It’s always nice to have the latest electronic gadgets and devices in your home. Every year, manufacturers release improved products but is your home ready? Whether you realize it or not, today’s electronic devices often have slightly different energy demands. When you call in a professional to look at your home’s electrical system, you might hear that you have to heavy it up.

Who Needs to Heavy up?

The first thing to remember is that electrical codes were different between 20 and 40 years ago. The changes were meant to keep up with the rapid changes in technology. Current building and electrical codes are sufficient to address the needs of today’s electrical equipment, but can you say the same about your existing electrical system? If your home is old, there may be aspects of the system that are not up to date.

You need to be certain that your home has the capacity to give all your equipment a steady supply of power. Living in an older home indicates that there is a strong possibility that you need a heavy up. You will probably notice specific signs that indicate whether or not your home’s current electrical system is providing adequate power.

Signs That You Need to Heavy up

Even in homes that have been updated, there may still be a few deficiencies. This could be because of uncertified technicians or low quality materials, but whatever the reason, there are signs you can look for to indicate that work is needed. These include:

• Flickering lights
• Frequently tripping breakers
• Lights dimming when you turn on some appliances

If you have a steady power supply you should have none of these problems. Eventually, if these problems are not rectified, you could end up with serious damage to your equipment.

What Does it Entail?

The aim of the electrician performing a heavy up in your home is to boost the system’s available amperage. This will benefit not only computers and other sensitive devices, but also modern lighting products. The current standard is 200 amps, and the bulk of the work will involve the electrical panel. Sometimes, entire panels have to be changed to bring a house up to code. An Authorized Construction Group, LLC, professional electrician will ensure that all breakers are labeled and that the ground wire is in place.

While upgrading the panel is enough for some heavy ups, more work may be necessary in some older homes. The thickness of the wires in the system must meet NEC codes, so changing them could be part of the job as well. So, now that you know what a heavy up is, it is time to act if you haven’t upgraded your system yet.

Call Authorized Construction Group, LLC, at 443-579-5701 if you’re an Essex area homeowner in need of electrical advice or assistance. We’ll schedule an appointment for a consultation or discuss your electrical needs with you as much as possible on the phone.