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When you’re building a new garage, don’t just think about what needs power on move-in day. Planning your new garage electrical wiring around how you’ll use the space now and in the future can help prevent expensive changes later.
The garage is one of the most commonly underestimated electrical areas in a new home. Homeowners often think about lighting, garage door openers, and a few outlets, but may not consider how the space will be used over time. A little planning during construction can make the garage much more functional later.
Your garage electrical system also needs to meet applicable electrical code requirements. Depending on the garage and how you plan to use it, this can affect required receptacles, circuit capacity, GFCI protection, lighting, and other aspects of the installation. Your electrician can determine which requirements apply to your project and incorporate them into the electrical plan.
Consider What the Garage Will Be Used For
It’s important that your electrician knows what tools, equipment, and appliances you intend to use so they can make sure your home’s electrical service and panel have enough capacity for the garage and any larger loads you may add.
Receptacles
You need to think about how you’ll use receptacles when planning your garage electrical wiring, rather than simply placing them wherever they fit on the electrical plan.
If you’re building a workbench, consider the tools and equipment you use and where you want them to sit. Account for shelving and cabinets too. Relying on extensions cords that stretch across the garage because the nearest outlet is on the other side of the room is counterproductive.
Plan your electrical system around potential work zones and the larger appliances you plan to keep in the garage.
Make a list of the equipment you use and give that to your electrician so they can install the correct outlets where they’re needed and at the appropriate height. While some equipment may be fine on general-purpose receptacle circuits, others need a dedicated circuit due to the load.
Lighting
A garage doesn’t need to be brightly lit everywhere just for the sake of being bright. Basic overhead lighting may be sufficient if your garage is only going to function as a storage space. However, if you’re using it as a workshop, you’ll need to ensure that it’s properly lit.
You can have plenty of light in the center of the garage and still have a poorly lit work surface if the fixture placement doesn’t account for where you’ll stand and where you’ll work.
Lighting should also be considered separately from the equipment you’ll be running. You don’t want a tripped tool circuit to leave you standing in the dark while you’re working. Planning lighting and receptacles together gives you a much more functional space.
Heating
If you spend a lot of time in the garage, an electrical heater can make a huge difference, especially in winter.
An electric unit heater’s requirements can affect circuit planning and the overall electrical load of the garage. You don’t have to install one immediately, but if you know you want one, planning for it while the walls are open is much easier than adding the necessary electrical work later.
Garage Door Openers
Different styles of garage door openers can require power in different locations, so don’t assume the receptacle will be in the same place for every opener. If you haven’t selected an opener yet, let your electrician know. They can plan the electrical installation with the opener location and requirements in mind.
Think About Refrigerators and Freezers
While a refrigerator or freezer may not seem like a major electrical consideration, they’re still worth planning around. Identifying their locations during the rough-in allows your electrician to plan the receptacles and circuits around them.
This also prevents the common problem of putting the only convenient receptacle behind a large appliance.
Leave Room for the Garage to Evolve
Future-proofing means planning your garage’s electrical system so there is enough capacity and a practical way to add equipment later. It also means thinking about how the space may change over time and leaving yourself enough flexibility to rearrange work areas as your needs change.
EV Potential
If you’re planning to own an EV, consider where you’ll park it and whether you’ll want an EV charger installed in the garage. Thinking about this during construction gives your electrician the opportunity to plan the charger location, wiring, and available electrical capacity from the start.
Even if you aren’t ready to install a charger, you can still ask about leaving a conduit or another suitable pathway for a future EV charger. This can make a future upgrade simpler once you’re ready for an EV.
If you’re building a new home in the Black Hills and an EV is part of your plans, bring it up with your electrician early. It’s much easier to plan new construction electrical wiring around future needs while the garage is being built than to retrofit it later.
Build the Garage You Want to Use
A well-planned garage isn’t the one with the most outlets, biggest electrical service, or most equipment. It’s the one with an electrical system that makes sense for the way you’ll use the space.
If you need help planning new garage electrical wiring, contact the Wires R Us team.
