The Peacock Post
Dave's Power House Hacks!
Dave Peacock, Owner
Ever wonder about ways to improve the electrical within your home? Such as a light fixture in a location where there isn't one, or wished you had more outlets, but didn't know what it would take or how much it would cost? It might surprise you how easy and how cost effective these improvements can be! Working as an electrician in the Valley for several years now, I've come across some techniques to easily add small electrical improvements that can drastically affect the value of your home, as well as your quality of life!
If you live in a recently built home in the metro Phoenix area you will most likely find that every room with a ceiling fan has an extra switch on the wall that does nothing. There are actually two separate power lines that run to your ceiling fan. Home builders run two power lines so that the light on the fan and the fan itself could be operated independently of each other. Now with the popularity of remote controlling ceiling fans, most newer models only require one powerline, leaving a spare to be used elsewhere! If you ever wanted to add recessed lighting in that room, or if your room is large enough for an additional ceiling fan, the independently switched power is already installed! This reduces the cost of those projects drastically, and in most cases can be done without any damage to your drywall.
Have you wanted an outlet somewhere in your home where there isn't one? You should check the other side of the wall! Why you ask? When I started as an electrician this was one of the first things they taught us to do because it is so simple! You can easily cut in an electrical box opposite of an existing outlet and jump the power from that, again with little to no damage to your drywall. This is also how you can add an outlet outside (it just needs to be a GFCI outlet - the one with the buttons on it). Whether it's to add an outlet in your closet, to plug in a vacuum, or to have an outlet outside for holiday lighting, the opportunities are unlimited! Just note most large appliances require a dedicated circuit to be installed.
One of the frustrations I hear from homeowners is that their kitchen isn't bright enough. Clients are always surprised how inexpensive and effective it can be to add undercabinet lighting! Low Voltage lighting is an option where the wiring and devices can be hidden from sight while in an exposed area. All you need is a step-down transformer which can be hidden in the pantry or on top of a cabinet offering discreet but bright lighting. This small improvement can make it so much easier for cooking and can also be installed on top of shelves or tall cabinets to shine on decorations and/or memorabilia. For a small price you can elevate your home and give it a custom home feel.
Have any of these Power House Hacks intrigued you? Is your home too dim or lacking in outlets? Call or text (602) 730-4797 today with any questions or to schedule a FREE ESTIMATE!