Home Renovations: Electrical Safety Tips for Your Next Project

A home renovation is an exciting project, but it can come with electrical safety concerns. While renovations can increase your home’s functionality, comfort, and value, these projects often include the potential for electrical hazards if electrical work isn’t handled correctly. At Black-Haak, our expertise and commitment to safety are why homeowners choose us to help them with the electrical aspects of their home renovation projects.

Before you begin your next renovation project, learn more about the importance of planning, professional help from experienced electricians, do-it-yourself precautions, and specific hazards.

Why Electrical Safety Matters During Renovations

Did you know that electrical fires are responsible for a majority of residential property damage? According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), residential electrical malfunctions resulted in an estimated $1.5 billion in direct dollar loss in 2023. Electrical fires aren’t the only concern from improperly installed electrical components and wiring. Other severe consequences include personal injury, such as electrical shock and electrocution, and fatalities. Faulty wiring can also damage appliances and other electronic devices.

While you might think installing an outlet, a plug, or even a new circuit breaker isn’t a big deal, many hidden dangers exist when handling electricity. Your home’s existing wiring may have been installed incorrectly, making even simple tasks like putting in a new outlet riskier. Additionally, wiring that’s old or an electrical system that’s overloaded also presents risks.

Any time you make modifications or invest in new electrical installations, it’s always a wise idea to hire licensed electricians to do the job. Hiring the right people not only protects your home and increases its electrical safety but also saves you money. If your wiring or any other electrical work wasn’t done correctly by licensed professionals, insurance companies might reject claims related to electrical fires.

Additionally, if electrical renovations or additions aren’t completed according to code, your project may be halted and may require the work to be redone by licensed electricians, resulting in additional costs in the long run. It never pays to cut corners when it comes to electrical safety.

Stay Safer With Pre-Renovation Planning

Before beginning any renovation that involves your electrical system, you’ll want to assess its current health. We strongly recommend hiring a licensed electrician for a professional inspection of the system’s existing wiring, panel, and grounding.

During this inspection, our electricians will look for potential issues like:

• Outdated wiring
• Insufficient outlets
• Overloaded circuits
• Undersized electrical panels

Depending on the type of renovation planned, your electrical system might need an upgrade. Older homes may not always be able to handle the increased electrical load that major kitchen renovations and additions require. Even homes built over the last five or 10 years might have difficulty with load increases. In these cases, consider an electrical panel upgrade or adding a subpanel, projects that require the expertise of a licensed electrician.

Renovations that involve electrical upgrades also require mapping. You need to know the locations of new electrical points, such as new outlets, switches, lighting fixtures, and circuits. Are you planning to add new appliances to your existing electrical system? Some high-energy appliances, such as ovens, refrigerators, and washing machines, may require dedicated circuits. Outdoor lighting, outlets, and hot tubs may also require new circuitry.

Part of the pre-renovation planning also includes obtaining necessary permits. Obtaining permits is a requirement in most municipalities within the Fox Valley region, and it’s a process that can only be completed by a licensed electrician. Municipalities require permits for most renovations that include electrical work to ensure safety and compliance.

Are you planning any demolition work? If so, our electricians can help you spot any hidden dangers, such as wires behind the walls. The last thing you want is to use a power tool and cut into a live wire. The same precautions exist when you’re nailing or screwing drywall together or into joists. Having a working knowledge of your wiring’s location always ensures your safety and prevents fatalities.

When to Call a Licensed Electrician

An electrician should always handle any project that requires electrical work. Specific scenarios that require professional help include those that are complex and involve high voltage, such as panel upgrades and replacements. New circuit installation, which consists of adding circuits to your home’s main electrical panel, is also a job for your trusted neighborhood electricians at Black-Haak.

Other scenarios that require an electrician’s expertise include relocating outlets and switches, as well as modifying existing circuits within walls. Also, any electrical wiring for major appliances like ovens, dryers, and central AC units needs the expert touch from an electrician.

Troubleshooting also requires the assistance of an electrician before a renovation. If you’ve had problems in the past with flickering lights, frequent breaker trips, or hot outlets and switches, these issues must be resolved before undertaking new electrical work. The knowledge electricians have is far-reaching. Our team of outstanding electricians has decades of combined experience and has encountered any scenario you can imagine. Trying to figure out electrical issues isn’t easy, and it’s even harder when you’re in the middle of a renovation. Don’t leave your project or your electrical system to chance. Let the experts help you every step of the way.

The benefits of not taking DIY shortcuts and always hiring a licensed electrician include:

• Knowledge of codes, best practices, and problem-solving
• Minimized risk of accidents and future issues
• Ensuring work meets all local and national electrical codes
• Protection and peace of mind

It may seem like bypassing hiring an electrician is the best way to save money on renovation costs, but you risk compromising your safety and the completion of your home renovation project. It’s always better to spend the money upfront for professional services and know the job was done correctly the first time.

Renovating your home is an exciting journey that transforms your living space into something new and improved. However, electrical installations come with electrical risks that demand expertise from licensed electricians. The consequences of overlooking electrical safety can result in scenarios that can do more than derail your renovation. It can pave the way for electrical issues that damage your appliances, your property, and put your household’s health and safety at risk.

Don’t gamble with your safety or the integrity of your home’s electrical system. Let the team at Black-Haak work with you as your trusted partner. We have the expertise and give you the peace of mind you need for a safe and successful renovation. Whether you require a pre-renovation electrical inspection, a complex panel upgrade, or professional installation of new wiring, our licensed electricians are committed to ensuring your project meets the highest standards of safety and code compliance from start to finish.

We’ve served Greenville and the Fox Valley region since 1956 and are a family-owned, multi-generational company. Honesty, integrity, family values, service, reliability, and trust are our foundational values. Our priority is always to provide outstanding customer service that exceeds expectations every time.

Before you begin your next home renovation project, contact the team at Black-Haak to schedule a pre-renovation inspection and residential electrical assessment. For more information, call us today!