Is Your Home Due for an Electrical Service Upgrade?

As of late, the electrical power in your home has been less than perfect. Your lights tend to flicker every time you use a hair dryer or the microwave. You hook up the newest addition to your home entertainment system and quickly blow a fuse. What’s creating the problem? It might be that your home’s electrical panel is outdated and needs to be upgraded.

Most modern households tend to have electrically powered devices running 24 hours a day, and even electronics and systems that are switched off but remain plugged in can siphon electricity.

Older homes and buildings are often just not able to keep up with the electricity demand. If you believe your home is due for an upgrade, contact a licensed professional to judge the situation.

Do I Need an Upgrade?

The most visible sign that you need a panel upgrade is when your electrical circuits simply can’t keep up with your daily needs. If you must unplug one appliance in order to use another one without tripping the breaker, or if certain devices cause your lights to flicker, you’re probably overworking your electrical panel.

 Even if you aren’t suffering from frequent losses of service, however, you might be due for a panel upgrade. If your current electrical panel has less than 200 amps of electricity available, or if your service panel has screw-in fuses, the system is out-of-date. As a general rule, if your house is over 20 years old, you should look into a service panel upgrade.

Can I Wait to Upgrade?

House repairs, especially electrical repairs, aren’t cheap. However, it’s never a good idea to stall residential electrical repairs. An old, overworked electrical panel isn’t just inconvenient, it can also be hazardous. If your home is strewn with power strips and extension cords because you have many more electrical devices than outlets, you’re demanding each outlet to work beyond its designed capacity. If one of these circuits overheats and blows under the electrical strain, it could affect your computer, printer, television, video game console, and whatever other devices it’s attached to. Also, overheating service panels and circuits are a fire hazard. Upgrade your service panel before it reaches this point to protect your property and your family from serious harm.

Can I Fix It Myself?

A service panel upgrade really isn’t a Do-It-Yourself project. Repairing and upgrading the  electrical wiring for an entire house is extremely complex, and there’s a lot at stake if it isn’t done properly. Also, working with electrical wiring has the risk of electrocution, as well as being a fire hazard. Unless you have been trained in electrical system repair and installation, call a professional residential electrician for your panel upgrade.

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