The majority of the items you use on a daily basis are powered by electricity. The electrical panel in your home powers your lighting, televisions, refrigerators, cell phones, and more, making it an important aspect of your home.
Circuits that transfer energy throughout your home to outlets and other electrical equipment are contained within this panel.
How much electricity your home can handle is determined by the number and size of circuits. If your home's electrical panel cannot keep up with the needs of your electronics, consider replacing a circuit breaker panel.
Furthermore, if your panel is outdated or not functioning properly, your home may be at risk of fire, and the entire system may fail. When finding ways to increase the safety and comfort of your house, one of the first things you should think about is keeping your electrical panel updated and maintained.
Circuits that transfer energy throughout your home to outlets and other electrical equipment are contained within this panel.
How much electricity your home can handle is determined by the number and size of circuits. If your home's electrical panel cannot keep up with the needs of your electronics, consider replacing a circuit breaker panel.
Furthermore, if your panel is outdated or not functioning properly, your home may be at risk of fire, and the entire system may fail. When finding ways to increase the safety and comfort of your house, one of the first things you should think about is keeping your electrical panel updated and maintained.
Signs You Need to Upgrade Your Electrical Panel
One thing is for sure; you cannot avoid upgrading the electrical panel when the time comes. You will have to invest money in order to obtain one that suits your requirements. If you are still not sure whether you need to upgrade, here are five signs that it's time to do so.
1. Damaged Breakers
If your home circuit breaker panels are not properly resetting, staying on, not tripping when overloaded, or are physically broken, it may be time to replace them or improve your electrical panel. Damaged breakers can cause a fire by inducing a short circuit or overheating.
2. Overloaded Circuits
The capacity of each circuit in the electrical panel is restricted by the amount of wiring in the wall, the circuit breaker's rating, and the number of outlets on that circuit. If your breakers are constantly tripping or you do not have enough outlets for all of your devices, a service panel upgrade, as well as additional circuits to spread the load more evenly, maybe in order.
3. Flickering Lights
A power outage can cause flickering lights. The electricity to your light bulbs will flicker, i.e., keep switching on and off for a few milliseconds in this instance.
However, if this happens frequently, even in ideal weather, it is a sign of a faulty electrical system. It is possible that the entire power panel (or at least the breaker) is to blame. This is actually one of the earliest signs of more serious electrical problems.
If the lights flicker almost every time you turn them on, the electric panel needs to be replaced.
However, if this happens frequently, even in ideal weather, it is a sign of a faulty electrical system. It is possible that the entire power panel (or at least the breaker) is to blame. This is actually one of the earliest signs of more serious electrical problems.
If the lights flicker almost every time you turn them on, the electric panel needs to be replaced.
4. Smells Like Something Is Burning
You should be concerned if you notice a charred or burning smell coming from your electrical panel. If your circuit breaker or panel fails, you risk a house fire that destroys both your home and your neighbors’ homes.
The burning odor is caused by plastic or wood. This smell is frequently the result of the electrical wires' plastic jackets melting or the wood and insulation in your walls scorching. If you experience any of these, it is time to replace your electrical panel.
The burning odor is caused by plastic or wood. This smell is frequently the result of the electrical wires' plastic jackets melting or the wood and insulation in your walls scorching. If you experience any of these, it is time to replace your electrical panel.
5. Outdated Design
Many older homes still have inefficient electrical wiring systems. These systems did not have to power the various devices and appliances that homeowners have today back in the day. As a result, aging wiring is unable to power all of these devices adequately. These outdated systems might not only cause your appliances to break down, but they also put your home at risk of electrical fires.
If your home's wiring hasn't been inspected or replaced since it was built, you should hire a professional electrician. A skilled specialist can inspect your electrical system to see whether it needs to be upgraded.
If your home's wiring hasn't been inspected or replaced since it was built, you should hire a professional electrician. A skilled specialist can inspect your electrical system to see whether it needs to be upgraded.
How Often Should a Breaker Box Be Replaced?
According to some experts, modern circuit breakers last between 15 and 20 years. The differing conditions around these electrical safety devices are the cause of this discrepancy in longevity. A home's electrical panel should live longer if it isn't subjected to a lot of electrical disturbances.
Conclusion
If you're having issues with your electrical panel, you might be thinking about whether you need to upgrade or replace it or if a simple repair will suffice. If any of the circuit breakers are not malfunctioning and you don’t experience any issues such as a warm panel or flickering lights, in that case, you may not need an electrician to repair that circuit breaker. However, if the panel has sustained damage, you will most likely need to upgrade or replace it. If in doubt, always contact your electrician.
Wanna make your whole family and home safe from electrical hazards?
Phase 1 Electric provides 24 Hours Emergency Electrician service in Noblesville, IN.
