If you’re planning a home renovation in Calgary, you’ve likely spent countless hours picking out paint colours, fixtures, and finishes. But have you stopped to think about the true foundation of your project: your home’s electrical system?
A major renovation often means increased demand for power, and if your electrical panel isn’t up to the task, your dream reno could quickly become a nightmare of tripped breakers and inadequate power supply.
At 4-Star Electric, your trusted local experts, we specialize in residential electrical inspections and panel upgrades. We’re here to help you understand exactly how to tell if your current electrical panel can safely and efficiently handle the power needs of your newly renovated home before you even start demolition.
Keep reading to ensure your renovation is powered for success!
What Does An Electrical Panel Do?
Think of your electrical panel as the brains of your electrical system. It regulates electricity between the public grid and the circuits in your home. The panel controls how much power each circuit gets and acts as a safety if there is an irregular current. It’s quite possibly the most crucial component of a safely wired home.
What Should I Consider When Planning My Home Renovation?
The first step to ensuring your electrical panel can survive your renovation is by making a list of the upgrades you plan on making to your home.
Are you adding in an EV charger? How about central air? A hot tub? Each of these is a significant power draw and may require an electrical panel upgrade in order to be powered safely and efficiently.
Secondly, consider the age of your electrical panel. If you’re nearing the end of its lifespan, about 25 years, upgrading now could save you stress down the line.
What Are The Signs Of A Failing, or Improperly Sized Electrical Panel?
If your power shuts off unexpectedly after your renovation is complete, chances are that something is amiss. This could include an improperly sized and installed panel, or an over-worked panel that is trying to keep up with the new electrical demand, post renovation.
As we mentioned above, electrical panels and breakers are only designed to last 25 years. So before your renovation even begins we recommend scheduling an in-depth electrical inspection to see if it, or any other major part of your electrical system, should be replaced at the same time.
What To Expect With An Electrical Panel Upgrade
Our team of electricians brings the same attention to detail and dedication to high-quality service to every electrical upgrade job, including panel upgrades.
Evaluation
Every upgrade or panel installation begins with a thorough inspection of the existing panel and your overall electrical system. We’ll look for any signs of wear and tear, outdated components or insufficient capacity to handle your future needs, post-renovation.
Recommendation
Panel recommendations are always made with safety and future-proofing in mind. A detailed cost estimate will also be provided so you can plan appropriately for the panel upgrade. We know that renovation costs can add up if items are missed!
Panel Upgrade
We always begin by ensuring the installation area is safe, and all existing circuits are properly labelled. Your new electrical panel is then installed with the circuits reconnected and new breakers installed as needed. We’ll ensure the panel itself is securely mounted and that once connected, your system meets our rigorous safety standards.
If any other part of your electrical system has to be updated, such as outdated or aluminum wiring, in order to accommodate the new panel, we will present our recommendations and begin the work once we have your ok.
When you choose 4-Star Electric as your renovation partner, you’ll have total confidence in our team. We only install the most trusted equipment, and we’re proud to offer the best replacement and satisfaction guarantees.
Don’t let electrical limitations short-circuit your renovation dreams. Ensuring your electrical panel is properly sized and up-to-date is a critical step for both safety and functionality.
By considering your power needs for new appliances, assessing your panel’s age, and looking out for signs of trouble, you can approach your renovation with confidence. At 4-Star Electric, we are dedicated to powering Calgary’s homes safely and efficiently through every upgrade.
Book your renovation electrical inspection or panel upgrade online today!
Why Choose 4-Star Electric
There really isn’t anything our team can’t do, here are only some of the reasons Calgary and Area residents have been choosing 4-Star Electric for so many years.
- Family-Owned & Operated – We’re a local, home-grown team committed to serving the Calgary Area with the highest quality residential and commercial electrical service. We started and remain to this day a family-owned and operated business.
- Experienced, Trusted Electricians – We’ve been providing our customers with safe and reliable electrical service for over 35 years.
- Upfront Pricing – We always provide clear, easy to understand, pricing upfront before any work begins.
- 100% Satisfaction – We exceed expectations job after job, and we’ll always ask for your approval before leaving the site. We always ensure you’re 100% satisfied with the work completed, or we’ll come back and make it right.