We looked into electric radiant mats too, but with our old home's wonky wiring situation, it felt like opening a can of worms. Did you have to upgrade your electrical panel or anything to handle the extra load?
"Did you have to upgrade your electrical panel or anything to handle the extra load?"
We ran into a similar issue with our 1940s bungalow. The wiring was a total mess—honestly surprised it hadn't caused problems sooner. We ended up biting the bullet and upgrading the panel, which wasn't cheap but gave us peace of mind. Plus, it opened up options for other energy-efficient upgrades down the road. Definitely felt like opening that can of worms at first, but looking back, I'm glad we tackled it when we did...
We didn't have to upgrade our panel, but definitely had to reconfigure some circuits. Our house is from the early 60s, and the bathroom wiring was pretty outdated—think single outlet and dim lighting. Ended up running dedicated circuits for heated floors and a new exhaust fan with integrated lighting. It wasn't a huge expense, but it did add a bit to the overall remodel cost. Worth it though, especially for safety and convenience...
"Worth it though, especially for safety and convenience..."
Totally agree with you here. We had a similar situation—1965 ranch house, wiring was sketchy at best. Once we did the bathroom remodel and added dedicated circuits, it felt like a huge relief. It's one of those things you don't fully appreciate until it's done. Costs add up, sure, but peace of mind is priceless...
We went through something similar a few months back...first-time renovators here, and our wiring was basically ancient spaghetti behind the walls. 😅 Honestly, the electrical upgrades ended up being one of the best parts of the remodel. A few thoughts based on our experience:
- Yeah, the costs sneak up fast—especially if you start opening walls and find surprises (hello, mold 🤦♀️). But honestly, the electrical improvements weren't as painful price-wise as we'd expected.
- Peace of mind is definitely underrated. Now when someone plugs in a hairdryer, the lights don't dim ominously. Small wins, right?
- Convenience factor is huge too. Having enough outlets exactly where you need them makes mornings way less chaotic.
All in all, it was a bit stressful at times, but so worth getting it done properly. If you're already knee-deep in renovations, might as well tackle it now rather than later.
