Electrical Panel Installation Services
The purpose of an electrical panel, also called a breaker box, is to receive electricity from the outdoor power lines and distribute it appropriately to the various circuits in a home. A malfunctioning electrical panel can have an adverse effect on many systems in your home that depend on electricity. It’s time to call in a professional electrician if you’re having to reset tripped breakers frequently or notice that some of your home’s outlets don’t work. An experienced electrician should be able to fix whatever is wrong with your electrical panel or to install a new one if that’s what’s needed.
Panels are typically found in a garage, closet, or positioned just outside the home. These panels should always be easy to get to and homeowners should be aware of the basic functions, just in case there’s an emergency. There are older panel models that are no longer approved for residential use because of potential safety issues. If you suspect your panel may be old enough to fall into this category, schedule a safety inspection by a professional electrician.
When should you replace your electrical panel?
Breakers are the ones that control how much electrical energy flows into the circuits in the home. They trip and impede electrical flow whenever a circuit becomes overloaded. Residents with multiple appliances running simultaneously in the same circuit are likely to experience this. This can be corrected by unplugging all running appliances and then resetting the breaker.
Nevertheless, if this is a regular occurrence, you may need professional service to help replace your old panel with a new one that will provide sufficient power for your home to meet all its needs. If there is only one tripped breaker then this can simply be fixed by replacing that bad breaker.
When your electrical panel gets to the point that you’re replacing breakers frequently, it’s a good bet that the entire panel needs to be replaced. If you purchased your home recently and don’t know how old the electrical panel is, seeing breakers of different brands or colors is a tip-off that the previous owner replaced multiple breakers.
Whenever you are getting a new appliance, you should always have your electrician make sure it is compatible with your electric panel so that you don’t overload your system. This is a crucial step in case your appliance needs a lot more power in order to run than the last one. When an old panel cannot support a new appliance, it’s time to get a new panel.
More current boards are presently fitted with AFCI outlets, which shield wires from flames started by jumping electricity. Electrical panels installed prior to 1999 may not be equipped with AFCI outlets. If there are no AFCI outlets, your home becomes vulnerable to electrical hazards.
A skilled electrician can inspect and assess any vulnerability in your panel and outlets. If there are no problems found on your panel then it may be more cost-effective to just install AFCI outlets in it.
The panel should immediately be replaced when there is already rust or corrosion around it. Worn out panels are a common cause of electrical fires and power surges.
Other signs that your panel needs replacing include:
- melted electrical wires
- hissing
- burning smell coming from panel
- burn marks on panel or outlets
- popping or other noises coming from the breaker box
- lights flickering when appliances are in use
- appliances overheating quickly when plugged in
- panel is warm or hot to the touch
On the off chance that you see anything abnormal occurring with your home’s electrical power, contact an expert immediately. This is because when a circuit becomes overloaded, it can fry all the devices that are plugged into it such as phones and computers. Ignoring signs of a faulty panel can end up costing a lot more and can be hazardous. A malfunctioning electrical panel can cause electrocution or a fire.
Electrical panels may last a good long while, but sooner or later they will show signs of wear and tear. Sooner or later the wires become worn and frayed and need to be repaired or replaced. Many homeowners have a problem with mice or other rodents chewing on the wiring. A qualified electrician, however, is capable of handling almost any type of problem.
It may be very easy to have a wire replaced or it could be deemed that what is needed is a total panel replacement. If such is the case, you can have your electrician suggest possible options and install the new panel for you to return to a state when there’s reliable electricity in your home.
In order to guarantee the safety of your family and appliances from electrical risks, have a professional inspect your panel. Electrical panels must be replaced or worked on only by a professional electrician. Anyone untrained in electric work could cause more damage instead of helping, plus they could be putting themselves in danger of serious injury. Electricians have the training to do all kinds of electrical jobs safely and quickly.