Does My Electrical Panel Need to be Replaced?

The majority of the time, your electrical panel is out of sight and out of mind. Although the panel is the heart of a home’s electrical system, many of us neglect to inspect it regularly to ensure everything is in good working order.

It’s crucial to be aware of the signs indicating a necessary electrical panel replacement. Running your home off an insufficient panel can pose serious safety risks to your home and members of your household. Here’s what to look for when considering upgrading your electrical panel:

Older Panels

Just like your phone, air conditioner, and car, panels will need to be replaced once they’ve surpassed their lifespan. The average panel can last anywhere from 20 to 30 years, depending on multiple factors. If your home experiences frequent power surges or if your panel has been subjected to wear and tear, a replacement may be needed sooner rather than later.

Older panels often have difficulty keeping up with the demands of newer, larger appliances in the home. Whether you’ve added a new dishwasher or flat-screen TV, large electrical draws can put immense stress on your aging panel! Consider a replacement to run the appliance efficiently and safely.

It’s always a good rule of thumb to start considering an electrical panel replacement around the 25-year mark, as older panels generally pose more safety risks. However, if you’re not quite ready to part ways with your older panel, it never hurts to schedule an electrical inspection with one of our team members to ensure everything is working correctly.

Warm to the Touch

Your electrical panel functions as a critical electrical point in your home as well as a temperature regulator for the system. An overheated panel should trigger a tripped circuit breaker to prevent an electrical fire.

If your panel is not doing its job and feels hot or warm upon touch, a replacement is necessary. When it comes to electrical safety, it’s always better to be safe than sorry and upgrade your malfunctioning panel before disaster strikes.

Odd Noises

Electrical panels were not designed to be sound machines, so if you’re hearing strange noises coming from your panel, don’t ignore them! The only sound that an electrical panel should make is a click when the circuit breaker pops. If you’re hearing hissing or buzzing noises from the panel, you should contact our team of professional electricians immediately to prevent further damage to both your panel and wiring.

Burning Smell

A burning smell coming from any electrical point is cause for concern, especially when it’s stemming from your panel. For example, burning scents often signal a melting plastic jacket from an electrical wire or burnt wood from your walls. Don’t hesitate to contact your electrician as quickly as possible for a panel replacement to protect your property from devastating fire damage.

Constant Breaker Tripping

Circuit breakers come in handy by halting the flow of electricity when your home is drawing large amounts of power to different circuits. This protects your home from the detrimental effects of excessive power flowing through the system.

If your panel seems to trip circuit breakers regularly, it could be an insufficient panel for your home’s power needs. Upgrading your panel can resolve this inefficiency! Gone are the days where you have to constantly trek to the panel to flip the breaker back on.

Electrical Panel Professionals

Our talented team of electricians at Hutton is highly trained and has years of experience in electrical panel inspections and replacements. Preventative action is key to protecting your home from devastating electrical fires. Don’t hesitate! Give us a ring today at (757) 785-4085 or contact us on our website.