How do you know when it’s time to upgrade your electrical panel? Let’s explore a few signs that it’s time to give us a call to talk about upgrading your panel.
- Your fuse box is really old
- You notice that you have dim or flickering lights when you are using other appliances
- You are noticing that your circuit breakers keep tripping.
- The breakers don’t reset when they trip
- You see signs of tiny electrical fires in your panel
1 Your Fuse Box is Really Old
If your home is older and hasn’t had an electrical upgrade since the home was built and uses a fuse box instead of a modern electrical panel, it might be time to consider an upgrade, especially if you are experiencing any of the issues below. Older homes weren’t built to handle the modern appliances that we have in our homes today. Think about the things that we have now that we didn’t have 60 years ago. The electrical wasn’t meant to handle TVs, toaster ovens, microwaves, coffee makers, computers, cell phone chargers, curling irons, flat irons, hair dryers, dishwashers, and washing machines all at the same time. If your home is older, we strongly recommend booking an appointment for an electrical panel assessment.
Here is a photo of the old vs new so you can identify which one you have.
2 You Notice That You Have Dim or Flickering Lights When You Are Using Other Appliances
If you find that your lights are flickering or dimming when you are using other appliances, many of the items listed above, you are probably over taxing your system. The resulting sign of flicker lights or dimming lights is a key sign that you need to upgrade you panel.
3 You Are Noticing That Your Circuit Breakers Keep Tripping
Do you find yourself visiting that your breaker box more often that you used to, it might be time to upgrade your electrical panel. Sometimes this happens not because of your panel’s age, but because of your panel’s capacity. You might be trying to run more current through your panel that it can currently handle. If you find that you are experiencing this, it might be time to schedule a home electrical safety check to see if you need a panel replacement or repair.
4 The Breakers Don’t Reset When They Are Tripped
Breakers trip to keep your electrical panel from being overloaded and protect your home. Typically flipping the breaker back to fix the problem but if it doesn’t, it’s time to call an electrician. We can assess the panel and determine whether it needs to be repaired or replaced or if there is another issue with the electrical wiring in your home entirely. Don’t let this issue slide as it can lead to big problems down the road.
5 You See Signs of Tiny Electrical Fires in Your Electrical Panel
As your panel wares down there are signs that may start to appear that show you have had a series of tiny electrical fires in your panel. These signs include, a burnt smell inside the panel and charring or burn marks around the breakers. It will be very apparent that you have had a tiny fire when you open up the panel, but not so if you don’t go near the panel or open it up. It is important to check your electrical panel at least once a month for signs of tiny electrical fires so you can catch the problem early and get it fixed as quickly as possible.
Think you need a new electrical panel? Give us a call or send us a message today!
photo credit: https://www.berkeys.com/2015/09/02/news-about-your-electrical-panels/
