Whether you’ve lived in your custom home for a while or you’re just moving in, you’ll have to remember that maintaining those “hidden” systems in your home is necessary. In fact, if you want your home to continue to be as safe and comfortable to live in as it is now, you need to take care of the hidden, structural, boring parts of your home as well as the décor and appearance. 

Not only is maintenance of these unappealing systems a necessity, but new developments and advances take place all the time in the plumbing, HVAC and electrical fields, which means your current systems will eventually be out-of-date.

Electric Upgrades that Add to Energy Efficiency 

If there’s one inanimate object that you can genuinely say you love, it’s your home – right? If you take care of its roof, floor, walls and all the hidden systems that make it tick, it’ll love you right back. 

When you’re listing systems that you need to maintain regularly, don’t forget about the electrical system and wiring inside your walls. What was installed by the electrician when your home was first built was current then—but it’s a sure bet that, in 15, 20 or even 25 years from now, your wiring will be seriously out-of-date. 

Bringing your home into compliance with current or new requirements may mean that, after a whole-home assessment, a wiring upgrade is required. The reason for this is simple: changes in the technology we use. The wiring required by building codes today is ideal for the appliances and electronics we use: our washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, computers, HDTVs, routers and modems. 

The wiring that may have been installed twenty years ago cannot cope with the load requirements, and that can be frustrating or dangerous. 

Rewiring your home may also be an idea if you notice a drop in efficiency, or if you want to improve the energy efficiency of your home in general. 

When an Electric Upgrade Makes Your Home Safer

How many times in the past year have you blown fuses? Seen your lights flickering? Smelled an electric burning smell? All of these mean you’re overloading your home’s electrical system—you may need an upgrade for all those new electronics. 

Hire a professional, licensed and certified electrician to inspect your wiring if you notice any of those things! Bad electrical is a safety risk, and bad electrical repairs are an even bigger one! 

Upgrading Your HVAC 

If sitting in your home on a summer’s day feels like a trip to the sauna, even with the AC running, then it’s probably time to upgrade the HVAC system. 

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, and it’s like the lungs of your house. Over time, ducts get clogged, valves and switches lose their calibration, and everything starts feeling a little less pleasant in your home. Even worse, badly maintained HVAC systems can harbor diseases, and are responsible (at least in part) for what is known as “sick building syndrome.” 

If you’ve noticed anything strange happening with your HVAC, it’s best to hire a professional to assess the problem and offer a cost effective, safe solution that will give you the best long term results. 

Is There Anything You Can Tackle On Your Own?

Sure! If you spot a water leak inside or outside your house, replace the washers. If you have the skill, replace faucets. That’s it. Beyond that, stick to the painting, upgrading your flooring and changing your landscaping. 

You don’t want to try to tackle jobs and processes for which you don’t have the knowledge, tools or skills. Even though you’ll pay some money, you’d pay out a lot more if you did something wrong or got hurt.