You probably don’t think about your electrical panel except when you trip a breaker. However, since that panel ensures you get electricity safely, it’s one of your home’s most essential features. Giving the panel a little more attention is a good idea.
Electrical panels don’t last indefinitely, and yours may be insufficient to meet your needs even if nothing major has gone wrong. Knowing why your panel might require an upgrade and what trouble signs to look for will help you make the right decision about when to replace the panel.
Is Your Panel Too Old for Current Demands?
If your home was built between 1950 and 1980 and the house still has the original panel, a new panel is likely in order. Many panels constructed during this time were faulty. Another sign that your panel is outdated is that your home has a fuse box, which was common before the 1960s. A split-bus panel that feature two instead of one primary breaker is also a sign of an outdated panel.
Are You Tripping Breakers a Lot?
A breaker that trips whenever you use an appliance is a warning sign of an overloaded circuit. You’ll need a bigger, upgraded circuit to accommodate a heavier load. After having your panel upgraded, you’ll stop having tripped breakers, and you’ll enjoy greater assurance of a safe electrical capacity.
Do Your Lights Dim a Lot?
Having your lights dim when you turn on a major appliance is another sign of an overloaded circuit. Your circuit breaker is not working correctly when this happens. Keeping track of which appliances contribute most to the problem will make it easier for an electrician to find a solution.
Do You Have Frequent, Smaller Power Surges?
Although the kinds of power surges associated with lightning strikes are rare, more common, smaller surges can be potent. Spikes from the municipal system, or sometimes even from large appliances that use a lot of power, can send small surges to other devices, often resulting in premature failure. These surges can be quite damaging to advanced computer circuitry.
Are You Having a Hot Tub or Pool Installed?
Hot tubs and pools require a lot of electricity to operate correctly. Installing either of these requires a sub-panel. For this type of feature, you’ll have a dedicated circuit that uses its own breaker.
Having difficulties with your electrical panel can be dangerous, not to mention frustrating. When you need electrical panel services in Missoula, MT, just call in our experts at Hometown Electric.
