Our Most Requested Home Electrical Upgrades
The modern home in East Canton, Ohio, places incredible demands on its electrical system. What was considered adequate even twenty years ago is often stretched thin by today’s technology. Homes are no longer just shelters; they are power hubs for electric vehicles, home offices, sophisticated entertainment systems, and a growing network of smart devices. As a result, homeowners are increasingly seeking electrical upgrades that enhance safety, expand capacity, and improve convenience. These are not minor changes but foundational improvements that future proof a property and adapt it to a new, power hungry reality.
At Gragg Electrical Services, we see firsthand what homeowners prioritize when they decide to invest in their electrical infrastructure. The requests we receive are a clear reflection of these changing trends. They move beyond simple repairs to focus on proactive enhancements. Homeowners are wisely looking to boost their home’s functionality, protect their valuable electronics, and ensure their system can handle whatever comes next, from a new kitchen remodel to the next generation of home technology.
Electrical Panel and Service Upgrades
The electrical panel, or breaker box, is the heart of your home’s entire electrical system. It is the central distribution point that takes power from the utility line and divides it into individual circuits, each protected by a circuit breaker. For decades, a 100 amp service was the standard for most homes. This was sufficient for a time when the major electrical loads were a refrigerator, an oven, and some lighting. Today, that 100 amp panel is often dangerously overloaded.
Modern life is powered by high demand appliances. Central air conditioning, electric dryers, electric water heaters, and modern kitchen ranges all draw significant power. When you add a home office, a hot tub, or an electric vehicle charger, the system is pushed beyond its limits. Symptoms of an overloaded panel are common; flickering lights when an appliance turns on, frequently tripping breakers, or an inability to use multiple large appliances at once are all warning signs. Some older panels, such as those from Federal Pacific or Zinsco, also pose a significant fire risk due to known design flaws and should be replaced immediately.
The most common and critical upgrade we perform is a service upgrade to 150 or, more often, 200 amps. This process involves replacing the main panel, the meter socket, and the heavy service entrance cable that connects to the utility. A 200 amp service provides the robust capacity needed for a modern household. It ensures there is ample, reliable power for all your current needs while providing headroom for future additions. This upgrade is not just about convenience; it is a fundamental safety improvement that reduces the risk of electrical fires and ensures all your circuits are protected by modern, reliable breakers.
Home EV Charger Installation
The rapid growth of the electric vehicle market has driven a surge in requests for home charging stations. While every electric vehicle, or EV, can be charged using a standard 120 volt wall outlet, this method, known as Level 1 charging, is incredibly slow. It can take 24 hours or more to fully charge a vehicle, adding only a few miles of range per hour. This is simply impractical for most drivers.
The solution is a Level 2 charger, which operates on a 240 volt circuit, similar to an electric dryer or oven. A Level 2 charger dramatically reduces charging time, often restoring a full charge overnight. This upgrade is essential for making EV ownership convenient and practical. It allows you to start every day with a fully charged vehicle without relying on the public charging network.
Installing a Level 2 charger is a complex task that requires a licensed electrician. This is not a simple outlet installation. It requires a new, dedicated 240 volt circuit run directly from your electrical panel to the charging location, typically a garage. The circuit must be properly sized for the charger’s amperage, which is often 40, 50, or even 60 amps. A professional electrician will perform a load calculation on your home to ensure your existing electrical service can handle this significant new load. In many cases, installing an EV charger is the final catalyst that necessitates an electrical panel upgrade to 200 amps.
Standby Generator Installation
Ohio weather is unpredictable, with ice storms, high winds, and summer thunderstorms all capable of causing extended power outages. These outages are more than an inconvenience; they can be dangerous and expensive. A loss of power means no heat in the winter, no air conditioning in the summer, sump pumps that fail, and hundreds of dollars in spoiled food. For those who rely on powered medical equipment, an outage can be a life threatening emergency.
Because of this, standby generators are one of our most requested installations. Unlike a portable generator that must be manually rolled out, refueled, and connected with extension cords, a standby generator is a permanent, automatic solution. The unit is installed outside the home, similar to an air conditioning condenser, and is connected directly to the home’s electrical panel through an Automatic Transfer Switch, or ATS.
The ATS is the “brain” of the system. It constantly monitors the power coming from the utility. The instant it detects an outage, it automatically disconnects your home from the grid and signals the generator to start. Within seconds, the ATS transfers your home’s power feed to the generator, restoring electricity to your entire home or to pre selected essential circuits. The generator runs on your home’s natural gas or propane supply, so there is no need to refuel it in the dark. When utility power is restored, the ATS senses it, transfers the load back to the grid, and shuts the generator down automatically. This seamless transition provides ultimate peace of mind.
Modern Lighting Solutions
Lighting technology has evolved far beyond the simple incandescent bulb. Homeowners are now upgrading their lighting to improve energy efficiency, enhance their home’s aesthetics, and increase functionality. The single most popular upgrade is the conversion to LED lighting. LEDs use up to 75 percent less energy than traditional bulbs and can last 25 times longer, offering significant long term savings on utility bills and maintenance.
Recessed lighting is a top request for remodels and updates, especially in kitchens, basements, and living rooms. These fixtures, often called can lights, are installed flush with the ceiling, creating a clean, modern look and providing excellent ambient light. They eliminate the need for floor and table lamps, opening up space and distributing light more evenly. We also install a great deal of under cabinet lighting in kitchens. This provides focused task lighting on countertops, making food preparation safer and easier while also serving as a beautiful design accent.
Outdoor lighting is another high demand upgrade. This category includes landscape lighting to highlight trees and architectural features, path lighting to improve safety on walkways, and security lighting. Motion activated floodlights are a powerful deterrent for intruders and provide safe illumination for driveways and entryways. We also install new outdoor outlets to support holiday lighting, power tools, and patio entertainment, all protected by GFCI outlets for safety.
Smart Home Device Integration
The smart home is no longer a futuristic concept; it is a present reality. While many smart devices like plugs and bulbs are do it yourself, homeowners are increasingly turning to professionals for more complex, integrated systems. A professional electrician can hardwire smart devices, providing a more reliable and seamless experience than a system built entirely on Wi-Fi and batteries.
Smart switches and dimmers are a very common request. These devices replace your existing wall switches, allowing you to control your home’s hardwired lighting fixtures from your phone or with voice commands. They enable you to set schedules, create lighting “scenes” for different moods, and ensure you never come home to a dark house. Smart thermostats are another popular upgrade, offering advanced control over your HVAC system to save energy and improve comfort.
Professionally installing these devices ensures they are wired correctly and safely. An electrician can also help plan your smart home, ensuring that different components are compatible and that your electrical system can support them. This includes installing smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, smart security cameras, and video doorbells, all ofwhich require a reliable power source to function properly.
Dedicated Circuits and Safety Devices
As homes fill with more powerful appliances, the need for dedicated circuits has grown. A dedicated circuit is a circuit that serves a single appliance or outlet, ensuring it has access to the full power it needs without overloading and tripping a breaker. The National Electrical Code requires dedicated circuits for many major appliances, including refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, garbage disposals, electric ranges, and microwaves.
We are often called to install new dedicated circuits for home additions, kitchen remodels, or new, high draw equipment. A home office with a powerful computer, multiple monitors, and a laser printer may require its own circuit. A home gym with a treadmill, or a garage workshop with power tools, will also need dedicated power. Installing these circuits prevents the frustrating “nuisance trips” that happen when a microwave and a toaster are used at the same time on a shared circuit. It is a critical upgrade for both safety and convenience.
Alongside new circuits, upgrading safety devices is a constant priority. This includes replacing old, ungrounded two prong outlets with modern, grounded three prong outlets. We also install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) in all required areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and outdoor locations. GFCIs are life saving devices that protect people from electrical shock in wet areas. We also install Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs), which are required in most living spaces. AFCIs protect against electrical fires by detecting dangerous arcing in faulty wiring, cords, or appliances.
Your home’s electrical system is its most important utility. It is the foundation for your comfort, your convenience, and your safety. The electrical upgrades homeowners in East Canton request most often reflect a desire for a home that is safer, more capable, and ready for the future. From upgrading the electrical panel to accommodate new demands like EV chargers and generators, to enhancing daily life with modern lighting and smart technology, these improvements are vital investments. They protect your property, your expensive electronics, and your family. If your home is struggling to keep up with modern electrical demands, it is time to consult a professional. Gragg Electrical Services can assess your system and provide the expert solutions needed to power your life safely and reliably.
