Your electrical panel sends energy throughout your home to power your TV, appliances, smartphone chargers, medical equipment and other devices. When the panel starts to break down, your lights and appliances may appear to malfunction. An electrician can locate the issue and restore your panel to working order.
1. Outdated Equipment
Fuse boxes began to be phased out in American homes in favor of circuit breakers during the 1960s. If your panel has several round fuses instead of black switches, your house has had the same electrical panel for decades. While fuse boxes could handle electrical demands in the past, they can’t keep up with today’s appliances. Instead of updating the panel, previous homeowners might have added more components, creating a nest of wires.
Modern circuit breakers don’t last forever, either. After about 30 years, they may struggle to power your devices. You might experience flickering lights, outages or frequent circuit breaker trips, especially when you plug in certain devices or run multiple appliances at once. Eventually, your circuits may overload and start a fire.
Electricians can replace old panels with new equipment that meets your household’s demands. You’ll enjoy a safer environment, more efficiency and enough power to keep your appliances running.
2. Overloaded Circuits
If you have a newer electrical panel but keep experiencing issues, it might be too small for your house. Some homeowners try to compensate with extension cords, but they add strain to the system, increasing the flickering, dimming and sudden outages. When your power abruptly shuts off, it means that your circuit breaker shut off the power to avoid a fire.
Ask an electrician to install an electrical panel that’s suitable for your house. They could also add new outlets or, if necessary, rewire the entire property. This service can be pricey, but you’ll end up with a safer, more reliable system.
3. Strange Sounds or Odors
Buzzing and clicking sounds indicate that your panel has loose wires or faulty breakers. Burning odors result from high energy usage and electrical fires. This could lead to an electrical emergency, so call professionals as soon as possible. They can shut off the power, remove the panel, replace it with a new one and repair the faulty wiring.
4. Discoloration
Water and humidity cause rust patches on your breaker. If the panel appears burnt or discolored or feels hot to the touch, your breaker is probably using a dangerous level of energy. This could start a fire, so call for immediate assistance.
Malfunctioning circuit breakers are dangerous if you don’t seek help immediately. Reach out to Sublime Electric today if you are experiencing these types of electrical panel issues in Boise, ID.
