How Electricity Demand Has Shifted in the Modern Home

As technology advances and we invent more new and amazing household gadgets, it has a side-effect – the electricity demands placed on your home in Southwestern Ontario change and increase.

How has electricity consumption increased over time, what effect does it have, and what can be done about it?

Our blog explores these new frontiers in electricity and your home.

The Power Demands of a Modern Home

Even as we continue to make our appliances more efficient, adding more appliances and other things that consume electricity means the total power demand on an average home gets heavier every year. Computers, chargers, smart appliances – all these small draws can start adding up.

One of the biggest modern draws of electricity is the electric vehicle. Charging your electric vehicle at home can place a big burden on the circuit even if it is much more convenient than the alternative of fossil fuels.

Another modern convenience that demands a lot of power from your system is electrical heating. Electrical heaters are often inefficient and can draw huge amounts of power. If your home’s electrical circuits aren’t equipped to deal with this, it can cause your circuit breakers to trip constantly.

That demand also extends to air conditioners in the summer, so you can’t necessarily count on seasonality to ease the stress on your wiring.

Keeping Up with Demand – Upgrading Home Electrical Systems

Upgrading your home’s electrical circuits is a big renovation. However, you may find it absolutely worth it if your home’s system is out-of-date.

Why Should You Upgrade?

As previously mentioned, excessive electricity consumption from various household items can overload your electrical system and cause the circuit breaker to trip. This safety feature is perfectly normal, of course, but if you find you constantly need to reset the breaker, it means your circuits are not able to handle the demand you’re placing on them. An upgrade to your home’s electrical system can relieve this stress and mean you don’t have to constantly run to the breaker panel.

Older wiring can also overheat due to the excessive electricity flowing through it, which can lead to an increased risk of fire. Especially since older wiring can be worn out and frayed, an upgrade can be a necessary safety precaution for you and your family.

Another factor to consider is the number of outlets in your home. Older homes, which were built with fewer plug-in appliances in mind, are likely to have fewer outlets available. How are you supposed to plug in your phone charger, computer system, monitor, desk lamp, and speaker system all in one outlet? You could use an outlet extender, but then you’re simply replicating the problem of demand on a single circuit. Adding more outlets in an upgrade is the better solution.

Call the Professionals for an Electrical Upgrade Today

At Aire One Heating & Cooling KW, we provide professional electrical services for homes in Southwestern Ontario. Whether you’re looking for a panel upgrade to meet the demands of modern electricity consumption or you want a whole new wiring system in your home, we’re the pros you can trust!

Contact us today to request a quote in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Stratford and Woodstock.