When you think about hiring an electrician, you’re probably thinking about maintenance or basic jobs, like installing a ceiling fan or fixing a busted circuit breaker. But many high-end jobs requiring an electrician can seriously boost your comfort and enjoyment of your home. Here are four simple paths to better living through electricity:
- 1. Install home automation
Smart home technology lets you use your voice or tap your phone to activate your home’s essential systems, such as lights, HVAC and televisions. But smart home systems get, well, smarter with every passing year and continue to integrate more and more functions. Even your shades can be pulled up automatically, and apps allow you to monitor energy consumption in real time to increase efficiency. “Before long, smart homes will be able to encompass virtually every aspect of our lives,” says Angi Interior Home Expert Rachel Zepernick. “They can save time and increase efficiency in ways you might not have even thought of yet.”
Talk to an electrician specializing in home automation to find your options. Installation labor cost on home automation averages $800.
Are you a movie buff, or just love the idea of bingeing your favorite Netflix series on the big screen? That 70-inch television is a great start, but to re-create the entire movie theater experience, hire a pro to install a booming surround-sound system with hidden wires that makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action. The electrical labor for this task will cost between $200 and $800.
“The sky’s the limit when you install a home theater,” Zepernick says. “You can install something small for your family or really splurge on a larger setup suitable for entertaining. Look for an electrician specializing in this kind of work so that they can handle the specific details.”
And of course, once you’ve installed the audio-visual system, you can focus on luxuries like theater-style seating and recliners. Talk to a furniture pro to find out your options. The total theater experience at home costs an average of $17,000.
- 3. Generate your own power
You can lower your power bills and improve your environmental footprint by installing solar or wind-based systems. Depending on the size of the installation, renewable energy can fulfill some, most or all your energy needs.
Such systems represent a significant investment — between $18,000 and $34,000 in most cases. However, residential renewable energy can also claim a generous tax credit if you hurry. Systems installed in 2022 can receive a 26 percent tax credit, which drops to 22 percent in 2023. This credit expires at the end of next year.
“If you’re thinking of installing renewable energy, you’re leaving money on the table if you wait until after 2023 to do it,” says Angi Exterior Home Expert Scott Reid. “State and local tax credits are also available, so talk to a tax pro to find out what’s available to you.”
- 4. Upgrade surge protection
Your circuit breaker provides protection for your house against most surges. However, a serious burst of energy — such as a lightning strike on your home — can overwhelm the panel and devastate your wiring and appliances, causing thousands of dollars (or more) in damage. A surge protection power strip offers a bit more protection, but not much. For the best shield against fried electronics, consider a whole-house surge protector on your electrical panel. They cost around $300 to install but provide peace of mind against major power spikes.
