How to Tell It’s Time For a New Panel
Knowing when you’re experiencing an electrical panel problem can be a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, there are some telltale signs to watch for that help you address this issue.
For instance, if you smell something burning in the area around your electrical panel, you could have a major problem. This smell typically means the panel is failing, and it could pose a fire risk. Your best bet is to turn the entire panel off and call an electrician to inspect it.
Another sign something is up with your panel is when the circuit breakers seem like they’re constantly tripping. These breakers are supposed to trip when the circuit is drawing too much power. However, if they’re always tripping, it could mean you don’t have enough capacity to handle your electrical needs, and a panel upgrade might be the only solution.
The presence of strange noises coming from your electrical panel could mean you have an issue. Your panel should be mostly silent unless a circuit breaker trips and makes a clicking noise. If you notice a hissing or buzzing sound coming from your panel, it could mean there’s a loose connection or some bad wiring that will require attention.
If the lights in your home flicker whenever you use an appliance like a vacuum cleaner or blender, it’s a sign your panel doesn’t have enough output for your needs. This is another scenario where an electrical panel installation might be necessary in the coming months to help you keep up with your household’s energy demands.
Physical damage could leave you looking for a new electrical panel installation. Bumping into the unit with a large object or having something heavy fall on it could damage it to the point it no longer works properly. You’ll want your electrician to have a look if there’s physical damage to your electrical panel, just to be on the safe side.
Hunt’s Services is available to handle all your electrical panel installation needs in Federal Way and the rest of King County. Call us today to learn more about what we can do for you.