Electrical Panel Installation Services in Nashville, TN and Surrounding Areas
An electrical panel a.k.a. The breaker box provides your home with electricity and regulates the energy that is supplied to a circuit. When the electrical panel is experiencing fritz, different systems in one’s home can be affected. Frequent tripping of breakers and nonworking outlets are clear signs that it’s time to call in a professional electrician. They easily do a repair or an installation of an electrical panel in any home.
The location of the panels is typically in a garage or a closet in a home. You need to be able to get to your panel quickly in case of an emergency, and you should understand its basic functions. Unfortunately, as time goes on, there are specific types and brands of panels that are not safe anymore. They may have been safe years ago, but they are not safe anymore for you to use at home. If you’re unaware of your electrical panel’s age, or if it’s the one originally installed in an older home, be sure to have it inspected for safety by a licensed electrician.
When should you replace your electrical panel?
Breakers regulate the amount of electrical energy that flows into a circuit. If a circuit is overloaded, the electricity flow will be stopped by the breaker. You might have seen this if you’ve had a couple of appliances working at the same time in the same circuit. This can be corrected by unplugging all running appliances and then resetting the breaker.
Nonetheless, if this is happening regularly, you may need professional service to help replace your old panel with a new one that will provide sufficient power for your home to meet all its needs. If it’s just a single breaker tripping and it’s not a result of an overloaded system, then maybe you just have a bad breaker that needs replacement to correct the issue.
If your panel has been replaced with many breakers then it may be time to replace it with a newer panel already. You may not know how old your panel is, but if you see breakers of different brands and colors, you know that there have been replacements.
Whenever you are getting a new appliance, you should always have your electrician make sure it is compatible with your electric panel so that you don’t overload your system. This becomes more important if the new appliance you are installing would use up more electrical power than the old one. You might need to replace your panel if it is not suitable for the new appliance.
New panels are now fitted with AFCI outlets that are used to protect your home from fires caused by jumping electricity. If your panel is from before 1999, you may not have this safety feature. In case you don’t have AFCI outlets you could be at risk of fires and other injuries.
A skilled electrician can inspect and assess any vulnerability in your panel and outlets. If there are no other issues, it may be more cost-efficient to install AFCI outlets at the beginning of each circuit rather than replace the panel as a whole.
When there is rust or corrosion in any part surrounding the panel this warrants an immediate replacement of it. If these are not properly protected, worn-out panels could pose the danger of electric surges, fires, or other damage.
Other signs that your panel needs replacing include:
- the panel is warm or hot to the touch
- lights flickering when appliances are in use
- melted electrical wires
- popping or other noises coming from the breaker box
- burn marks on panel or outlets
- burning smell coming from the panel
- hissing
- appliances overheating quickly when plugged in
If you see that there is something strange going on with the electricity in your house, you need to call a professional immediately. If circuits are overloaded, they could “fry” anything plugged into those outlets like computers, phones, and other electronics. If you ignore the signs of a faulty panel, it can be hazardous and costly. Electric shocks and flames can occur because of a failing electrical board.
Even though panels usually last for a long time, they eventually wear out. Even your electrical wires can end up becoming frayed and/or worn. One cause of electrical problems is the unfortunate tendency of rodents to chew on wires. Whatever your problem may be with your electrical system, a professional electrician should be able to diagnose and remedy them.
Your electrical panel may require only a minor repair, or it might need to be replaced with a newer model. If it is required, your electrician can brief you about all of your options and your home can return to reliable electricity once again after the swift installation of a new panel.
You can ensure the safety of your family as well as your appliance by contacting a professional today to inspect the panel in your home. Electrical panel work should only be done by a professional electrician. Homeowners that have no experience in dealing with electric work are at risk of injury. Electricians have dealt with all kinds of electrical work and will quickly and safely service your home.