Older homes have an incredible amount of charm and nostalgia. While some of that charm stems from the old-world construction practices of ornate stonework and interesting woodworking, there are also negative aspects of living in a dated home, namely the electrical system. We bought our first older home a few years ago, and it has been interesting to see just how much of a problem the electrical system has been. We knew that we needed to update a large portion of the space, so we started going through and having sections replaced. This website is here to help other people to know when to work with electricians.
The electrical panel is something many homeowners will never bother with. Unfortunately, this means that they won't realize if something is wrong until it's too late. Many people don't realize that there are situations where it is necessary to upgrade their electrical panel. Failing to do this can lead to inconveniences and is occasionally dangerous.
Upgrading electrical panels is a job that should only be handled by an electrician. How can you know when it's time to call a professional?
You Have a Fuse Box in Your House
In this day and age, fuse boxes have no place inside our houses. When there is too much current, a fuse burns out. This means it has to be replaced. Unless you have some spare fuses lying around, this can be inconvenient.
If you have a fuse box, you should upgrade to circuit breakers instead. Circuit breakers will turn off when the current exceeds specifications but can be easily switched back on later. This also means not spending money on new fuses.
You Have an Old House
The electrical panels in old houses were usually limited to between 60 and 100 amps. The panels installed in many new homes can go as high as 200 amps. This upgrade is necessary in many cases due to the high power consumption of modern appliances such as HD televisions and smart refrigerators. You may also need to do this if you're adding more appliances to your home.
The Panel Feels Warm
A warm electrical panel indicates that it's overloaded. This means that the amount of power being drawn in your home is more than the panel is supposed to handle, especially over extended periods.
Burning Smell from the Electrical Panel
Sometimes, you'll get a burning smell coming from your electrical panel. This warns you that something is wrong with one of the circuit breakers, but it could also indicate a loose or bad connection. This means that the electrical panel is a fire risk. In this case, a fix may be needed rather than an upgrade.
The Panel Trips Often
If your panel is tripping often, you may need to make a few upgrades. The circuit breakers in panels trip to prevent wires from overheating. If moving appliances to another circuit doesn't help, you may have a circuit breaker that is malfunctioning or has a much lower specification. You may have to replace the breaker to one that is able to handle the needs of that circuit.
To learn more, contact local electric companies like Street Brothers Electric.