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The hair dryer routinely trips the breaker and kills power to the second floor. The kitchen lights dim when you run the microwave. The air conditioner can only cool one room at a time on a sweltering night.
You don't have adequate power in your house to support your daily needs; we've all been there. These examples might be nostalgic for some, but if you can relate in your current living situation, you might be stuck at a CORE level 1 power-constrained state.
Beyond the inconvenience and frustration of flickering lights and breaker resets, power-constrained homes face other trouble spots that are less obvious. Aging or overloaded circuits can compound inefficiencies, create system stress, or even pose safety hazards. In today's tech-heavy world, though, the biggest downside of power limitations may just be the lost opportunity to modernize your home.
Also: Stop waiting for an emergency to upgrade your home's tech - there's a better way
You might have looked at new innovative electrical appliances, but are forced to stick with gas because you don't have the power capacity. Perhaps you've even explored a new energy-efficient heat pump or thought about installing a level 2 EV charger, but hit an immediate wall when the electrician warned of the need for a full electrical overhaul.
Fortunately for those willing to tackle this challenge, upgrading your electrical panel doesn't need to feel like an insurmountable task or a purely sunk cost, but rather an investment in your future home life.
Getting over the upgrade hump
An electrical upgrade can certainly be expensive and seem daunting at first. In addition to the equipment and installation labor costs, you might also face an upgrade cost from the local utility for the extra amperage and permitting fees.
Like most things in the home tech world, though, a little bit of foresight goes a long way. If you're power-constrained today, ask yourself – where do I want to be in the future?
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