Should I Upgrade My Electrical Panel

Is it necessary to upgrade my electrical panel? The electrical panel is still one of the most important parts of the home. The electrical panel provides occupants with electricity, which provides comfort and convenience. This equipment is in charge of supplying power to the entire house. The electrical panel grows old or outdated with time. You’re now confronted with the decision of whether or not to upgrade your electrical panel. There are several different types of electrical panel upgrades. Continue reading to learn more about replacing and upgrading electrical panels.

How Do I Know I Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade?

• Fixing Flickering Or Dimming Lights – The flickering, dimming lights that make you feel like you’re at a disco from the 1970s are trying to tell you something: your breaker panel (or fuse box, if you have an older electrical system) is overloaded. When your lights are connected to a dimmer switch, they should only dim. Any additional dimming indicates a problem in one of two areas:

1. Your electrical panel
2. Your utility provider

Storms or blown transformers are the most common causes of power outages for utilities. Typically, these are isolated events that disappear once the storm passes or the company resolves the problem.If your lights frequently dim, especially when you use appliances like the microwave or an air conditioner, that’s a red flag that your electrical panel needs to be replaced.

• Electrical Panel Trips Frequently – Yes, it’s annoying to experience frequent electrical panel trips. However, breakers trip and fuses blow to protect you and your home.  Even if you (or a previous owner) got rid of the old fuse box long ago, the circuit breakers that replaced it might be outdated now too. If your home was built before 1990, it probably has 100 to 150-amp service, which was fine for meeting most 20th-century home electrical needs. Today, the standard is 200 amps.
• You’re Renovating – If you’re building an addition onto an older home, don’t expect an older electrical panel to be able to keep up with the additional power demand. Adding square footage and appliances means your electrical system needs an upgrade too.

When it comes to upgrading your electrical panel, choose licensed electricians who care about your home safety. Contact Transformation Electric today at 724-266-7177. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]