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What Does it Cost to Update an Old Electrical System?

21 Jan 2021 Licensed Electrician

If you live in an older home or are buying an old building, it is worth having an electrician take a look at your electrical system to make sure that it is safe and efficient. Old electrical systems can pose a variety of problems. Many types of old electrical systems are unsafe and could start electrical fires in your home or business. Even if the system is safe to use, it is likely to end up costing you more money to use it due to inefficient and outdated materials. Old electrical systems also cost more to insure when insurance policies are even available for them. For this reason, it is important to know what it costs to update an old electrical system and talk to an experienced electrician who offers services in electrical system assessment and replacement, like the ones at BNR Electric.

What Do Electrical System Updates Cost?

There are a variety of factors that affect what an electrical system upgrade costs. If you need an electrical system upgrade, make sure that you talk to a licensed electrician to get an assessment started on what the cost of the job will be for your specific circumstances. Some of the particulars that will factor into the cost of an electrical system update include:

Scope of Project

In many cases, it is not necessary to upgrade the entire electrical system. Many buildings have had work done recently that helps to limit the scope of the project being done, while others might be old enough to require a complete electrical system replacement. Some of the factors that determine the scope of the work required in an electrical upgrade include but are not limited to:

  • Whether the building has a switchboard that operates off of fuses or breakers
  • The type and age of wiring
  • How the building was constructed
  • How old the fixtures are
  • Size of the building

New Fixtures Needed

If your home or business needs new fixtures as part of the electrical system update, this can greatly affect the cost of your project. Outlets, switches, light fixtures and more will often need to be replaced as part of an update. Even if they do not need to be replaced, this can be an excellent opportunity to update your building’s aesthetic and functionality.

Permits and Location

The permits needed to update your building’s electrical system will depend on where it is located. Permit costs are usually fairly affordable, but this will factor into the overall cost of the project.

If you would like to learn more about what it costs to update an old electrical system, or to find out about the services we offer at BNR Electric, please contact our team so that we can answer your questions.