel: While rare, fuse boxes can still be found in Sacramento-area homes. These systems are outdated and less efficient than modern breaker panels.

Electrical circuit upgrades are essential for maintaining a safe, efficient, and modern home. You can help prevent fires by looking for these signs in your home, discussing them with friends, or sharing them on your platforms. You never know whose home you might save or how you might help keep your community safer. 

Choose Bonney’s Electricians in Sacramento

Bonney’s professional electricians proudly serve homes and businesses in the greater Sacramento area. We can give your home the electrical upgrades it needs to stay protected and keep up with changes coming to our city. Our professionals can also help you find and leverage applicable rebates and tax credits. We invite you to explore our coupons or contact our professionals to get started today!