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If you own an older home, there’s a decent chance it still contains antiquated electrical wiring, fixtures, or receptacles that are either hazardous or just downright inconvenient. At Harrison Electric, it’s our mission to help homeowners create safe, efficient homes, so they can enjoy peace of mind knowing their loved ones and their property are well protected.

If, like many homeowners, you purchased a dwelling that still features outdated electrical work, updating your system can help enhance your home’s usability as well as its safety. Curious about which upgrades offer tangible benefits? Here are three we think you should consider:

GFCI Outlets

Decades ago, GFCI outlets hadn’t even hit the market yet. So, if your home was built before 1961, and it has never seen an electrical upgrade, it still contains unprotected outlets that can put your safety at risk. In 1971, the National Electrical Code mandated that all new homes feature GFCI outlets near water supplies and outdoors to minimize the risk of electrical shock and damage.

GFCI outlets constantly monitor the flow of electricity to the receptacle, and when they detect even a minuscule current to a grounded item, they immediately cut off electrical flow. For the safety of your home and family, if your home does not feature GFCI protection, it’s essential that you contact a residential electrician for outlet replacement service.

Robust Electrical Panel Wiring or Fuse Panel Replacement

Depending on the age of your home, its wiring may be significantly outdated. Homes built 30 to 40 years ago were designed to operate using just 30 to 50 amps of power. In contrast, modern residential electrical systems typically supply anywhere from 150 to 200 amps. In fact, if you use central air conditioning, your unit may require up to 60 amps just to function.

When your system does not supply enough power to operate your electrical devices simultaneously, you’ll experience voltage drops, tripped circuits, or tripped fuses (if your home still has a fuse panel). To enjoy full use of all your electrical devices and appliances, upgrading your old, outdated wiring is essential.

Additional Electrical Receptacles

Are you constantly in search of an open outlet? How annoying, we know. Unfortunately, older homes often lack sufficient electrical outlets to keep up with our modern, tech-heavy lives. In their quest for open outlets, many homeowners turn to power strips, but that isn’t the most efficient, nor the safest, solution. You can easily overload an outlet when you fill a power strip with plugs, which can result in electrical damage or, worse, fires.

Rather than taking your chances with power strips, have a residential electrician retrofit your home with additional outlets. Electrical work might be a more involved process, but you’ll have peace of mind when you know you’re protecting your home and family. Plus, you’ll enjoy the convenience of having outlets in the exact locations where you need them most.  

If your home is in dire need of electrical upgrades, our team at Harrison Electric is here to serve you. For over 30 years, we’ve been providing residential electrical services to residents throughout the Minneapolis metro area, and we’d love to make you our next satisfied client. Whether you’re in the market for more robust electrical wiring, you need outlet replacements, or you’re looking to replace your old electrical panel, our licensed residential electricians guarantee a job well done. Plus, we provide lifetime warranties on all new installations, so you can always feel confident in our work.

To learn more about how we can help you upgrade your home, give our team a call at 763-544-3300 or feel free to message us on our contact page.