15 Feb 10 Electrical Improvements That Are Worth the Money

Some electrical improvements are worth the money and others are not. Bill Lutz, a licensed electrician who owns Generation 3 Electric in Philadelphia, tells us what you should spend you money on and what you shouldn't.

Invest in Good Lighting: It is always worth it to spend the money on some nice fixtures or stylish track or recessed lighting. This is the most apparent and obvious electrical improvement you can do you your home (as opposed to wiring which hides behind the walls.) Quality lighting is an upgrade you can use and enjoy everyday. It will also immediately add resale value to your home as potential buyers will notice the improvements at first glance.


Install Ceiling Fans: Not only are they often decorative and good looking, but like lights (and the two are often combined into one appliance), ceiling fans are one of the few electrical upgrades that are immediately noticeable in a house. In addition to adding resale value to your home, fans will save electricity as well as improve the effectiveness of you heating and cooling system. Using fans instead of air conditioners uses much less electricity to cool your home. Fans also circulate the air in your house between rooms, which allows your HVAC system to run more effectively.

Stop Wasting Power: Energy that is not needed by an appliance is sent back to the source. If you have older wiring, much of this power is often wasted. An electrician can install a capacitor that stores the returning energy like a battery within your system and the appliance will use this 'recycled' energy when it is needed rather than allowing that power to go to waste. This will save you from wasting power and also give you better quality electricity.

Always Use Surge Protectors: Surge protectors do more than protect your computer during a lightning storm. Other appliances benefit from surge protection too. Even with no noticeable power surge, tiny surges often occur which can wear out your electronics. You won't realize this has been happening until it is too late. Smaller surges, such as those caused by vacuum cleaners being turned on, can cause damage that builds over time. So, suddenly you will have a corrupted hard drive or your phone does not work. That's why you should invest in a quality surge strip for complete protection. And buy electrician-sold strips rather than less expensive products, which will not offer complete protection against surges.