Your home’s electrical panel is important to keeping your house powered. As it gets older, it might not work as well and could become unsafe. Signs you might need a new panel include circuit breakers tripping often, flickering lights, or if your panel is over 25 years old. Replacing your panel can stop electrical fires, save energy, and handle your home’s modern electrical needs.
According to Mike Holmes (Professional Contractor and TV Host): “Replacing an electrical panel is very important for keeping your home safe. An old panel can cause big problems like electrical fires or not enough power for modern appliances. Upgrading makes sure your home is safe and can handle your energy needs.”
Replacing an electrical panel usually costs between $550 and $3,000, with most people spending about $1,300. If your panel is old or not keeping up with your energy needs, you should replace it as soon as possible. A new panel is important for home safety because it can prevent electrical fires and other expensive issues.
When You Should Consider Electrical Panel Replacement
As a homeowner, staying on track with all the tasks that need doing can feel like it never stops, but taking care of your electrical panel is one of the most crucial things to remember.
If your home is over 25 years old and the electrical panel hasn’t been replaced, it’s a good idea to consider doing so sooner rather than later.
- Age of Home
Consider upgrading your home’s electrical panel if it’s over 25 years old and hasn’t been replaced. Older panels may struggle with modern electrical demands, posing safety risks and inefficiencies. Upgrading ensures your home’s safety and meets current standards.
- Frequent Circuit Breaker Trips
When your circuit breakers often trip, especially when lots of things are being used together, it might mean your electrical panel can’t manage the load well. This could be because the wiring is old or the panel doesn’t have enough power.
Getting a new panel with more power and safety features can fix these problems and make sure your home has steady power.
- Flickering Lights
If your lights flicker or go dim without warning, it might mean there’s trouble with the electrical panel, like circuits being overloaded or connections being loose. These problems could be dangerous, so it’s important to get them fixed quickly by a skilled electrician.
- Other Electrical Issues
Alongside the age of your home and frequent circuit breaker trips, watch out for other electrical problems like faulty outlets or recurring appliance malfunctions, which could indicate the need for a panel upgrade to maintain safety and efficiency.
- Safety Concerns
Upgrading the panel enhances safety by reducing the risk of electrical fires and hazards through modern safety features like arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) and ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), ensuring your home meets current electrical codes and standards.
- Modern Electrical Needs
Newer panels are engineered to handle the higher electrical loads required by today’s homes, which frequently rely on a multitude of electronic devices and energy-intensive appliances.
Upgrading your electrical panel ensures that your home’s electrical system can effectively support these modern needs without overloading or causing safety hazards.
Electrical Panel Replacement Process
Replacing your electrical panel might seem like a big task that will disrupt things, but it’s not as bad as it seems.Take a look at the process we use at Panel Upgrade Experts so that you know what to expect:
Initial Assessment
In the first step of our process, we assess your current electrical panel to determine if it needs replacement or an upgrade. We prioritize honesty, providing straightforward information about its condition so you can make informed decisions.
Agree on a Plan
After completing the assessment, we’ll sit down with you to go over your options. We’ll carefully explain the pricing for each option, ensuring you understand how it aligns with your needs and budget. This way, you can confidently select the option that suits you best.
Arrange the Date
Once all the details are confirmed, including the scope of the work and any specific requirements, we’ll work together to schedule a suitable time and date for the completion of the project.
We’ll take into account your availability and preferences, as well as the availability of our skilled experts. Our goal is to ensure that the timing works well for everyone involved, allowing for a smooth and efficient execution of the work.
Complete the Job
We’ll be there on the installation date, ready to get to work promptly. Our goal is to finish everything in one day to minimize any inconvenience for you. However, if a return visit is necessary for any reason, we’ll make sure to coordinate with you ahead of time.
Ongoing Support
At Panel Upgrade Experts, we value top-notch customer support, striving to assist our customers long after the project is completed. You’re welcome to reach out whenever you require assistance, and our experts will collaborate with you to determine the optimal solution.
Empowering Your Home for the Future
Understanding the importance of electrical panel replacement is essential as it directly impacts the safety and effectiveness of your home’s electrical infrastructure. Over time, panels can become outdated or overloaded, potentially leading to safety hazards like electrical fires.
Seeking professional assistance for electrical panel replacement is important as experts possess the knowledge and experience to accurately evaluate your panel’s condition and recommend appropriate replacements.
Final Thoughts
Electrical panels serve as the foundation of any electrical setup, guaranteeing the secure and effective transmission of power throughout buildings of all types, be it residential or industrial. These panels are available in diverse varieties tailored to distinct needs.
Appreciating the function of electrical panels and selecting the appropriate type is important for upholding a dependable and safe electrical framework. If uncertain about the optimal panel choice for your needs, seeking professional assistance, and embracing the replacement process, homeowners can empower their homes for the future, creating a secure and comfortable living environment for themselves and their loved ones.
FAQs
How long does it take to change an electrical panel?
Replacing the panel itself takes a professional about four to eight hours. However, if other wiring and parts also need to be replaced, it can take 20 to 30 hours. Your electrician can make the process faster by bringing in a team to help with extra tasks.
What is involved in upgrading an electrical panel?
First, you need to get the necessary parts and materials and contact the utility company to turn off the power. Then, the professional removes the wires and checks for any damage. The old panel is taken off and safely disposed of, and the new panel is installed on the wall. Finally, the wiring is updated to match the new panel.
How long does a breaker panel last?
You don’t need to replace a breaker panel often. They usually last 25 to 40 years if you take care of your system and have it checked every year. However, heavy use and exposure to weather can shorten a panel’s lifespan a bit.
What happens when an electrical panel goes bad?
There are many signs that it’s time to replace an electrical panel. These include flickering lights, appliances overheating, light fixtures giving electric shocks, hissing or crackling sounds from the breaker box, burnt or blackened spots near the breaker box, and breakers that trip when using power-hungry appliances like microwaves.
