An up-to-date, well-functioning electrical panel is essential to the operation of your home. An electrical panel, or a breaker panel, is the metal box that contains all of your property’s circuit breakers. It has safety features to prevent electrical currents from reaching unsafe levels. To ensure your home’s electricity is running it’s best and safely, you may need an electrical panel upgrade.
How to Know It’s Time for a New Panel
How often does your home require an electrical panel upgrade? If there are no underlying issues, electrical panels typically need an update anywhere from 25 to 40 years. That means, if your home is between 25 to 40 years old and you have never replaced the electrical panel, it’s time to consider the task.
However, there are a couple of other reasons a new electrical panel may be necessary:
- Faulty Wiring: Faulty wiring is a leading cause of house fires and can also cause the entire electrical panel to stop working. If you smell burning, notice hot or frayed wires, or experience frequent circuit breaker trips, problematic wiring may be to blame. This is an issue that requires immediate professional attention.
- New Appliance Installation: When you install new appliances or circuit breakers, your old electrical panel may not be sufficient to handle the load. Upgrading the electrical panel will ensure it is ready to power new appliances.
What to Expect from an Electrical Panel Upgrade?
Depending on your home’s current electrical panel system, an upgrade can mean a few different things. It could be upgrading the service level by 100, 200, or even 400 amps. It could also mean adding more circuit breakers to your existing system, which would be on the simple side. Another possibility is completely tearing out the existing fuse box and replacing it with an updated box that can support your home’s full electrical needs.
“Upgrade” is an umbrella term when it comes to electrical panels. This is due to the fact that there are multiple options, each depending on what would be most beneficial to the household in question. For example, simply upgrading the panel itself will transfer more utility power to your home. You accomplish this when you install a new meter and/ or circuit breaker. You can also add more circuits to accommodate more outlets in your home. Replacing any problematic circuits, wiring, or other crucial components can ensure safety.
Turn to the Trusted Experts for Your Electrical Panel Upgrade
Your electrical panel plays an important role in keeping your home safe and all of it’s electrical features running smoothly. It is essential to check up on it regularly and ensure that everything is up-to-date and working correctly.
If you decide it is time for an upgrade, be sure to contact a skilled electrician to get the job done for you. At Kalahari Electrical Services, you’ll find reliable and hardworking Lawrenceville electricians who are dedicated to providing quality electrical panel upgrade services. Reaching out to a professional for your electrical service needs provides peace of mind. Count on our team to get the job done right the first time, so your household can stay safe.
