Page 515 - 2018 National Home Improvement

2018 National Home Improvement Estimator, All Rights Reserved Page 410

Unfortunately, the amperage that can be delivered to loads in the house is determined by the smallest
number among these three identifiers.

If the ampacity available isn’t enough to carry the planned loads for your home improvement, you’ll need
a new service panel, and possibly a larger service drop from the electric company. If there’s nothing
wrong with the existing electrical system, you can just leave it in place. Then upgrade by adding more
circuits and outlets and the new electrical service panel. Most building departments will allow
non-electricians to do minor work, such as adding an outlet or switch, but a licensed electrician will be
required for service upgrades. An electrician will be able to calculate what size panel you’ll need to
install. While doing that math, he can also figure the most efficient way to run circuits to new light
fixtures, appliances and outlets. If you’re not a licensed electrician, this is a job you’ll have to sub out.

Licensing and Code Compliance
Electrical wiring can be dangerous, and a poorly-wired home is a fire hazard. Because of this,
electricians have to be licensed and all their work must be done in compliance with the National
Electrical Code (NEC). Unfortunately, this isn’t the last word on code compliance issues. Your electrical
contractor will apply at the building department for a permit that covers the new work. That’s easy
enough. But the building department may require more. It’s very unlikely that the existing electrical
system in an older home complies with the current NEC standards. The question then becomes, how
much of the old electrical system has to be brought up to code before the building inspector will sign off
on the new work? If you’re doing an extensive upgrade, the building department may require that you
bring all the existing work up to meet current code requirements. This may involve more expense than
the owner is willing, or able, to manage. And that’s your best argument if you need to negotiate this
issue with the building department. Too many requirements and nothing will get done – that benefits no
one.

Resist the temptation to do major electrical work without a permit. You won’t find a licensed electrician
eager to bid on work like that, and a reputable home improvement contractor won’t rely on an unlicensed
electrician. A bootleg electrical job will make it hard for the owner to sell the home without first making
the required code improvements. It’s better for everyone to negotiate a fair compromise with the building
official, use a professional electrician and get the job signed off by a building inspector.

The Service Upgrade
The exterior portion of a service upgrade consists of replacing the meter, main service panel and the
wire that connects the meter to the power grid. The lines up to the service drop belong to the utility
company. The utility will probably have to do any work required on the service drop, but the homeowner
will have to pay for the drop itself and the meter.