A Homeowner’s Guide from Smiley Electric
Portland’s homes come in all shapes and ages—from newly built townhomes to charming 1940s bungalows in neighborhoods like Sellwood, Alberta Arts, and Multnomah Village. But whether your home is brand-new or decades old, one thing remains true across the Portland metro: electrical systems must evolve to keep up with today’s power demands.
At Smiley Electric, we help homeowners in Portland, Beaverton, Tigard, and Hillsboro modernize their electrical systems for better safety, efficiency, and long-term reliability. After thousands of service calls and upgrades, these are the top five improvements we recommend for most homes.
Electrical Panel Upgrade
If your home still runs on an outdated fuse box or a small 60–100 amp panel, your electrical system may be operating at its limit. Modern homes need more capacity than ever due to EV chargers, HVAC systems, larger appliances, and home offices.
An electrical panel upgrade provides:
- More capacity for remodeling and new appliances
- Safe, dedicated circuits for high-demand systems
- Reduced risk of overloaded wiring and electrical fires
- Compatibility with EV charging and solar systems
A panel upgrade is one of the most valuable long-term investments for any Portland home—especially older homes in NE and SE Portland.
- More capacity for remodeling and new appliances
Whole-Home Surge Protection
Portland’s winter storms and grid fluctuations can cause power surges strong enough to damage electronics, appliances, and heating/cooling equipment. Plug-in surge strips offer limited protection—but whole-home surge protection safeguards your entire electrical system at once.
Benefits include:
- Protection for every outlet in the home
- Prevention of costly replacements for TVs, computers, refrigerators, HVAC systems, and more
- Long-term reliability and peace of mind
This upgrade often pays for itself the very first time it protects your home from a surge.
GFCI & AFCI Breaker Upgrades
Older Portland homes may still rely on outdated wiring without the safety protections required in modern electrical codes.
- GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) breakers protect against electrical shock in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor spaces.
- AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) breakers help prevent electrical fires caused by damaged or aging wiring hidden inside walls.
Together, these two upgrades dramatically improve home safety and reduce fire risk—especially in pre-1980 homes.
LED Lighting Retrofits
Lighting accounts for a large portion of residential power consumption. Upgrading to LED lighting is one of the simplest, most cost-effective improvements you can make.
Benefits include:
- Up to 70% lower energy usage
- Bright, customizable lighting color (warm, daylight, cool)
- Bulbs that last years longer
- Instant improvement in home comfort
LED retrofits also boost resale appeal and modernize any living space.
EV Charger Installation
More Portland homeowners are driving Teslas, Rivians, Chevy Bolts, Porsche Taycans, and other electric vehicles every year. While a standard outlet works in emergencies, it’s too slow for everyday use.
A dedicated Level 2 EV charger provides:
- 4–7x faster charging
- Convenience for daily commuting
- Better compatibility with large-battery EVs
- Increased home value for future buyers
Smiley Electric helps homeowners determine whether their panel needs an upgrade, handles permits, and installs EV chargers the right way—safe, clean, and code-compliant.
Smiley Electric makes it simple to modernize your home’s electrical system. Whether you need a panel upgrade, surge protection, safety breakers, new lighting, or an EV charger, our licensed and insured electricians deliver reliable results backed by 5-star service.