How Do You Know if Your Electrical Panel Needs to Be Upgraded?

Unless you’re an electrician yourself, you probably aren’t familiar with the signs that your electrical panel needs to be upgraded in Forsyth County, GA. Your electrical panel provides electricity to your building and regulates it in order to keep you safe. While they typically last 40 to 60 years, they may run into issues. Improperly installed or malfunctioning panels should be replaced as soon as possible.

Here’s how to tell whether your electrical panel needs to be replaced:

• Your circuit breakers trip constantly: If you’ve ever tripped a breaker (especially when running more than one appliance), that alone isn’t a sign of a panel problem. However, if the same breaker constantly trips, you’re dealing with one of two things: a faulty electrical panel or an overloaded circuit. Call an electrician to inspect the panel as soon as possible.
• The lights often flicker or dim: If the lights in your building frequently flicker or dim, especially when using other electrical devices, you may have an underpowered electrical panel or bad wiring.
• You notice rust or corrosion: Rust and corrosion around your electrical components is never a good sign. Check your electrical panel every so often to look for signs of rust. If it appears, you know that moisture has made its way inside to the panel—which can be a fatal combination. In fact, it can lead to electrical fires. Get the panel replaced as soon as possible.
• You use a lot of power strips: Having access to modern technology often means that we need more outlets—and electrical power—than a building already has. Some people solve this problem by relying on power strips. However, connecting multiple appliances to one power strip can result in tripped breakers or damage to the electronics themselves.
• There are burned areas on the panel: Your panel and wiring can both wear down over time. Periodically inspect your panel, especially if you’ve noticed any of these other signs. If you see scorched areas or melted wiring, it’s time to replace your electrical panel. Remember, it’s a safety issue—you don’t want to risk an electrical fire.
• You have bad or old wiring in your building: Old wiring is simply not capable of keeping up with modern electrical demands. If your wiring hasn’t been upgraded in the last 40 years or more, consider having an electrician replace your wiring. However, even new wiring can come with problems, like mismatched wires and connectors, oversized breakers and more.
• The panels are underpowered: Finally, the panel itself might be underpowered. Today, each panel should be able to support 200 amps. Older buildings and panels may only support 60 or 100 amps. If you plug in appliances that require more power, the breakers will trip.

Now that you’ve read this guide to replacing your electrical panel in Forsyth County, GA, you’ll know when to call the experts at Duke Electric Co. for help. Our electricians are happy to replace your panels or faulty wiring any time. Reach out to schedule an appointment!

Categorised in: Home Electrical

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