St. Jacobs Electrical Panel Upgrades

Most of us in St. Jacobs take electricity in our homes for granted. Electricity runs in the background and is hardly ever top of mind — unless something is wrong. 

When we press the power button on a TV remote or an appliance, we expect them to work. When we flip a light switch up, we expect the room we’re entering to be bright. The same goes when we plug a phone or other device into a wall outlet: We just expect them to work.

Every year, most families increase their usage of electricity. We add new devices. We buy new energy-efficient appliances. 

But, we don’t often think about the effect this is all having on our electrical panels. Electrical panels sometimes have difficulty keeping up with all we ask of them. Older homes often have trouble meeting the modern demands of electricity.

So, how can you tell whether you need to upgrade your electrical panel? Let’s take a closer look.

The Electrical Panel

An electrical panel is often referred to as a circuit breaker or a fuse box. You’ll find electrical panels installed in basements, utility closets or in garages most of the time. 

The panel itself is usually gray and has a small door that opens. Behind the door are circuit breakers. The breakers have on-off switches that allow you to cycle the electrical current off in a particular room or section of your house when you need it. If a breaker trips, you’ll also reset it here at the electrical panel.

Fuses are also located within the electrical panel. The fuses help uphold the safety of the electrical currents in your home.

Each electrical panel has a specific load that it can carry. If you were to exceed that particular load, you’d often have to upgrade your panel.

Signs You Need a New Electrical Panel

Unless you’re an electrician, it may be difficult for you to tell when you need an upgraded panel — until things start going wrong. One sign is if fuses often trip in your home. A typical example would be if the electricity stops working when you try to run a vacuum cleaner while your clothes washer is running. 

Another sign is if your lights begin to flicker when you turn on certain appliances. If your lights appear dimmer than they once were, this could also be a sign that your electrical panel can’t handle the load.

Generally speaking, you should check whether you’ll need to upgrade your panel any time you replace an old appliance, add to your home’s square footage or begin using a previously unused room. For example, if you start using your basement as a recreation room, you should check whether your home’s electrical panel can handle the added devices.

Reasons to Upgrade Your Electrical Panel

The primary concern with any electrical project is safety. If not installed or used correctly, electricity can be extremely dangerous.

When you upgrade an electrical panel, you’ll be ensuring that your home can safely handle the electricity you use on a day-to-day basis. If you have an electrical panel that can’t handle the load or is out of date, it can result in a hazardous condition. 

The other main reason you would upgrade your electrical panel is quite apparent — to ensure you have enough electricity to power everything you want to use in your home. Without sufficient power, you won’t be able to use your devices and appliances the way you want.

The Electrical Panel Upgrade Process

When you upgrade your electrical panel, it’s an in-depth job that requires a lot of planning and careful work. This job is not one that a handy homeowner should attempt. Licensed electricians should handle all electrical panel upgrade jobs.

It’s best to hire a licensed electrician for any job that deals with electricity. The electrician will first ensure that your home’s current setup is done correctly. If not, they can fix those issues immediately, depending on the job. The electrician can then analyze your home’s system and make suggestions on which electrical panel would be right for you and your family.

While there are many electrical panels on the market today, they aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why it’s essential to have an experienced and licensed electrician make a recommendation based on how you will use electricity in your St. Jacobs home.

Once the electrician designs a plan and makes product recommendations, they’ll carry out the job safely and up to code.

Home-Pro Electric’s Licensed Electricians Can Upgrade Your Panel

Home-Pro Electric has been serving the St. Jacobs area for more than 25 years. Our licensed electricians can help you design then install new electrical panels at homes of any size.

We offer fast, friendly and local service. When the time calls for you to upgrade your electrical panel, the pros at Home-Pro Electric is the best company to choose.

If you want to find out more information, call us at 888-958-5978 or visit us online at https://home-proelectric.com.