Introduction
Electric panels generally last longer than most of the electrical systems in your home, but, just like wiring, even an electric panel will eventually come to the end of its life and need replacing or upgrading. If you live in an older home with an old fuse box or a circuit breaker system with older, more outdated amperage, you might want to think about replacing your electric panel.
The best way to do this is to contact the electric panel upgrade service in Walpole, MA, to help you fix up and modernize your wiring. But when is the right time to do that? Below, we will introduce you to the basics of electric panels, as well as how and when to replace them.
What is an Electric Panel?
Every home has an electric panel, but you might not know what one is or where to find it. In short, the electric panel is a metal box somewhere in your home – usually the basement or the garage. The electricity delivered to your home by your power company will be received here, and the circuits inside the box distribute that power to the wiring in your home, splitting it up between appliances, lights, and systems across your home. Sometimes, electric panels are known as “fuse boxes,” but modern homes no longer use fuses, so “electric panel” is a more common term nowadays.
Signs Your Electric Panel Needs Replacing
Your electrical panel is the heart of your home’s power system, so keeping it perfectly operational is a vital part of keeping your home safe and not on fire. 10% of home fires in America are due to electrical problems, and you should do everything you can to avoid your home being part of that statistic!
You should check your electric panel regularly, in case of possible problems. If you spot any rust marks or burn marks, hear a buzzing sound, or there is any smell of burning, then it is time to replace it.
Other parts of your home may also show signs that it is time to replace the electrical panel. If you find your circuit breakers trip more often than usual, then there might be problems with your system, and you should upgrade your electrical panel. Alternatively, if your lights flicker when you use other appliances, this is also a sign that your electrical panel is not up to the job anymore. This sort of problem often arises after you add another appliance to your home because every appliance draws energy from the electric panel, and there is only so much that it is capable of providing.
If you find that your electric panel is not able to keep up with your usage, you should get in touch with an electric panel upgrade service to get everything back into perfect working order.
Conclusion
Electric panels might not look like much, but they are the heart of your home’s power ecosystem, providing power to your lights, your kitchen, your electronic devices, and anything else in your home that uses electrical power at all. Keeping your panel working is a vital part of home ownership and safety, so you should never neglect that!
