Do you know the age of your electrical panel? If you don’t, you might need electrical panel upgrades that keep your lights on and your family safe.
As the top-rated electricians in Abington, MA, Crowe Electric can help you understand when and why you need upgrades for your electrical panel. From Ames Nowell State Park to Peregrine Road, we’re passionate about helping our community thrive through great electrical work.
What Is Your Electrical Panel?
Your electrical panel serves as the primary hub for regulating electricity throughout your home. It constantly performs load calculations to prevent your electrical system from overloading, causing fires, and shorting out electrical devices.
Other names for the panel include circuit breaker panel, breaker box, or service panel. If you own an older home, you may still have a fuse box. The electrical panel replaces this feature in newer houses and provides increased protection.
Signs Your Electrical Panel Needs Upgrades
How do you know when your Abington home or business needs circuit breaker replacement?
Consistent Circuit Trips
Every home experiences an occasionally overloaded circuit, and when it happens rarely, you shouldn’t feel any concern. However, if you frequently fix tripped circuits, you’ll need electrical panel upgrades.
Circuits trip for several reasons, but the excess electrical current remains one of the most common. If you upgrade your system, you won’t worry about running too many electrical devices.
Frequent Light Flickering
Do you notice your lights flickering whenever you plug in an appliance or light more than a couple of rooms at once? This usually means you don’t have enough current going through your system. If you have a larger home, consider subpanel installation when you upgrade the electrical panel for greater power capacity.
Concerning Smells
Whenever you smell burning coming from your electrical panel, you should call for immediate help. Even if the fire didn’t catch, burning wires or circuits eventually lead to significant loss from a fire.
In rare cases, you may smell something decomposing in your panel, which occurs after a rodent becomes trapped. You may require a new panel after this happens.
Inadequate Outlets or Capacity
Do you feel like you never have enough outlets in your Abington home? You’ll need to upgrade your electrical panel before you add more.
You’ll also need upgrades if you have large, modern appliances, such as a new central air conditioner. These devices draw significant power and often require a dedicated circuit.
Visible Damage
When you see rust, scorch marks, or other signs of damage on your electrical panel, consider upgrading your panel as a matter of safety. A damaged panel can’t adequately regulate your electricity or could cause a fire itself. Find an electrician that offers emergency services.
Old Age
You can expect your electrical panel to last about 40 years in Abington. Even if it works beyond that age, it becomes a fire hazard, and you should prioritize electrical panel upgrades. Your electrician can determine the approximate age of your breaker box.
Benefits of Upgrading Your Abington Electrical Panel
Why should you prioritize upgrading your electrical panel if you notice any of the above signs?
Enhanced Safety
The main reason you should upgrade your panel includes the enhanced protection it provides. With grounding and arc fault protection, you significantly reduce your chances of an electrical fire.
Increased Capacity
Many Abington property owners love the increased circuit capacity that an upgraded panel provides. If you’re tired of only having one or two outlets in each room, a new panel can help. It will also allow your outlets to power more modern and powerful appliances.
Improved Efficiency
Modern electrical panels help your system run more efficiently. You’ll spend less money on energy bills, and your devices may last longer.
Cost Effectiveness
In addition to lower energy bills and longer-lasting devices, investing in an upgraded electrical panel can save you money in the following ways:
- It may qualify you for a better insurance premium.
- It can raise your property value.
- If you own a business, it can keep you from paying fees due to compliance issues.
- It helps you avoid damage from a fire.
Schedule Electrical Panel Services in Abington, MA
When you need electrical panel upgrades, look no further than Crowe Electric. Whether you own a home near Island Grove Park or a business on Brockton Ave, we prioritize your satisfaction and treat your property with the utmost respect. From electrical outlet installation to replacing your entire system, we work with excellence and professionalism.
You can book an appointment by contacting us today. Learn more now.