When They Need To Be Upgraded & Why
The electric panel in your home serves as the entry point for electricity delivered by the local power company. It distributes power throughout your house. When your power needs to be increased—such as when you start using high-powered appliances—your electrical panel gets strained. This causes blown fuses and outages. So when do you need to get an upgrade?
If you are moving to a new place, always hire a licensed electrician to check the fuse boxes and panels. This is especially important if you are moving to an old property with old panels that tend to get overloaded. You may also need electrical service upgrades when you install large appliances and fixtures in your home, such as a refrigerator, central AC unit, or a hot tub. It’s also a good idea to have your electrical service upgraded when you have your kitchen renovated or whenever you construct a new addition. But even if you aren’t making any changes, your electrical panel may still need an upgrade. In fact, your home may already be showing you that you need an electrical service upgrade. So, how do you know you need electrical service upgrades? Here are some signs to watch out for:
- Your panel box is making crackling sounds
- The panels or breakers shows sign of rusting and corrosion
- Non-grounded (two-pronged) outlets
- Electrical service conductors usually overheat
- To protect your appliances, you require surge protectors
- You need to turn off an appliance to be able to use another
Just to be on the safe side, contact a licensed electrical contractor to check your home. Old electrical panels can cause problems like flickering lights, melted electrical wires, and tripped fuses. These can cause your appliances and lights to become defective quickly and you’re your house into a fire hazard. Never question or ignore the warning signs. Contact a licensed professional if only for an opinion. They can guide you and provide you with the information you need to make a decision.
