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Pre-War Apartment Electrical Upgrades: Practical Solutions to Aesthetic Issues

If you own an older apartment building in New York City, you may have put off updates to the electrical system because of a few daunting hurdles. However, a pre-war apartment electrical upgrade doesn’t have to be a nightmare job, and modernizing your power supply will have multiple benefits.

Let’s take a look at why so many city properties still need updated electrical systems and how we at Bolt Electric handle common problems, especially aesthetic concerns.

Why Many New York City Apartment Buildings Need Electrical Upgrades

Keeping up with modern power needs

When electricity was first introduced in New York City, residents had minimal power supply needs. Electrical lines were used mostly to power lamps and refrigerators. In the 1950s, many people added clothes washers and television sets, but the draw on electrical systems was still fairly reasonable.

Fast forward to 2022, when most apartment dwellers’ homes are full of electronic devices, such as entertainment systems, clothes dryers, dishwashers, computers, air conditioners, and small kitchen appliances. Many supplement steam radiator heat with portable electric heaters.

The need for increased current and more convenient access to electrical power is greater than ever.

In spite of these high needs, many city apartment buildings are still relying on old wiring systems and inadequate power supply. Property owners have resisted upgrading because of the anticipated cost, the inconvenience, and the belief that updating their electrical systems may lead to unattractive changes to their units.

The failure to upgrade electrical systems has resulted in inconvenience for tenants, owners, and managers, due to lack of sufficient outlets, power outages (tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses), dim or flickering lights, and even dangerous electrical fires. Many building occupants are not able to use the appliances they prefer. They wind up with too many power strips instead of having outlets where they need them.

Problems and Solutions When Upgrading Pre-War Electrical Service

Upgrading the electrical panel

While it’s not an aesthetic worry, it’s worth noting that your building’s electrical panel will likely need to be updated first. It functions a bit like a giant surge protector, cutting power when circuits are overloaded or wires overheat. As well as being inadequate for contemporary electrical needs, your panel may not be able to be serviced due to unavailable parts. We also occasionally find panels that have been recalled since their original installation.

Sometimes, this also entails updating the power supply at the street level where it enters the property, including updating the transformer. We work with our clients to help coordinate with Con Edison if this is needed.

Before we make the upgrades to the building’s overall electrical supply and the circuit panel, we first assess two vital things:

• Present electrical capability
• Electrical load

The electrical load is the demand placed on your power supply during peak hours, such as the time immediately after work when everyone has their lights on, runs their appliances, and places more demand on air conditioners. We want your electrical capability to match–or better yet, slightly exceed–the load your tenants put on it.

Switching from 110 to 220 voltage

Most pre-war apartment buildings are still using old 100-volt outlets, which limits what can be plugged into them. Tenants may not be able to utilize 220-volt appliances, or they might not even have proper three-prong outlets with an electrical ground for safety.

Although upgrading to 220-volt service doesn’t seem like it would have an aesthetic benefit, it actually does. When you have the right outlets and more of them, you can install newer, more attractive appliances. Heavy-duty appliances, like clothes washers, can get their own dedicated circuit.

Tenants can get rid of “cheater plugs” that convert two-prong outlets to three-prong ones, which improves safety. They can do away with a snake’s nest of cords all running to one power strip, which looks unappealing and makes homes look outdated. You want the classic look of the high ceilings and architectural details of a pre-war building without the negative side effects of poor infrastructure when luring new high-end tenants.

Drilling into thick walls and floors

There’s little doubt your wiring will also need to be upgraded to accommodate more electrical supply, improved outlets, new switches, and other updates.

In some cases, the wires themselves are hazardous and need to be replaced. For example, if they are single-strand narrow diameter wires, or if the insulation is disintegrating. The major impediment here is drilling through poured plaster walls and 12-inch thick floors. The same thing that makes pre-war buildings so sturdy and well insulated makes rewiring challenging.

To get around this issue, we avoid drilling whenever possible. Instead, we run wires along the exterior of walls and up stairways, using baseboards, moldings, and similar coverings that disguise the wires and blend seamlessly into the apartment’s decor. There are multiple options available these days to suit this purpose, with the style of older buildings in mind.

Central air conditioning or window AC units

If you find window air conditioning units jutting from the facade of your apartment building to be less beautiful than you’d like, you’re not alone. This is one of those topics that straddles aesthetic and practical concerns. It may not be feasible to switch to central air conditioning, and this should be discussed with an HVAC specialist.

But if you wish to make the change while you’re doing a big renovation, the time to do it is when you also upgrade your electrical system. Window air conditioning units add a considerable energy load to your electrical supply, and this should be weighed against central AC and how tenants are billed for utilities.

Other Considerations When Updating Your Property’s Electrical System

Making the most of your upgrades

Speaking of utility billing, upgrading your electrical system is the opportune time to switch to electrical submetering, where each tenant pays for their own electrical use. New smart meters make submetering even easier, as tenants can monitor their power use online and make changes as needed to save money and reduce energy consumption.

Renovations and remodels are also the perfect time to consider switching to more energy-efficient lighting, such as:

• LED light bulbs
• Automatic light switches in public areas
• Photocell fixtures in outdoor areas, like gardens

Going green can help when it comes to funding your electrical improvements if these are coming out of your own pocket and not passed on to tenants or a co-op organization. You want to be sure to look into current energy initiatives from the city and the state, as well as any tax rebates you qualify for.

Together with long-term savings from an upgraded electrical system, these savings may make the cost of your improvements more affordable than you thought.

If you’re ready to start a conversation about your pre-war apartment electrical upgrade, we’re happy to set up a consultation appointment with you. Call Bolt Electric at 212-434-0098, or use our online form to let us know how we can help.