Lafayette, Indiana Electrical Panel Installation Services
Electrical panels or breaker boxes are used to supply the house with electricity coming from the electric company and they also regulate the amount of energy provided to a circuit. When the panel is broken, a lot of systems in your home might not work as well. Frequent tripping of breakers and nonworking outlets are clear signs that it’s time to call in a professional electrician. They can install or repair these panels and get you back to a fully-functioning household in no time.
Your electrical panel could be located in a utility closet, in your basement or garage, or outdoors, on an exterior wall. If there is an emergency, these panels should be easy to get to, and the homeowner should have a basic understanding of how they work. If you live in an older home, your electrical panel may now be considered unsafe for use. If you’re unsure of the age of your electrical panel, it would be a good idea to have it inspected to make sure it’s safe and meets current electrical codes.
When should you replace your electrical panel?
Breakers are used to control the amount of electricity flowing into a circuit. When the circuit is overloaded then the breaker will automatically shut down the flow of electricity as a safety precaution. You may have encountered such a situation due to an appliance overuse in the same circuit. It is easy to fix this. You just need to unplug the devices and reset 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 only one breaker falls, even if the machine is not overloaded, it can only be a bad breaker and the problem can be solved by a breaker replacement.
When you find that you’re having to replace individual breakers frequently, it may make more sense to upgrade to a newer panel. 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 is very important, especially if the new appliance needs more power to operate than the old one. If your electrical panel won’t be able to fully support this new appliance then you will have to get a new panel then.
More current boards are presently fitted with AFCI outlets, which shield wires from flames started by jumping electricity. Electrical panels installed prior to 1999 may not be equipped with AFCI outlets. If AFCI outlets are not on the panel or at the start of circuits, your home could be in danger.
A skilled electrician can inspect and assess any vulnerability in your panel and outlets. If there are no issues with it then he can install there AFCI outlets.
If there is corrosion or rusting anywhere on the panel, it will need to be replaced immediately. Worn out panels are a common cause of electrical fires and power surges.
Other signs that your panel needs replacing include:
- lights flickering when appliances are in use
- melted electrical wires
- popping or other noises coming from the breaker box
- hissing
- burning smell coming from panel
- burn marks on panel or outlets
- appliances overheating quickly when plugged in
- panel is warm or hot to the touch
If there’s anything at all unusual going on with the electricity in your home, you must contact a professional immediately. An overloaded circuit can irreparably damage any device plugged into those connected outlets, such as phones, computers, electronics, and more. Disregarding indications of a defective board can be exorbitant, just as unsafe. Due to a malfunctioning electrical panel, electrocutions and fires may happen.
Electrical panels should last a fairly long time but will eventually be degraded by wear and tear. Electrical wires experience fraying, and leaks can develop in their insulation. Field mice or other rodents that get into your home are likely to chew on wires and cause problems. Regardless of the issue you’re experiencing, an electrician will be able to assess the damage and let you know what needs to be done.
You may need to replace the entire unit or it might be as simple as replacing a wire. If a new panel is necessary, a qualified professional will guide you through the process to ensure all your needs are met and you have reliable electricity once again.
To protect your appliances and your loved ones from injury, call a professional right away to inspect your electrical panel. Only a professional electrician should deal with repairing or replacing an electrical panel. Those who are not familiar with it can worsen the problem and even be injured in the process. Electricians received training in every form of electrical work and can supply your home with safe and fast electrical service.