Electrical Panel Upgrade Crystal River, FL

How do you know when your circuits are getting overloaded? Less serious signs of trouble might include flickering lights or frequent power outages. But in the worst cases, an old, overheated system can lead to smoke and electrical fires.

Here are some telltale signs that you need an electrical panel upgrade in Crystal River, FL:

• Your home has a 100-amp electrical service, but still can't operate certain appliances
• Devices are no longer running on full power
• You need multiple extension cords to plug everything in

An electrical panel lasts 25-40 years, depending on use and the level of care invested in the unit. To find out how old your home’s panel is, you can schedule an electrical assessment with our electrician in Crystal River. For outdated panels, you will want to consider a replacement, rather than an electrical panel upgrade. Crystal River, FL pros can assess the age of your panel to determine whether upgrades, repairs, or replacements are needed.

Even if your panel is within its suggested lifespan, you may need a panel upgrade sooner than every 20 years. As your home gets older, your panel may not function as efficiently as it used to. Even within 10 years, you may no longer be able to support all the appliances you have plugged in. If this is the case for you, get in touch with us right away.

The electrical panel transfers power into your home via the main power line. The main line connects to a power meter outside your home, which directs power from the electric company to all parts of the building. In most cases, the electrical panel is a gray box found in the garage, utility room, or basement of your home. Opening up the box, you'll find several rows of switches. These are the circuit breakers that distribute power throughout the house.

You may notice some switches doubled or tripled together—these breakers power appliances that demand high amounts of electricity. If you take an even closer look at your electrical panel, you may notice numbers on the switches telling you how many amps a line can carry before being tripped. Your electrical panel will also come with a main power breaker that can cut off power to the entire system with one flip.

Not all situations call for a complete upgrade or replacement of your electrical panel. Sometimes, repairs get the job done just as well. Our electricians will investigate the current state of your electrical panel and decide whether repairs are enough to restore proper function. Our team is experienced with these types of repairs:

• Circuit breaker replacement
• Rewiring
• Bus bar replacement
• Electrical panel relocation

Crystal River, FL homeowners should be wary of flickering light fixtures, buzzing sounds from their current electrical panel, and frequently tripped circuit breakers. Outdated electrical panels pose the risk of major electrical issues, such as faulty wiring that can result in electrical fires. If your panel is pushing 25, it's time to get in touch with the professionals. Contact Mr. Electric of Citrus & Marion County right away if any of the following apply to you:

• Crackling sounds are coming from the panel
• Your home has a 60-amp electrical service
• Your home has an outdated fuse block or split bus panel
• The inside of the electrical panel feels warm
• Corrosion or rust on the circuit breakers
• Outlets around water sources are not GFCIs

While most electrical panels can be upgraded at your earliest convenience, some require service right away. Homes over 25 years old may have faulty electrical panels that pose known safety hazards. In general, panels installed after 1990 are safe, but if you have any of the following models, talk to us about an upgrade:

• Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) panels: FPE panels were installed in homes between 1950 and 1980. Since then, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has classified them as defective due to their tendency to cause fires and electric shock.
• Zinsco electrical panels: Zinsco panels haven't been on the market since the mid-1970s, but some homes may still have them. These panels may allow power to flow even when the breakers are switched off. This defect may cause switches to melt, increasing the risk of fire and electric shock.
• Pushmatic electrical panels: Pushmatic panels are defective in that their weak breaker switches get harder to reset over time. There's no main breaker to cut off power at once, creating a slew of hazards for homeowners.
• Fuse boxes: Fuse boxes are the oldest type of electrical panel. These panels can handle about 30 to 60 amps of electricity, which was sufficient for homes decades ago. But today, homes regularly use more than 200 amps. Not only are these outdated systems inefficient, but they're also huge safety risks. We encourage you to upgrade your fuse box as soon as possible. Our team will walk you through the process and cost to upgrade an electrical panel to 200 amps.

It's easy to put off electrical panel upgrades if Crystal River homeowners haven't noticed any obvious hazards. But if your home is equipped with an old or defective panel, you could be playing with fire. The team at Mr. Electric of Citrus & Marion County is here for you around the clock to offer exceptional electrical services. Schedule service today.

Update your electrical system with our exceptional panel installation. Crystal River, FL electricians at Mr. Electric of Citrus & Marion County are committed to their craft and take pride in offering safe and reliable electrical solutions.

Call us today to get electrical upgrades from our top-notch electrical team. We serve customers across the region with the goal of offering top-tier electrical work.