I’ve definitely been called back on jobs where the client wished they’d added a 20A circuit or two for tools or a second fridge. Here’s what I’ve noticed:
- Most folks underestimate how much stuff they’ll eventually plug in. That “just lights and a mower” thing turns into a freezer, EV charger, or big air compressor down the line.
- Running extra conduit is cheap when you’re already trenching, but a pain later.
- On resale, it’s rarely a dealbreaker, but buyers like seeing some future-ready wiring.
I do get why people don’t want to go overboard, though. There’s a sweet spot—enough capacity for what you might actually use, not a full-on server farm.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve kicked myself for not running an extra line when I had the trench open—just never seems like you’ll need it until you do. Planning for “future you” is always a bit of a gamble, but it usually pays off.
Man, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been halfway through a job and thought, “Should I just run another conduit while I’m at it?” Nine times outta ten, the answer should’ve been yes. It’s wild how you think you’ll never need more than a couple outlets or a single circuit, and then a few years down the road you’re standing in your garage with a new table saw or EV charger and nowhere to plug it in.
I get that it feels like overkill when you’re staring at that open trench, but honestly, future-you is usually way more demanding than present-you expects. I’ve seen folks try to fish new lines through packed conduits or dig up their yard again just because they didn’t want to “waste” a little extra wire the first time. Not fun.
But hey, sometimes you just don’t know what you’ll want later. I had one guy who swore he’d never need more than lights and a garage door opener—now he’s got a full-blown woodworking shop out there. Go figure.
Couldn’t agree more about future-you being a lot more demanding. Here’s what I’ve learned after a few too many “why didn’t I just do it then?” moments:
- Running an extra conduit or upsizing the one you’re already putting in is almost always worth it. The cost difference is peanuts compared to the hassle of digging again.
- Even if you don’t pull extra wire right away, just having the empty conduit there is a lifesaver down the road.
- I’d add: think about low voltage too. Ethernet, security cameras, whatever. It’s way easier to drop a Cat6 or two while you’re at it than try to fish it later.
- One thing I see people skip is planning for 240V. You might not have a big tool now, but who knows? EV chargers, welders, compressors... they all want more juice.
I get that it feels like overkill when you’re staring at the bill or that trench, but honestly, every time I’ve cheaped out or tried to “just get by,” I’ve regretted it. Only exception—if you know for sure you’ll never need more (like, really sure), maybe save the cash. But most folks aren’t that psychic.
I get the logic behind upsizing conduit and planning for every possible future gadget, but sometimes it can be a bit much. Not everyone ends up needing all that extra capacity. I’ve seen folks spend a lot upfront and never use half of it. There’s something to be said for designing around what you actually want now, then making it look intentional—if you do need to add later, sometimes a clever design solution can hide the messier upgrades. It’s not always ideal, but it keeps things from feeling overbuilt or cluttered in the meantime.