Electrical Contractor Services: A GuideElectrical Contractor Services: A Guide

Updating the electrical system may not be as exciting as choosing new cabinetry and countertops when you're remodelling your kitchen. But electrical upgrades are crucial, as they affect the functionality and ambience of the room. Here are three improvements to consider for remodeling projects.

Lighting

Lighting is important for a kitchen, both practically and aesthetically. To ensure the room is well-lit but not overly bright in some areas, you could install multiple recessed ceiling lights in the appropriate spots. With several lights, the room won't rely on one glary central globe—a situation that many old kitchens have. Your electrician may also suggest under cabinet lights to allow for clear vision on the benchtop. Natural-white LED globes will show off food in an appetising light.

Also consider dimmers, which give you control over the room's ambience. If you're having friends over for drinks, you can then create a soothing kitchen atmosphere. Another addition is motion sensor lights that turn on if household members get up during the night for a snack or drink. They won't be in danger of tripping over in the dark. Motion sensor lights are efficient as they'll turn themselves off without anyone having to remember to do this.

Outlets

You may find yourself using power strips and extension cords in your kitchen and throughout your home. What this is telling you is that you don't have enough electrical outlets in convenient spots on the walls. So, when remodelling, think about where you'll want to use a portable toaster or a coffee maker and make sure there's an outlet nearby. Where will you want to plug in a laptop or recharge your phone?

Consider what you use every day and make your kitchen as convenient as possible when adding outlets. You could go through other rooms at the same time, adding wall sockets where needed. This not only improves functionality but also makes a home safer because overloading a power strip can be dangerous.

Old Wiring and Circuitry

Renovating the kitchen is also an ideal time to replace old wiring in the walls if it needs updating. A residential electrician may need to upgrade the circuitry to handle the additional electrical load if you install new appliances. It may not have been set up to run today's modern devices. You then won't need to worry about the system tripping if you run too many large appliances at the same time.