Are you planning to remodel your kitchen or are in the process of doing so? Be sure that you leave room in your budget for proper electrical work. It is extremely important to not overlook the electrical requirements needed to keep your kitchen up to code and those that will also keep you safe and keep your kitchen running efficiently.
The best way to ensure that your kitchen remodel is electrically sound is through the expertise of an experienced and licensed Fort Collins electrician. Whether you are completely gutting and rebuilding or simply updating appliances, the help of a professional electrician will help you cook up the most power for your kitchen.
Do I Really Need to Hire an Electrician?
Renovating a kitchen is a big undertaking that should be done carefully and mindfully in order to ensure that it is done right. If proper electrical requirements are not followed, you could put both yourself and your family at risk of injury or death from electrocution. You could also put your home at risk from electrical fire. A trusted and professional electrician has the knowledge and experience needed to check that adequate safety precautions are in place, assuring safety while the job is being done, continued safety long after the work is finished, and efficiency in the electrical needs of your kitchen.
Common Electrical Work Needed in a Kitchen Renovation
Some of the most common electrical work for a kitchen renovation can include:
- Updating or moving wiring
- Moving or adding outlets
- Upgrading circuit breakers
- Installing independent circuits and wiring for appliances
- Ensuring required amperage for fixtures and appliances
- Ensuring adequate distance between outlets and circuits
- Coordinating cabling for Internet, cable, telephone and more
- Ensuring all electrical work is up to code for the area you live in
- Installing required AFCI and GFCI protection
Hiring an electrician will guarantee that the wiring and outlets needed to run your refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher and lighting all work, but it also ensures that wiring will be protected when its used in order to protect your home.
The Importance of AFCI Protection
The National Electrical Code (NEC) requires arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) and ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) for certain electrical circuits in your home, including the kitchen. GFCI outlets protect people from electrical shock by monitoring the amount of electricity being transmitted to the device and cutting power whenever it detects an imbalance in the electrical current. GFCI will cut power to an individual outlet and keep you from getting shocked.
AFCI, however, cuts power to the wiring in order to prevent it from sparking or catching on fire. AFCIs detect arc faults, minimizing electrical dangers, reducing risk of electrical fire, and protecting circuit wiring. Typical circuit breakers will catch an electrical overload or short circuit, but an AFCI circuit breaker uses advanced technology to identify abnormal arcing conditions and shut down a circuit before hazardous damage can occur. AFCI’s are installed into the main service panel, while GFCI’s are installed within an outlet.
GFCI is important to protect people from electrocution, but AFCI is just as important in order to prevent the damage and hazard of an electrical fire. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, installing AFCIs into your home’s electrical system, including in the kitchen, could prevent more than 50 percent of electrical fires. Even if you are protected with a GFCI, it is extremely recommended to extend the level of protection down to the wire.
The kitchen is an area of the home that demands a higher amount of electricity in order to run large and small appliances, lighting and more. The increased demand of electricity can also increase the risk of arcing. The work performed during a kitchen renovation can also increase the risk of electrical current being interrupted or affected. With AFCI protection in place, you ensure that both you and your wiring are protected from the danger of an electrical fire.
During a kitchen remodel, you may be tempted to cut costs where you can in order to stay in budget. But be sure that you invest in professional electrical services to ensure that your wiring, home and those you love are protected so that you are able to enjoy your new kitchen for years to come. Be aware of myths around the topic of AFCI.
For more information about AFCI protection or to schedule an appointment for AFCI installation in your home, contact Peterson Electric today at (970) 599-1872.
