What New Homeowners Should Know About Their Electrical System

You’ve moved into a new home—congratulations. Just like other new homeowners, you’re probably excited about the fresh start.…

05/Jun/2025

You’ve moved into a new home—congratulations. Just like other new homeowners, you’re probably excited about the fresh start. From decorating rooms to exploring the neighborhood, there’s a lot to look forward to. However, not many people give much thought to the electrical system hiding behind their walls until something goes wrong. Your home’s electrical system powers nearly every modern convenience, and understanding its condition is crucial for both safety and functionality.

At Nieves Electric, we are a licensed, insured, and locally owned electrical service company with over 20 years of experience. We pride ourselves on providing a comprehensive range of services, including ceiling fan replacement, electrical wiring, electrical panel replacement, electrical safety inspection, and many more. We believe that homeowners should be informed about their electrical system in order to maintain safety. In today’s blog post, we walk you through some of the essential things homeowners should know about their electrical system.

Our Services

Locate the Electrical Panel

One of the first things you should do is find the electrical panel, also known as the breaker box. This metal box, usually located in a garage, basement, or utility room, controls the power to various circuits in your home. Each breaker is labeled to indicate which area it controls. Knowing how to reset a tripped breaker and safely shut off power in an emergency can save you time and prevent potential hazards.

Understand Your Home’s Electrical Capacity

Today’s households rely on far more electricity than homes built decades ago. If your new home is older, it may not be equipped to handle the demands of modern appliances, high-efficiency HVAC systems, or home office setups. Common signs that your electrical system might be underpowered include frequent breaker trips, flickering lights, and outlets that feel warm to the touch. If you experience any of these, it’s a good idea to have an electrician in Boylston, MA assess whether your panel needs to be upgraded to accommodate increased electrical loads.

Check for Safety Features

Newer homes are built to modern safety standards, but if your home is older or has been remodeled, some elements might not be up to current codes. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets are required in bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor areas. These outlets are designed to shut off power quickly if an imbalance is detected, thereby reducing the risk of shock or fire. Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs), on the other hand, protect against electrical fires caused by arc faults. If your home doesn’t have these safety devices in place, it’s wise to have them installed.

Don’t Ignore Warning Signs

Electrical issues provide subtle warnings before they become major problems. Buzzing sounds from outlets, burning smells, discolored wall plates, and outlets that don’t hold plugs firmly are all warning signs that something’s not right. It’s important to reach out to a professional electrical repair service as soon as you notice these signs—what might seem like a small issue could lead to a dangerous situation if ignored.

Schedule a Professional Inspection

If you're unsure about the condition of your electrical system, the best thing you can do is schedule an inspection with a licensed electrician. They’ll check wiring, outlets, the main panel, and more to ensure everything is safe and up to code. This is especially important if your home is older or if you plan to install energy-hungry appliances or home upgrades.

Call Nieves Electric for Electrical Repair Service

If you’re looking for a licensed electrician to handle electrical repairs in your home or business premises, get in touch with Nieves Electric. Whether it’s a new home or one built decades ago, we have the expertise and experience to offer dependable electrical services. For a free consultation, call us or request service online.

Testimonials

Our Customers Love our Services

This is the dude!! I usually don't write Google reviews, but Nieves Electric just left my house, and it was the first thing I had to do. Professional, courteous, problem solver, teacher, all of it. Had some severe wiring issues. They were committed to solving and figuring out the problem when I'm quite sure most would have walked away. Then charged an extremely reasonable price, which was helpful as I'm on a tight budget with this remodel. Look nowhere else; put your faith in Nieves Electric—the best electricians in Worcester, MA.

Greg Bulmash

Jose and his crew were fantastic. They replaced/upgraded the electrical panel, rewired all knob and tube in my old house and fixed many electrical issues that did not comply with current electrical code requirements. Absolutely great work at a reasonable price. I will definitely use Nieves Electric again and have already recommended them to friends. Thanks Jose!

Mike Cody

Nieves electric did a great job on my electrical service upgrade from 100amps to 200amps. Their team was very professional, on time, completed the project on time. I hired them again to come back to install some recessed lighting. They cleaned up so well as if they were never there.

Henry

Jose and Jennifer were excellent to work with. They were both professional and kept their word. I appreciated how forthcoming they were and I think they gave us a very fair price as well. The quality of their work and the cleanliness on the job site was excellent. I could go on and on but truthfully they just exceeded all my expectations and I will certainly use them again.

Matt Pasceri

Jose is very professional! Outstanding work with his group, arrived on time and started working. They made sure everything is good and functional. Would definitely hired again to work for our bedrooms upstairs electrical outlets. I recommend Jose if anyone is looking for a professional electrician, given the price quote, very reasonable, and truthful about the breakdown cost!!!!!

Sotra Thach

I highly recommend Nieves Electric. I typically do not post recommendations but I would be wrong not to do so considering the outstanding level of service, quality of performance, timliness of response, and economy of cost. I had no prior experience with Nieves but was treated as if I were a long term customer (which I am sure I will be). I honestly could not be happier with my decision to call upon Nieves.

Jack Roy

Very satisfied with the Tesla charger they installed in my garage. Arrived on time and did a very professional job. The cost was truly sensible. Blissful client here. Will highly recommend them as the best electricians in Worcester, MA.

Remy Stolworthy

I found NIEVES ELECTRIC recently installed 14 LED canned lights in my home, with dimmer switch, as well as center lighting in two bedrooms. Almost all required brand new wiring and nieves did a fantastic job! Very impressed! I appreciated his consistent communication throughout the entire process and was very happy that my work was able to be completed within days after receiving the detailed quote! Will definitely use NIEVES ELECTRIC for all my future electrical work, I very happy also very nice customer service , Jenny quick respond Thank you for your hard and clean job !!!

Rene Menjivar

Blog