Reasons To Consider an Electrical Panel Upgrade

Risks of an Outdated Electrical Panel

There are several risks that can cause injury if you have an outdated panel. If there are melting parts inside your electrical panel, this can lead to a fire. If the circuit breaker fails to trip when the panel is overloaded, this can lead to a fire as well. The risks of having electrical shock are also high if you try to work on an old electrical panel. There are some companies that have proved to be dangerous which you should always avoid. Federal Pacific Electrical Panel and Zinsco panels have had lawsuits filed against them because of incidents of fires caused by the treacherous panels installed.

Why You Should Upgrade Your Electrical Panel

• Constant Panel Trips – Electrical panel trips occur when there’s too much power loaded into one area of the house at once. If the panel trips happen frequently, this may be a sign to check on your electrical panel. Moreover, you may not even have breakers and instead have fuse panels installed. In the past, fuse panels were very useful for houses, however, now they can be a fire hazard.
• Burnt Smell – If you smell burning wood or plastic, it may mean the plastic jacket of the wires or something else inside the panel is melting or burning. As soon as you realize the burnt smell, act quickly and call an electrician. Being proactive can help save you from further damage. If the fire has already broken out, call the police and get yourself to safety.
• Adding Appliances – When you’re upgrading your appliances or simply want to add new ones to your collection, make sure your electrical panel can support the addition. Specialists from Mr. Electric can help by examining your breaker to see if it’s suitable to support a new appliance. You will need a electrical panel upgrade if your current one is incompetent. Similarly, if you plan on remodeling your home, upgrading your electrical panel is a good idea. Replacing old wiring will get you a system that’s safer and more efficient.
• Bills – Having an older system can also cause a rise in insurance and electrical bills. Updating to a modern system will reduce the amount of money paid to insurance. As your electrical system gets older, it becomes less efficient. If your electrical bills start to steadily rise over time, this might be because of the age of your panel. Remember to have regular maintenance checks on your electrical panel to make sure nothing looks out of place.