Upgrading Your Electrical Panel: Signs It’s Time for a Change

Circuit Breaker Panel

The electrical panel of your home is your power distributor — it sends the energy to every room, outlet, appliance, and device in your house. However, the importance of constantly maintaining the electrical panel is not recognized by many homeowners. This is the reason why it is necessary to have the support of a professional electrical contractor when contemplating an upgrade.

If you are not sure whether it is an appropriate time to replace your electrical panel, the indications in this guide will lead you to the benefits of upgrading as well as the role of the right professionals in providing a safe and effortless transition.

Why Electrical Panels Matter

The electrical panel (or breaker box, fuse box) is the device that allows for the distribution of electricity to every part of your house. Panels prevent or shut off situations that pose a risk to the wires of the house by automatically disconnecting the electrical flow in case of a malfunction. For these reasons, as the world moves forward and the government invests in various renewable energy sources, the electricity demand will increase, and so, your old panel will eventually face a problem.

Top Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Electrical Panel

Below are the most common signs that you should take a step towards checking your panel or replacing it in full:

1. Frequent Circuit Breaker Trips

Tripping of breakers frequently, particularly during the use of appliances like microwaves, vacuums, or hairdryers, is an indication that your panel is either over capacity or it is too old.

2. Your Home Still Uses a Fuse Box

Fusing is the traditional way of controlling electrical current in houses built before the 1960s and is still in use by some of these old homes. The fuse technology is less safe than the breaker system of today.

3. You Notice Flickering or Dimming Lights

Light flickering or dimming during the startup of an appliance is a signal that your panel is not effectively supplying the power.

4. You’re Adding New Appliances or Upgrading Your Home

Are you thinking of placing a new HVAC system, Jacuzzi, or EV charger? These are power-hungry applications that require more than what your present panel can provide. With an update, your house will be secured by giving it the power needed by these new things.

5. Your Panel Is Still Hot or Gives off a Burning Smell

If your panel is not only warm or hot but also a burning odor can be detected somewhere near the breaker box, these are signs that the system is already overheating and that a fire can be the next consequence. Power should be turned off immediately, and a professional electrician must be called right away.

6. You Don’t Have Enough Outlets

If you are always in need of extension cords or power strips to supply your devices with power, then your electrical system is old and it cannot handle your household’s power requirements. The newly installed panel can carry circuits and accommodate more outlets.

Benefits of Upgrading Your Electrical Panel

There are multiple positive aspects for you when you choose to upgrade your electrical panel; thus, the whole process is not only a ”reparation” of your home but also making it ”ready” for your following electrical requirements. Some of these advantages are mentioned below:

  • Enhanced Safety: Part of the safety features in new electrical panels is the installation of upgraded safety devices that minimize the possibility of electrical fire or shock to a great extent.
  • Greater Power Availability: Your new panel can accept more circuits, and therefore, a larger number of outlets can be used.
  • Insurance Benefits: There are quite a few companies that offer specific policies providing a reduction in the premium when electrical installations meet modern standards.
  • Support for Renovations: If you think of doing a home renovation, an updated panel will be the basic infrastructure that will take the increased power requirement.

If enhancing your living space through quality electrical services is on your list of things to do, then panel upgrade is usually the first and most crucial step to take to ensure that the newly improved house functions safely and efficiently.

What to Expect During a Panel Upgrade

An upgrade in the electrical panel is not a simple do-it-yourself project; instead, it is one that requires permission, inspection, and the work of two or more licensed electricians. Generally, here are some steps of the process:

  • Inspection and Load Calculation
  • Permitting
  • Installation
  • Inspection and Final Approval

Usually, the whole process takes about a day, but it can differ depending on the complexity of a particular project.

Choose the Right Team for the Job

Pro Electrical Services, Inc. has gone a long way in Billerica to be known as the company that can, among other things, safely, reliably, and code-compliantly conduct electrical panel upgrades. Their expert panel team instills confidence in their execution of every project, regardless of whether it is the diagnosis of power issues or the preparation of your home for the future. Starting with detailed evaluations through to the use of top-grade materials and the provision of excellent customer service, Pro Electrical Services, Inc. is the brand that the homeowners associate with the time to upgrade and secure their electrical systems.