Home renovation has become rather trendy as of late. We’ve all seen the shows about decluttering your home space, or have – at some point – watched a few DIY videos about revamping your home. All too often, however, the home’s electrical systems fall by the wayside in favour of flashier, more obvious renovations. That does not mean to say that they are any less important. Titan Electrical would like to share our tips for renovating your home’s electrical system.
There are a number of reasons for why you should make sure that you keep electrical systems in mind when you’re considering your next home upgrade.
Making sure it’s all up to snuff!
If you want to make sure that your wiring is up to scratch, you can always have one of our highly-qualified service professionals issue a Certificate of Compliance (COC). First and foremost, if you’re looking to resell your home, you will need a valid COC issued before putting it up on the market. We’ve already outlined why this is a vital step you should consider.
Preventing fire hazards.
Electrical fires pose a very real danger when wiring has degraded and warning signs are ignored. Frayed or worn wiring can result in potentially lethal electrical fires. The cost of ensuring that all of your electrical wiring is in good working order is considerably less than replacing all of your valuables.
New appliances require updated outlets.
As the inevitable march of technological progression strides boldly forward, outdated electrical supply cannot hope to keep pace. Newer appliances may often be a drain on your already overburdened wiring, and this may result in frequent circuit breaker trips. Newer appliances don’t like power supplies being constantly disrupted. You not only risk damage to aforementioned appliances, but run the risk of electrical fires as well.
You’ll also want to ensure that you have enough outlets to use for when you eventually get around to renovating your home and moving that brand new smart TV to a more suitable location. You don’t want an over-reliance on extension cords since these pose huge risks.
Wiring is not a timeless classic!
If your home is older than 40 years (as many South African homes are), you have to face facts and acknowledge that chances are that your wiring has severely deteriorated. The potential dangers posed by this don’t need to be elaborated on because we all know that worn wiring can result in short circuits and even electrical fires.
There are a few warning signs you can look out for, according to Houselogic:
- Breakers that trip or fuses that repeatedly
- A tingling sensation when you touch an
- Flickering or dimming
- A persistent burning smell from a room or
- Warm, discoloured, or sparking
Whole-home surge protection is a definite must-have!
The reality of the South African context is that load shedding is here to stay. We often have rather severe thunderstorms when the rainy season hits our provinces. You could invest in a variety of surge protector strips, or you could simply have whole-home surge protection installed. This system of surge protectors ensures that your entire home is covered, and you won’t have to worry about unplugging devices when inclement weather arises.
Smart homes are smart future investments.
As we mentioned before – the technological advancements of our age are opening up amazing avenues of exploration. Smart homes are particularly appealing and making sure that your home is smart tech enabled is a distinct selling feature. There are many types of smart home devices you can have installed that will not only make life easier, but will also provide additional security for those moments when you aren’t home to switch on lights, close blinds, enable alarms, check security feeds, or even close the curtains.
Top tip: Don’t forget that each room has a unique set of electrical needs!
Every room in your home has its own personality and function. Your bedroom won’t have the same set of requirements as your home office, or TV room. Make sure that your wiring and outlets are perfectly suited and adaptable to what you require from a particular room.
Don’t forget to check out some of the helpful hints we’ve provided here on upgrading to LED lighting for even more ways to cut costs!
At Titan Electrical , we’re always ready and willing to help you find the perfect solution for your home! Call us today on 087 55 11 000, or book a service online.