Signs of a Failing Electrical Panel
There are some warning signs to keep an eye out for, making you aware if you require a new electrical panel installation. Take the time to learn about your home’s electrical needs, so that you know when to call Hunt’s Services for additional assistance.
Some of the more obvious issues are flickering lights or a circuit breaker that is continually tripping. Flickering lights occur when there is a power surge that your system isn’t equipped to handle. The flickering could be caused by the panel or the wiring, but either way, you should have it inspected. A frequently tripping breaker means you are regularly exceeding your panel’s capacity. In this situation, you might consider adding a sub-panel or upgrading your current one.
Keep an eye on your panel and if you notice any strange noises or smells coming from it, call Hunt’s Services immediately. One such sound might be a buzzing or crackling, as this means that something isn’t right inside your device and you’ll want to have it inspected. A burning smell or heat coming from the panel occurs when there has been an overload or short circuit. This overheating is very dangerous and is something you’ll want to have repaired that day.
If you plan to upgrade some appliances, including adding a hot tub to your home, you’ll likely need a new electrical panel installation. The new panel will have a higher capacity to handle the workload this tub will require. Other electrical components inside your home could need an upgrade at the same time, so speak with someone at Hunt’s by calling 253-533-7500 to figure out exactly what you’ll need.
Common Misconceptions
Some homeowners mistakenly believe that their current electrical panel is perfectly fine, despite the glaring warning signs or the age of the device. This complacency usually occurs because they haven’t run into any problems with their panels, but this way of thinking is problematic because electrical panels don’t cause problems, they prevent them.
If an old or outdated electrical panel hasn’t run into any issues, it could be because the appliances and outlets in the house haven’t experienced any problems yet. The job of the panel is to turn the power off if an electrical issue caused by one of these appliances occurs. If your devices create a power surge, however, and the panel isn’t equipped to handle it, you could have to deal with some severe damage.
The best thing you can do is have one of our electricians have a look at your electrical panel to determine if it is in working order. If we conclude your panel needs replacing, the smart thing to do it have the work completed sooner, rather than later.
