There’s no denying we can hardly get anything done without access to electricity. But just because your home has power that works now, doesn’t mean it’s equipped to handle the growing demands we place on it with newer higher efficiency appliances, electric car chargers, and all the other gadgets that require constant power.
What’s Covered During an Energy Audit?
Professionally performed energy audits cover all aspects of your electrical system’s ability to meet electrical demands, both inside and outside of your home. A licensed electrician evaluates the service coming into your home, checks the health and condition of your electrical panel, and tests for the overall efficiency and power demands of your electrical system.
Typically, specific needs are discussed during an audit, such as adding an addition to your home. The electrician can then estimate your power needs and determine if your existing system will be up to the task and suggest upgrades that need to be made to accommodate your project.
Who Needs an Energy Audit?
An energy audit makes sense for homeowners who are considering any of the following:
- Upgrading to High-Efficiency Appliances
- Installing High-Efficiency Comfort Systems (heating, cooling, water heater)
- Adding Solar Panels
- Renovating Your Home or Adding an Addition
- Expanding an Outdoor Space (Garage, Shed-Office, Workshop, Pool)
- Adding an Electric Car Charger
These are just a few of the reasons to consider starting with an audit, which helps avoid any electrical roadblocks that can delay a project, costing you more money in the long run. Most importantly, it will ensure that your home has just the right amount of energy access for your needs, reducing inefficiencies.
Why Would My Home Need an Upgrade?
Without getting too technical, the electrical demands of modern appliances and comfort systems are higher than before, while also being more efficient long-term. Here’s a few examples of why your home would need an electrical upgrade:
You Live in an Older Home
Homes built before the new millennium often have electrical services that are simply inadequate for today’s needs. In New England, you’ll often find homes with a 100 amp service vs. todays’ 200 amp standard.
Your Electrical Panel is More Than 10 Years Old
Panels that have been properly designed to meet the current and future needs of your home can last a long while, however, a lot has changed in the last 10-20 years. Factors like start-up amps vs. running amps mean that while you may be replacing an old washer and dryer with new units in the exact same location, the start-up amps may be much larger than before, leading to overloaded circuits and tripped breakers. A larger panel can usually solve this problem.
You’re Adding New Appliances or Equipment
Some types of appliances and equipment are simply too demanding to work with existing circuits and require a dedicated circuit to work properly, such as an EV charging station or workshop tools. Even with the correctly sized service coming into your home, your electrical system may need some additional modifications to deliver enough power where and when you need it.
Make Your Next Electrical Project Easy with Heritage
Unfortunately, there’s a lot of electrical needs that should be considered when making a major update to your home, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. When you work with a trusted professional like Heritage, you can be sure that all of your electrical needs will be considered in the design, and quoted upfront to ensure a smooth installation. Whether you’re considering a new high-efficiency furnace or adding an outdoor pool, Heritage can help you plan ahead and make it easy to avoid any electrical problems before they become costly issues. If you have any questions about getting an energy audit or having a project done at your home, our offices are here to help!