Electrical Panel Upgrades

Your electrical panel regulates the electricity coursing through your home or business. If too much electricity is demanded on a circuit, a circuit breaker is tripped in the electrical panel to stop the electricity from overloading the wiring. An overload can cause a fire, so it’s the job of the electrical panel to break the circuit and regulate the electricity in the system to keep your property safe.

Unfortunately, as your property gets older, the electrical panel can have a hard time keeping up with the increased electrical demands on the system. Your appliances, televisions, computers, HVAC systems, lights, and other electrical gadgets are increasingly energy efficient, but the average modern household uses more gadgets than ever before. If your home or business is more than ten years old, your electrical system may be unable to keep up with your electrical demand. How do you know for sure?

The main power line from your electric company connects directly to a power meter outside of your home or business. Then, the line goes directly to the electrical panel. You can usually find your property’s electrical panel in a garage, utility room, closet, or basement. It’s usually painted gray.

When you look inside the electrical panel, you will see rows of switches. These are the circuit breakers that distribute the main power line into smaller branch lines. Some of the switches are doubled or tripled together because they power appliances that require large electricity loads, such as air conditioners and electric dryers.

Inside the electrical panel door, there should be a label that maps out the locations of the outlets and appliances according to the numbers on the switches. The switches also have numbers on them that tell you how many amps the branch line can carry before the breaker switch is tripped. The electrical panel also has a main power breaker that can turn off power to the whole system.

Old electrical panels can malfunction, but most of the time, the problem stems from overloaded circuits. At first, you might notice flickering lights or have to turn off an appliance to use another plugged into the same circuit. But if the panel is malfunctioning or defective, the breakers will trip often or fail to trip, and someone might be shocked. In the worst case, a breaker that fails to trip may cause fire, smoke, and melted wires from overheating.

Your electrical panel needs a checkup, especially if it’s more than 25 years old. Here are the signs to look for to see if you might need a new electrical panel:

• You hear crackling sounds from the electrical panel.
• You see corrosion and rust on the circuit breakers.
• The interior of the electrical panel feels warm.
• Appliances are running at less than full power.
• Outlets near water sources – such as sinks, tubs, dishwashers, and clothes washers – are not GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters). These outlets stop the electricity if an appliance comes into contact with water, preventing electrocution.
• You’re always using extension cords.
• Your home has a 60-amp electrical service.
• Your home has 100-amp electrical service but still can’t operate some appliances.
• Your older home has a fuse block panel or split-bus panel, which does not have a main breaker.