Distributed Power

If a home inspector reports potential issues with a home that you intend to buy, then we can specifically inspect the home’s electrical system and report on the specific issues prior to purchase. We also can ensure your home is fully code compliant prior to listing it for sale, or check the general electrical safety of a home.

Property owners building a new home or doing a complete gutting of an older home commonly pursue installation of a modern, code approved electrical system that has the capability to expand and grow as the home’s family grows. An electrical plan is made, a modern circuit panel is installed, and electrical lines are run to the wall outlets, light switches, and lights.

Expanding panel capacity is a smart way to manage the load on your home electrical system when new appliances are added, such as air conditioners and heat pumps. These capacity upgrades are for modern circuit breaker panels with the available space to add new electrical service.

Fuse boxes are no longer installed and used in modern construction. They were an early form of household power management that were far safer than what they replaced, but are still considered a fire danger compared to a properly installed modern circuit panel. Fuse box replacements are very common in remodeling an older home or after the total failure of an old fuse box.

(If you have an older system with known safety concerns, such as older Zinsco or Federal Pacific Electric panels, then it is strongly recommended that you upgrade to a higher capacity, modern installation as soon as you’re able.)

House rewiring is necessary to meet modern electrical demands and makes the electrical system significantly safer, reducing the risk of overheating and fire, while assisting with the stability of your electricity. Homes with aluminum electrical wires, which can melt, and ancient knob and tube wiring should be rewired as soon as a property owner is able.

The ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) outlets are specially designed to prevent you from dying of electrocution or suffering a severe injury. They are installed in wet rooms, such as bathrooms and kitchens where wet hands are common. The GFCI is required in any new home construction.

While it is very common to see an outlet based surge protector for computers and other electrics, a better solution is surge protection for the entire structure. Whole house surge protector is installed at the circuit panel and protects all appliances and electronics from power surges from storms or damage caused to neighborhood infrastructure.

3 Phase electrical service is generally used for commercial or industrial applications, but homes can also be upgraded to 3 phase power. Large estate homes may use 3 phase power as well as home wood shops, metal shops, and garages with auto enthusiasts. 3 Phase is a safer way to manage power when a lot of power is needed.