Signs Your Home Has A Faulty Electrical Panel That Needs To Be Replaced

Posted on: 2 September 2020

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A home's electrical system is quite complex and complicated. If you ever have an issue with your electrical system, upgrades or repairs should always be done by a licensed electrician who is highly experienced in residential electrical systems. One issue that you may encounter in your home is an outdated or overloaded electrical panel that needs to be replaced. When you have a faulty electrical panel, it is important to contact an electrician as quickly as possible. The key is to know that your electrical panel is experiencing issues that require attention. Some common signs that you need to have your electrical panel replaced include the following.

Circuit Breaks Trip Regularly

An electrical panel is designed to control the amount of electricity flowing through your electrical system. If your electrical system gets overloaded, a circuit breaker will trip-- this is an important safety measure. Having a circuit breaker trip is not necessarily a cause for concern. But if you have different circuit breakers tripping on a regular basis, it is a red flag that indicates that something is wrong. In the event that you are having circuit breakers trip on a regular basis, it is in your best interest to contact a residential electrician to inspect your electrical panel and make the necessary repairs. 

Power Surges When You Turn On Appliances

When an electrical panel is in good repair, you should be able to turn on any appliance in your home at any time without problems. If your electrical system is faulty or can no longer accommodate all of the appliances in your home, there may be power surges when multiple appliances are turned on. Pay attention to what happens when you use your appliances-- if there is a power surge or lights in your home flicker when you turn on appliances, your electrical panel most likely needs to be updated.

Burning Smells

As a homeowner, it is a good idea to open your breaker box and inspect your electrical panel on a regular basis. Warning signs of a bad electrical panel may include a burning smell or black marks that indicate that one of the breakers may have melting wires or burning. This type of situation is an electrical emergency that needs immediate attention. Never ignore burning smells or signs of previous sparks -- doing so can put your home at risk of an electrical fire, which can be very dangerous and cause a lot of damage. 

To learn more, contact a resource like Reinhold Electric.