Electrical Panel Upgrades
Your electrical panel supplies power to your North Carolina home. Like any system, it can become outdated and wear down over time, causing it to no longer meet your needs. If you’re growing frustrated with flickering lights, tripping breakers, and inadequate power, it’s probably time to invest in an electrical panel upgrade.
Signs You Need To Upgrade Your Electrical Panel
If your electrical panel is original to your home, or you’re experiencing electrical issues such as flickering lights and power outages, your electrical panel probably isn’t meeting your household needs. Take note of the following signs that indicate it’s time to upgrade your home electrical panel:
- It’s original to your home: Electrical panels typically have a lifespan of 25 to 40 years, so if you live in an older home, it’s probably time for an upgrade.
- You’re constantly flipping breakers: If you find yourself constantly flipping breakers back on, you likely need an upgrade. When too much power is drawn to one area of your home, your electrical panel can’t handle it and trips to stop power flow.
- Your electrical panel doesn’t use breakers: In homes built before 1960, fuse panels were used instead of breakers. Electrical panels that use a fuse panel are at a higher risk for electrical fires. Upgrade your panel as soon as possible.
- You see rust on your electrical panel: If you notice rust inside your electrical panel, contact us immediately. Rust is a fire hazard and indicates the need for a prompt upgrade.
- You don’t have enough outlets: If you’re constantly attaching power strips to make up for a lack of outlets, your electrical panel likely can’t handle the level of electrical flow and should be upgraded.
- Your electrical panel is hot to the touch or sparking: When your electrical panel is hot to the touch or releasing sparks, it’s important to contact one of our electricians immediately. This is a sign of a serious electrical issue and fire hazard.
- Lights dim when you use an appliance: Dimming lights caused by other appliances turning on is a sign that you’re drawing too much power from a circuit. You might be able to add extra circuits but an electrical panel replacement is probably your best bet.
- You’re remodeling or adding appliances: When remodeling your home, you’ll almost always have to upgrade your electrical system to keep up with the new electrical load. Older electrical panels weren’t designed to keep up with the amount of power draw modern homes have.
Benefits Of Electrical Panel Upgrades
Upgrading your electrical panel comes with benefits to your home and safety, including a value increase. Future buyers will often pay more for homes with upgraded systems because of the safety assurance they present. Upgraded electrical panels are equipped to handle the demands of modern homes and reduce the risk of electrical fires.
Upgraded electrical panels offer higher electrical capacity. You’ll benefit from the additional power for modern appliances, devices, and electronics. You may also notice lower energy bills. While it may seem counterintuitive for a panel with higher electrical capacity to lower your bills, they are more energy efficient than older electrical panels. Outdated panels are not efficient enough to meet the needs of your home, causing wasted electricity and higher bills. An upgraded panel means more money in your pocket.
How To Choose The Right Electrical Panel
With the different types and power capabilities of electrical panels available, it’s important to choose an electrical panel that meets your household needs. Choosing the right panel will impact the safety, functionality, and efficiency of your home. When deciding on an electrical panel take your energy needs, plans, and home size into account.
You can choose from three main categories of electrical panels for installation: main breaker panels, main lug panels, and subpanels. Main breaker panels are the most common choice for large homes with high energy use as they have a built-in main circuit breaker that cuts off the power supply from the rest of the panel. Main lug panels are often used as secondary panels or small space needs as they feature individual circuit breakers to control specific circuits. Subpanels are used as supplementary panels that connect to the main breaker panel. They allow you to increase your electrical capacity without replacing the main unit.
There are some other elements to take into consideration when deciding on an electrical panel:
- Your home’s electrical load: Consider the number of lights, devices, and appliances you use. This can help you determine the electrical panel amperage needed for your home.
- Future renovation plans: If you’re planning to expand your home in the future, let your Morris-Jenkins electrician know! We’ll make sure we choose a panel that will allow for additional circuits and offer enough electrical capacity.
- Safety features: The National Fire Protection Organization reports that electrical failure or malfunction causes over 46,000 house fires, so it’s important to ensure your panel is safe. Some panels offer advanced features including ground fault circuit interrupters and arc fault circuit interrupters to reduce your risk of electrical fires.
If you’re still unsure which electrical panel is right for you, that’s ok! Your Morris-Jenkins electrician will ask you several questions to help them determine the type and size panel that’s best suited for your home
Contact Morris-Jenkins To Upgrade Your Electrical Panel Today
If you’re ready to upgrade your electrical panel, Morris-Jenkins is here to help. We’re available for indoor and outdoor panels, making the process quick and easy. We can have the job done in a matter of hours. We’ll even coordinate with the utility companies, have everything inspected, and get the right permits, so you don’t have to worry about anything.
Morris-Jenkins has been operated since 1958, staying the trusted choice for electrical, air conditioning, heating, and plumbing services in Charlotte and surrounding areas. With our commitment to doing things right, you can rest easy knowing you’re well taken care of. Don’t forget to ask about our Priority Advantage Membership where you can benefit from year-round savings and VIP treatment.
