By Justin Smart
•
14 Feb, 2023
Typically, we don’t tend to think of our electrical panels until a circuit breaker trips or we are adding a new circuit for an appliance. It’s easy to take this for granted up until the point it stops working. Whether it’s for your garage, outbuilding, or workshop, here are some signs you need to look for that will tell you when it’s time to replace your electrical panel. Your current electrical panel is over 25 years old. It may be that you haven't replaced your electrical panel since you moved into your home or you own an older home with an aging electrical system. The estimated lifespan of these panels is around 25 to 40 years. If you are experiencing power surges or there are signs of wear and tear or defects, this should be inspected by an expert, and if a replacement is needed, this should be done as soon as possible to ensure the safety of you and everyone around you. You can smell burning. If your panel is giving off a burning smell or there are signs of burning around it, then this needs to be replaced quickly to prevent the risk of fire. Another potential sign is if the panel feels warm or hot to the touch, as overheating can trip circuit breakers. Rust is also a potential issue as it can be a sign of water damage which could be potentially very hazardous to your electrical supply and an additional fire safety risk. You hear odd sounds An electrical panel will usually be silent except for the odd click. If you hear buzzing or hissing, these are potential indicators of bad wires or loose connections and should be checked. Your breakers regularly trip. The idea of a circuit breaker is to prevent circuits from drawing too much power. If a circuit breaker is damaged, this can happen more frequently as they struggle to handle a regular electrical flow. If you find yourself frequently flipping breakers, then it is likely time to get your panel replaced. For homes with fuse-based panels, it is recommended that you do not use excessively large fuses as these can cause too much energy to flow through the circuits, creating a potential fire hazard. Your house has insufficient outlets. Too much pressure on one outlet can result in issues with a circuit. It is worth checking with your local electrician to see if it is possible to add more outlets/circuits and reduce the pressure on an overloaded circuit. On a similar note, if you’re upgrading your AC, or adding a hot tub or pool it may be time for a service upgrade or a panel upgrade. Another sign of insufficient distribution of power is if the lights dim or flicker when other appliances are plugged in. We highly recommend an immediate inspection. If it's damaged, check it Electrical panels can be hit by garage doors, something falling on them, or any number of accidents. If this happens, you should get the panel checked straight away. If in any doubt, don’t wait. The longer you put off upgrading your electrical panel the worse. You may encounter more costs and a higher risk of danger to your home if you wait to replace or upgrade your electrical panels. Always call in a professional and licensed electrician or contractor to check your electrical panel and fuse box .