Licensed Electrician Suggests 4 Smart Home Upgrades

50 years ago, the idea that you could control many of the electronic features in your home while you are hundreds of miles away, would seem preposterous. However, these days, you can switch lights on and off, adjust the thermostat, turn sprinklers off and on, preheat your oven, record television programs and unlock your door all while you enjoy a fruity beverage on a tropical island. As a licensed electrician, I am often asked to provide smart home upgrades for my clients, including some of the following.

Electrical Panel Upgrades
This type of upgrade may not seem very hip or exciting, but if your home is more than 20 years old, you should consider this service. Older electrical panels weren’t built to handle the amount of electricity a typical family uses these days with all of our televisions, computers, tablets, phone charging and so forth.

Additionally, if you have an electric car and wish to install an electric car charging station, your panel may need an upgrade to handle the additional electricity load. By law, a licensed electrician is the only professional that is able to upgrade electrical panels, so if you want us to come and assess your system and provide you with a cost estimate for upgrades, give us a call at any time.

Smart Outlets & Lighting Upgrades
In our experience, most homes don’t contain enough outlets, especially older homes. If you are constantly using outlet extenders and power strips to accommodate your electrical needs, you probably need to consider adding some outlets or upgrading your outlets. A licensed electrician can provide you with new outlets including special outlets that include USB ports or those which offer smart home capability.

For instance, when homeowners went on vacation in the past, they would plug in a timer into a few outlets to turn on a random lamp or two to ward off intruders. Today, with smart home technology, you can schedule a variety of lights throughout your home to go on and off at specific times, not just one or two. Plus, you can simply turn lights on or off using your smart phone, and this includes your exterior as well as your interior lights.

A licensed electrician also can upgrade all of the lights in your home and provide you with smart lighting systems. Not only can you turn lights on and off remotely (a very handy feature if your children constantly forget to turn off the lights), you also can upgrade all of your light bulbs and swap them out for more energy efficient options.

Smart Doorbells & Locks
If you are out of town quite a bit, we highly recommend that you install a camera to monitor activity around your front door. It also can be wise to invest in a video doorbell. When someone rings the bell or walks up to the door, you can speak with this person even if you aren’t at home. You could be hundreds of miles away kicking back on a sunny beach, and converse with a delivery man or anyone else that comes to the door. Devices such as these can decrease the likelihood of package theft as well as break-ins and provide you with some peace of mind.

If you’ve forgotten yours keys, it’s no longer necessary to hunt around for an open window or contact a locksmith. With smart door locks, you can unlock a door using an app or with a code. This can be handy for your guests and housecleaners, as well.

Smart Thermostats
A smart thermostat can be a great money-saving option for most homeowners. Forgot to turn off the heater or A/C after leaving your house? No problem. Do you want the house to be warm when you arrive home, but don’t want to waste heat all day? No problem. A programmable smart thermostat can turn the heat or A/C on based upon your needs, and you can change the settings remotely at any time. These thermostats can make your home far more efficient and shave hundreds of dollars off of your yearly energy bills. Some of these devices will track your usage and suggest changes to ensure that you maximize your energy dollars.

Obviously, all of these upgrades come with a cost. However, smart home upgrades and electrical and lighting upgrades will save you a ton of money in the long run. Combine these upgrades with some basic energy saving practices, and you can save a bundle.

For instance, tinting your windows or closing shades and drapes can make it easier for you’re A/C to cool your house on those hot summer days. Cleaning your furnace filter can help your furnace work more efficiently. Consider shutting vents and closing doors to rooms you don’t use so that you don’t waste heat or air conditioning in these areas. And, of course, ensure that you turn off lights when you leave a room. These are just a few quick tips that can reduce your gas and electric bills.

A licensed electrician, such as the team at Tesla Electric, can provide you with many of these smart home upgrades. If you are interested in these upgrades or need any type of electrical repairs, give us a call today.