A lot of homeowners often ask whether their home is in need of an electrical upgrade. These upgrades are more suited to older homes, and they can boost the electrical service from a meager 100 amps to a more suitable 200 amps. The cost of such an upgrade will vary depending on where the home is situated; however, it should be assumed that the cost of these improvements will be in the region of $2000. This cost often puts doubts in to the homeowners mind with regards to whether this type of renovation is actually necessary. Therefore, it is a good idea for any homeowner to answer a few questions with regards to whether the upgrade is necessary or not.
Does my home have Fuses or a Circuit Breaker?
Before the 1960s it was common for home electrical service panels to be fitted with fuses rather than circuit breakers. The problem with fuses is that they can be easily replaced with a fuse of higher amperage, and this can create an electrical hazard. For example, a 15 amp fuse that keeps blowing can be replaced by a 20 or 30 amp fuse, meaning that the capacity of the circuit to carry current has been increased by 33%, but with no thought to the wire size. Because fuses are rated in accordance with wire size, adding a higher fuse can cause a higher chance of electrical faults, which can lead to fires or electrocution.
What is the Amperage Size of the Existing Service?
All electrical services are measured by the size of the amp, and the most common of these are 100, 150 and 200 amps, but it is important that you do not confuse voltage with amperage. The typical voltage coming in to a residential home is around 220 to 240.
A 100 amp electrical service could be adequate if there are no plans to add other appliances that would require large amounts of electricity, such as a water heater or an air conditioning system etc. Nevertheless, if you are thinking of adding an appliance that you know will need a large supply of electricity, it is important that you think about the need to up the amperage to 150 or 200 in order to prevent problems.
To determine whether you will need a Silver Spring Electrical Upgrade, it is important that you hire an electrician to calculate whether or not the current amperage is adequate or whether it will need upgrading.