Is your electrical panel putting your home at risk? When the current flowing through an electrical panel exceeds its capacity, it becomes overloaded. An overloaded circuit can lead to potentially catastrophic hazards, including electrical fires, melted components and breaker malfunctions. If you’re dealing with an electrical panel overload, here are five possible causes and how to solve them.
1. Plugging in Too Many Devices
One of the most common causes of an overloaded electrical panel is too many devices plugged into the circuit. Fortunately, this problem has an easy solution. Avoid plugging too many things into one circuit. Limit plugs to one per outlet, even when you’re using an extension cord or power strip. High-energy appliances, like air conditioners and clothes dryers, may need their own dedicated circuit.
2. Outdated Wiring or Electrical Panel
Homes built before 1960 often suffer from electrical panel overload due to outdated wiring. The amount of electricity required for modern homes far exceeds what the average household needed in the past, which means that older systems struggle to keep up. The only way to fix this issue is to have a professional upgrade your equipment.
3. Faulty Appliances or Devices
When appliances and devices malfunction, they can sometimes draw excessive amounts of power. Large appliances, like kitchen ranges and microwaves, are especially vulnerable to this problem, and you may not notice anything is wrong. To fix this issue, you first need to isolate the problem by unplugging things one at a time while observing the electric meter. Once the faulty appliance is found, repair or replace it.
4. Fluctuations in Voltage
The source of your electrical panel overload problem might be the power grid. Frequent voltage fluctuations and power surges from the grid can overload your electrical panel and damage your appliances and electronic devices. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including outdated infrastructure, too many homes on the grid, high winds and severe weather. Although there isn’t much you can do to stop these fluctuations, you can protect your wiring with a whole-home surge protector.
5. Ground Fault Surges
Ground fault surges are another common problem that can lead to an overloaded electrical panel. A ground fault occurs when the flow of electricity takes an unexpected path to the ground. Ground faults often occur due to moisture intrusion, which is why ground fault circuit interrupters, or GFCIs, are recommended in wet areas like bathrooms and kitchens. If you’re experiencing electrical panel overload due to ground faults, the first step is to install GFCI outlets or inspect the ones you already have for damage and excess wear.
Regardless of what’s overloading your electrical panel, it’s important to address this serious problem right away. When you need electrical panel repair or replacement services in Boise, ID, call Sublime Electric for fast, expert service.