Modern Versus Older Home Electrical Demands

Today’s growing number of modern appliances, new and evolving electronic devices, and the growing demand for electric vehicles (EV), while all designed to emphasize energy-savings over any pre-existing models, still tend to place increased demand for power on your residential service panel. Consequently, today’s newer homes often come with a 200-amp electrical panel intended to better serve the electrical power needs of modern consumers. 

<image of a traditional 100 amp electrical panel>

While a 200-amp panel is typically enough to support today’s electronics AND an EV charger – a frequent home garage ‘essential’ for daily commuter use of an electric vehicle – this can only be true if that panel is not already pushed to capacity by either a small number of heavy electronics users, or a larger household of users who are reliant on a number of modern electronics in their day-to-day life.

If you own an older home, you likely have 100-amp electrical service supplying your home that’s incapable of supporting today’s heavier, and more frequent, reliance on electronics. While homes with a 100-amp service can usually be upgraded to a 125-amp panel, they will not support a 200-amp panel. Therefore, if you own an older home, you’ll need to have the service lines upgraded by your utility provider to a 200-amp panel. 

Older houses typically use fewer breakers to run the kitchen outlets and appliances. In fact, there may be only 3 or 4 circuits serving the entire kitchen’s electrical needs for all outlets and appliances. By today’s electrical code standards, a kitchen will require a minimum of 8 dedicated circuits – and this typically means the need for a larger panel with more breakers.

<image of a 200 amp modern electrical panel>

During any remodeling project, your general contractor will do electrical load calculations to determine what upgrades are needed based on the remodel requirements. You may need a larger amperage service from your electrical provider, as well as a physically larger panel with more circuit breakers to accommodate your remodel demands.

With expanded modern electrical needs, service and panel upgrades are becoming ever more common. Additionally, more homes are moving away from natural gas – primarily because of its concerning contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and indoor air quality – and towards the use of electrical appliances for hot water generation, as well as home heating and cooling. This means modern homes are clearly more electricity dependent.

GFCI: Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter

Nuisance tripping – which typically equates to a GFCI (Ground Fault Circult Interrupter) that unnecessarily flips the power off – is a common occurrence in older homes wired according to older electrical code. By example, in most older homes it was common to have multiple rooms or bathrooms on a single circuit, rather than divided up for more safe and efficient electrical load usage. When electrical usage spikes – as when someone is using both their electric hair dryer and a flat iron, while someone else in the household is simultaneously vacuuming or using the microwave to heat up a meal – nuisance tripping can cause the power to suddenly go off. 

<image of a GFCI outlet with an electrical appliance plugged in>

This nuisance tripping, sometimes referred to as sympathetic tripping, is when a circuit breaker or other protective device shuts off power without an actual electrical fault or overload. Think of it as a false alarm. For most of us, this can be extremely frustrating, especially if it happens frequently or at a busy point in your day, when time is of the essence. As explained, these nuisance trips – unnecessary tripping of a circuit breaker when a fault does not exist – happen more commonly in older homes, but this is a safety feature that protects against potential electrical fires and serious damage. Such nuisance tripping of circuit breakers is undesirable, disruptive, and detrimental to the continuity of electrical power. 

Given there’s no electrically-based reason for the tripping, this breaker is obviously not functioning correctly or performing as it should – hence the name: nuisance tripping. It’s an annoyance in a home that often gets ignored for a time, but in a commercial or industrial facility, nuisance tripping can prove far more serious, far more costly, and far too destructive to ignore.

A GFI is commonly found in places where water and electricity are close together, such as in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, unfinished basements, crawl spaces, and any outdoor areas. Because they reduce and prevent electrical shocks, GFCI outlets are mandated by the National Electrical Code (NEC) for use in areas that can become damp or wet. Bathrooms have required GFCIs since 1975, and they’ve been required in kitchens since 1987. A regular outlet is suitable for other areas of your home unlikely to be impacted by water or moisture, such as bedrooms, offices, and living rooms.

Identify and Test Your GFCI

GFCI’s are readily identifiable from other electrical outlets by their larger size and the addition of two buttons labeled “Test” and “Reset” which allow you to test whether the outlet is functional. Although typically reliable, failures can occur and require replacement.

<close-up image of a GFCI outlet test and reset buttons and a voltage meter>

Should you wish to test your GFCI outlets, press the “Test” button. If you hear a snap or popping sound, this indicates that the GFCI is doing its job and all electricity to the outlet should have been cut off. As a General Contractor, I commonly use a voltage tester to ensure that the GFCI is working and the power has, in fact, been shut off. But you can try plugging in a small electronic device you know should work to see if your GFCI is working properly or not. Upon completion of the test, press the “Reset” button. In fully functional GFCI’s, power will automatically be restored to the outlet and any device you plug into it should be powered up.

Upgrade to Improve Safety – Avoid Overloads & Electrical Fires

As consumers embrace more electronic appliances that draw more power, to avoid overloads and electrical fires, it’s strongly advised that you upgrade your panel. This is especially true, if you’re considering a kitchen, bath, or whole house remodel for your older home!

Electrical panel upgrades are frequent requests, as well as absolute necessities, for many of our clients – not merely those purchasing electric vehicles, installing new heating and air, or new appliances in a kitchen remodel. Despite the advent of energy-saving smart phones, smart watches, and smart appliances, today there are ever more and more users, both young and old, who are reliant upon their electronics. This has resulted in panel upgrades as a more and more frequent request, and absolute necessity, with every repair, remodel, renovation, or re-envisioning of living space.

<image of an EV Charger in a garage at David’s or Geena’s house>

Upgrading an electrical panel is not an inconsequential decision given it involves examining both current and future needs. In anticipation of a major remodel or upgraded kitchen and bath, many of our clients opt to replace their existing panel with one that offers a higher-capacity. The costs vary depending on your particular home and the evolving or anticipated needs of everyone who has plans to occupy that home. For multi-generational families, considerations of future children (infant and adult) living under one roof, and the desire to help support aging parents with an Accessory Dwelling Unit <link to ADU info web page>, also known as an ADU (that can later serve as a source of passive income when rented out), all play a factor in the decisions to be made.

An upgrade helps to improve and ensure safety by enhancing effectiveness at preventing overloads and electrical fires, while accommodating more electrical appliances and devices. Wherever upgrades are impractical or unnecessary, installing a subpanel may be the right solution. Subpanels are smaller breaker boxes connected to your main panel and dedicated to specific circuits. Alternatively, a load management system – which can use automated load-shifting devices such as smart thermostats and appliances – can provide the means to optimize your electrical usage by prioritizing certain circuits.

Controlling High Electricity Usage = Better Cost Control

In Solano County, our high-heat summers lead numbers of households to run their air conditioners and pool pumps nearly nonstop. When winter comes around, then household members are all about remaining warm and cozy, doing more indoor entertaining, and ensuring they have hot water needs met. In other words, the year-round demand for electricity never ends.

But how can you curb your electrical load and help keep costs down?

One solution to explore is a residential load controller that’s designed to help reduce peak demand and improve energy efficiency. Such a solution can keep costs down by helping to keep consumption in check. By capping your house’s electric use, a load controller prevents you from using more than your set amount. 

This comes with both advantages and disadvantages. It will help you save money on electricity, but it can be too rigid and restrictive, especially for our clients with irregular schedules or who work from home.

Yet another solution can be a smart home energy management system. It’s responsive to electrical loads as well as your household needs. Using a smartphone app, you can easily set up schedules and modes to automate and optimize your home’s electric use. At Ed Neir Construction, we help our client’s look at different ways to save money on electricity, manage residential loads, and achieve the best balance to meet their goals.

If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, save money on monthly electricity bills, and to enhance both the value and comfort of your home, then consider an energy-efficient HVAC system and appliances, energy-efficient windows, doors, and proper insulation as part of your home remodel and re-envisioning plans – all things I can help you with so you can consider your various options. Altogether, these things can help to ensure efficient home sealing, reduce electricity costs, deliver enhanced beauty and comfort, while increasing your home’s market value.

If this blog has peaked your interest in upgrading your electrical panel or in exploring any other home renovations that take advantage of energy-saving options, then take ACTION and engage with Ed Neir Construction today for a free estimate!