Home Office Electrical Setup – What You Should Know
More and more people have been starting up home offices ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Since there is a lot of uncertainty regarding when the lockdown will end, most organizations have asked their employees to work from home. Whether you work for a company or for yourself, one thing is for certain – you need to have a comfortable home office to work in.
The last thing anybody wants while working at home is an inconvenience, and unfortunately, this problem is more prevalent than you would think. This is why it is important to have a good home office setup, as it would allow you to work with maximum efficiency and minimum hindrances. If you are new to setting up home offices and are worried that it could be an overwhelming experience, there is no need to worry.
Fortunately, there are plenty of home office designs available these days, and you can find one that’ll match your stylistic preferences.
Home office Setup – More than Style
Contrary to popular belief, there is a lot more to home offices than design and style. Sure, the way your workroom looks is important but you also have to consider other factors like electrical devices, sockets, etc. Setting up your home office’s electrical components can be quite difficult, particularly for those who don’t know how electrical setups work.
Are you one of those people too? If yes, know that your workroom’s electrical setup is arguably the most critical consideration and should be taken seriously. So without further ado, let us discuss essential tips that will help you set up your home office the right way.
Things to Consider for Home Office Electrical Setup
Here is a list of things you must consider to ensure that the electrical setup of your home office is free from faults.
Getting Sufficient Power
When you install equipment like printers, displays, computers etc to your home office, there is a good chance that you will require additional plugs. In many cases, people tend to fix their plugs on a power strip. While this may seem like a good idea at first, it really isn’t. Believe it or not, you can place a significant amount of stress on your power strip, and it could result in unfavorable circumstances.
First off, overloading power strips is a massive fire hazard. The more plugs you fit into the fire strip, the more strain your circuit will have to endure. This can be particularly troublesome for home-based offices, as a lot of individuals tend to plug their wall or room into just one circuit.
When a circuit takes too much look, it can trip your breakers, which is a massive fire hazard. If you think you require more plugs in your office, it would be best to acquire the services of an electrician in Vancouver to get a safe solution.
Power Backup
It’s important to have a backup plan if you plan to work from home. You never know when your electrical system will give up on you, so it is important to be prepared. This is arguably the most critical consideration for your home office and should be high on your list of priorities. Power outages generally happen unexpectedly, especially during winter blizzards or summer storms. These conditions can dent your productivity in more ways than you could imagine.
To ensure that you can meet your boss or client’s deadlines, ensure that you have electricity backup equipment like a generator or UPS (uninterrupted power supply) to support your computer, lights, and various other items. Sure, you may need to pay a hefty upfront price for these items, but it will prove to be a worthy investment down the line, saving you from loads and loads of delays and various other work-related issues.
As most of you may know, an uninterrupted power supply basically provides backup to computers and other similar gadgets. However, it is different from generators in the sense that it only gives you a few minutes of backup for closing programs, saving documents, and shutting your devices off safely. Some UPS models even allow users to continue using their computers for hours.
In case you decide to buy a generator, consider getting a portable variant to make sure you can move it around without any inconvenience. Just make sure that you practice caution when using backup devices to steer clear of danger.
Air Circulation
It would be fair to say that air circulation is just as important as the power required to run your home office setup. This is because you cannot any type of electrical setup without having proper air circulation and ventilation. Electrical items tend to become overheated when you put too much load on them and the only solution to steer clear from this issue is to have proper air circulation in your room.
You’d be surprised to see the amount of damage lack of ventilation can cause to your electronic appliances. In some cases, it can damage them beyond repair. In most cases, people only consider air circulation and ventilation systems if their home offices have large servers. However, if a laptop or desktop PC are a prominent part of your work, ensure that there is plenty of ventilation and air circulation in your room.
You can also take an extra step and install an air conditioner in your room to ensure your electronic appliances remain cool at all times.
Dedicated Circuit
If you plan to work from home for a long period or want to make a permanent office in your home, consider opting for a dedicated circuit for your computer. Doing so will ensure your laptop or PC gets the right amount of power and does not put extra strain on the other circuits in your workroom. What’s more, dedicated circuits can help you prevent common electrical issues like overloaded electric circuits, faulty fuses, tripped breakers, etc.
Don’t Shy Away from Extra Outlets
Traditional home offices use fax machines, printers, air-conditioning systems, lamps, laptops, etc. However, some offices also tend to use additional electrical appliances that need more outlets. In addition, outlets are remarkably safer compared to using things like power boards and extension cords because of the latter’s various hazards.
You should also entertain the idea of attaching extra outlets to your home office’s walls. Other than that, you can connect sockets on the tableside, cabinetry, drawers, sockets, etc to gain easy access to power inside your home office. It is also worth keeping in mind that installing wires inside your house’s offices is quite similar to your workplace’s wiring. No matter where you end up installing the wires and outlets, the process always remains the same and requires the same amount of caution.
Smart Lighting
After getting accessible and safe outlets for your power source, it’s time to focus on your home office’s lighting. It would be best to replace your current lights with LED bulbs to ensure your office is well-lit and has decent brightness. One of the best things about using LED bulbs is that they can significantly reduce your power usage on lighting by forty to fifty percent.
That said, you must also make the most out of natural lighting. You can do this by keeping your table near your home office’s windows or keeping the curtains open during the day. Natural light can significantly reduce the eyestrain that people tend to develop after sitting in front of screens for long periods. All in all, utilizing smart lighting will illuminate your office and minimize your energy bills by tenfold.
Establish an Internet Connection
No matter which industry you work in, having a speedy internet connection is a must. Not having a decent internet connection can cause various inconveniences like late downloads, slow online conversations, untimely delivery of files, etc. It will significantly lower your productivity and efficiency during and even after work hours.
Acquiring the services of a licensed electrician in Vancouver could help you install data cabling or Ethernet the right way. The Ethernet hardwired to your office can provide you with a quicker connection compared to Wi-Fi. However, if you do not like the clutter caused by cables, you can take advantage of a network router.
Safety Switches are a Must Have
No matter how durable and reliable your electrical equipment is, it can always be vulnerable to the problems caused by power surges and similar issues. This is why, it would be best to install as many safety switches as you can, offering your gadgets maximum protection. Remember, the more outlets you have with devices plugged in, the higher the energy load will be.
Installing safety switches is an excellent way to shut your system off in order to steer clear of danger to your office or home space.
Temperature Matters
As we discussed earlier, it is vital to set up a suitable environment for your electronic equipment and yourself to work in complete comfort. Doing so will tremendously improve your efficiency, helping you complete work without wasting too much time. Getting a dedicated heating and cooling system is an excellent way to maintain ideal temperatures for your room during all seasons. Once again, you may need to pay a massive upfront cost for this, but it will prove to be an excellent decision down the line.
Home Office Electrical Setup – The Dos and Don’ts
If you are working remotely, there is a good chance that you have gained a variety of communications and office equipment. Unfortunately, though, most houses are not made for drawing loads and loads of power from regular electrical outlets. So, if you plan to use multiple electronic types of equipment in your home office, upgrading your house’s outlets and wiring would be a good idea.
Mentioned below is a list of do’s and don’ts that discuss how you can reduce your electrical load and keep your electrical devices safe.
The Do’s
Examine
If you are planning to change or readjust your electrical wiring, consider examining it thoroughly before implementing the change. Taking a comprehensive look at your home office’s wiring can save you from various time-consuming inconveniences, making sure your room can handle multiple electrical devices with ease.
Map things Out
Once again, being proactive is essential for any home office setup. Mapping your room out will help you determine the right areas to keep your electrical devices, furniture, and several other things. When going through your room’s electrical system, take a look at where the current outlets are placed and where you intend to install the new ones.
Hire an Experienced Electrician
While the idea of fixing your home office’s electrical setup does seem enticing and could save you some money, it would be best to leave this work to the electrician. This is because an experienced electrician in Vancouver looks at things with great attention to detail, making sure your setup is free from faults. What’s more, an electrician worth his salt can also offer you excellent recommendations like getting a USB plug or a duplex receptacle for your workstation.
These experts can also take a detailed look at your breakers and panels to determine if they require any repairs. In some cases, people need to upgrade their entire panel and wiring for accommodating their electrical devices.
Change Up Your Lighting
In case your house does not get a sufficient amount of natural lighting, or if you are using traditional lamps, you may want to change things up. Consider getting overhead lights as you will not need to hardwire them to an outlet. What’s more, these types of lights are excellent for saving table and desk space.
Take Advantage of Energy Efficient Equipment
You’d be surprised to see the incredible amount of money you can save simply by using energy-efficient electrical devices. It will take a lot of strain off your house’s electrical grid while keeping your bills on the lower side. When looking for electrical equipment for your office, try choosing the ones with Energy Star labels. Alternatively, you can examine the product specifications to gauge the amount of electricity the equipment uses.
Battery Operated Equipment Comes In Handy
You will not need a truckload of outlets if most of your devices are battery-operated. Consider opting for electrical devices that have lengthy battery life to make sure you do not have to worry about using a multitude of outlets to charge your items.
The Don’ts
When it comes to the matters of electricity, you should not take chances with your safety, thinking you don’t need any electrical upgrades. It is a common mistake made by thousands of house owners and only results in a messy situation down the line. Here is a list of things you should consider avoiding when working on your home office’s electrical setup.
Extension Cords are a Big No-No
While extension cords are quite convenient short-term solutions, using them for the long term would not be a wise choice. This is especially true for computers and any equipment that draws an excessive amount of current. Sure, you can use these cords for a short period if you have to work on something urgent, but relying on them for the long run would not be a good idea.
Forgetting to Upgrade Your Outlets
A common mistake that a lot of homeowners tend to make is that they forget upgrading their or replacing their old outlets. There are plenty of options available these days like USB sockets or duplex receptacles, and they have come with updated safety features.
Surge Protectors are not reliable
Too much reliance on surge protectors is never a wise choice. This is especially true for surge protectors that have more than one port, as they put a lot of strain on your outlets, particularly if your surge protector is large. If you do end up using this equipment, consider limiting it to the number of items you have plugged into a single outlet.
Don’t Adjust Your Electrical Panel by Yourself
If your circuit breakers tend to trip regularly, there is a good chance that you will need to replace it with a bigger one. In most cases, a tripping breaker means that your electrical system is bearing more load than it should. As mentioned before, things like these are best left to electricians as they can analyze and update your panel, making sure it is up to code and safe.
Updating your office’s electrical setup will make things comfortable and convenient for you while improving your productivity in the process. You will not have to worry about things like sparks and shorts, a problem that many people face. Once you optimize your working environment and electrical according to your job, working from home will become a walk in the park.