An electrical panel is also known as a breaker box, fuse box, or circuit panel, and there are important benefits to an electrical panel upgrade.
Importance of an Electrical Panel
This panel is a critical component of a home because nearly all, if not all, central circuits run through here and disperse throughout the entire home.
Anything that runs on electricity will run through your electrical panel. This panel keeps your HVAC running, your lights on, and your water hot.
Like most modern houses, electricity is vital to the comfort and function of a home. So you want an electrical panel to be in tip-top shape at all times.
Benefits of an Electrical Panel Upgrade
Based on the importance of an electrical panel, you don’t want to be stuck without any electricity randomly.
In general, an upgrade will increase the safety of your home as well. You want to ensure that the fuses are prepared to melt or the circuits are prepared to trip if an overloaded circuit occurs.
A newer system will reduce the chance of a fire or electrical shock in your home. An outdated or faulty system can cause devastating damage to the home.
Further, the upgraded system will increase the amount of power throughout the household.
Because you would have a newer, more powerful system for years to come, you would be able to add things to your home without worry that you will not have enough power to supply the additions.
You could get a hot tub, perform a bathroom renovation, do a room addition, or simply expand the electrical appliances throughout your home.
You want to consider your home’s current electrical issues that need to be addressed as well as its future needs.
When Should I Upgrade My Panel?
An electrical panel should be replaced every 25 to 40 years. Clearly, this is a large time gap, so when specifically should you upgrade the system?
The most important time to upgrade your electrical panel is when you’re having any issues with the current system.
Whether you have a fuse box or a breaker box currently, you will want to upgrade the panel if you notice any issues within your system.
Electrical panels host all the fuses or breakers that control the flow of electricity throughout your home. This means that if the fuse does not melt when an overload occurs, or if a circuit breaker does not trip when an overload occurs, then the safety of your home is in question.
Additionally, it is up to you, and you should consult a qualified electrician for further advice, but fuse boxes are typically in older homes, so it could be smarter to upgrade from a fuse box to a breaker box.
If a fuse is blown, the entire fuse has to be replaced, but if a breaker is tripped, then the breaker just needs to be reset.
Warning Signs That Your Electrical Panel Needs Replacing
If you’re experiencing flickering lights, circuit breakers that keep tripping, small electric shocks when you touch appliances, a burning smell, scorch marks or sparks coming from power outlets, or warmth around the electric panel.
Most of these signs are also indications of a circuit overload occurring, so ensure that the panel you have is prepared to handle any overloads that may occur.
Can I Upgrade my Electrical Panel Myself?
Though the internet has made it easier than ever to DIY your home, upgrading your electrical panel should not be on your DIY to-do list unless you have previous experience.
Because an electrical panel is so vital to all the electricity throughout your home, it should be installed by a licensed electrician.
There is so much electrical wiring involved with this task; it can be extremely dangerous to upgrade the panel yourself without being familiar with the wiring.
I’m Ready For My Electrical Panel Upgrade!
If you want electrical upgrades throughout your home or commercial business, including electrical panels, Fusion Electric is here to help.
Fusion Electric serves those in all residential and commercial electrical services throughout the Overland Park and Kansas City Metro area.
We have received an “A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). We want to demonstrate to you exactly how we received such a high rating, so allow us to work with you.
Let our qualified electricians at Fusion Electric upgrade your electrical panel to keep your house’s electricity running safely and smoothly. Contact Fusion Electric today for an electrical panel upgrade in your home!
