After making an inspection of your home, an electrician in Plano, TX may find that your safety or your efficiency could benefit from various upgrades. It’s easy to take most of your electrical appliances and fixtures for granted, so it’s not always obvious to see that you need an upgrade.
That’s why it’s recommended to have an electrical inspection every 10 years. With that said, let’s look at some of the most common upgrades that many homeowners may be in need of:
1. Indoor and Outdoor Lighting
Many homes have yet to upgrade their lighting to LED lighting. Along with several cost-effective benefits, LEDs are far more versatile. They also can last up to 50 times longer than the usual incandescent bulbs. This allows them to fit into an array of fixtures—in various styles—for both outdoors and indoors.
Some people believe that the light given off by LEDs is harsh or too bright. However, this is all about how it’s applied. Color control settings allow you to adjust the brightness and temperature of the light, allowing you to experiment with warmer and cooler colors. This can have various uses inside or outside your home, such as by giving some rooms a more “relaxing” atmosphere or illuminating the perimeter of your home.
2. Ceiling Fans
While it may not seem like a revolutionary upgrade to install a ceiling fan, many homeowners underestimate just how useful they can be all year-round. Typically, they see them as nothing more than as a means to lay off their air conditioners in summer. However, even that is not the best method.
Large rooms—especially those with high ceilings—can experience much more even heating or cooling by using a ceiling fan. Depending on which way you spin the blades, it can help disperse air that gets trapped near the ceiling. This will effectively allow you to cut back on your heating or cooling by a couple of degrees.
3. Upgrading the Outlets
Again, not the most technologically advanced or cutting-edge upgrade out there, but it’s surprising just how many homes still have outdated outlet. Aging outlets may begin to feel hot or warm to the touch, and they may even shock you.
Other signs that your outlets need replacement is if plugs fit loosely inside of them, if they only have two prongs instead of three, and if they have scorch marks.
GFCI and AFCI outlets are two types that will be installed depending on where the outlet is located. For example, those near water like the bathroom, kitchen, and outdoors should have GFCI outlets. AFCI outlets are required in other areas within dwelling units like homes and apartments.
4. Home Rewiring
While not an everyday occurrence, or even an annual one, it’s worth noting as well that some homes may need to be rewired completely for your safety. However, you’ll often have seen this coming if you’ve moved into an older home or have simply lived in the house long enough to know it’s coming. It’s tough to say how often a rewiring needs to be done, so it’s best to have an electrician inspect it every ten years.
To schedule an electrical inspection, contact Hutchinsons Plumbing & Air Conditioning today.
